I’m going back to read Getting Things Done by David Allen. It’s good stuff.
It’s clearer to me now that I need a good “list manager”. I have a lot of lists in various places, and I have a lot of input that I want to capture and put into a system, but it has to be a system that I trust, or else my brain will continue to remind me of things.
My requirements: Easy to use Fast to use 100% reliable Ability to place items into folders (like To do, Shopping, At work, At home, Waiting for someone) Capture items wherever I am, easily add them to the system later
Would be nice: Available from a handheld device Works the same from multiple computers Available from locations where I have access to a computer, but not MY computer Ability to “tag” items with multiple tags (like Shopping, Costco, Home Improvements) Integrate with my calendar, so to-do items can be on a date, with a time or just on the day, or not be on a calendar Easy to add items from email to To-do Attach notes, files, whatever to each to-do item
Operations needed to support: Collection (input) Organizing Reference/viewing Marking completion Adding or changing dates
Option 1: Old School Gather items on paper, keep blank paper and pen in a pocket Keep a calendar and do-list, small enough to fit in a fanny pack
Option 2: Hybrid old school/electronic Gather items on paper, keep blank paper and pen in a pocket Keep a printout of recent calendar and do-list, mark up as needed Regularly take edits back to computer (e.g. Outlook) calendar and to-do
Option 3: Electronic calendar/to-do (e.g. Outlook or similar) Handheld device must be able to sync with desktop, to replace paper