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Ask HN: Do you plan your next day ahead?

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Re: Ask HN: Do you plan your next day ahead?

#31

Post by _iwgf »

cbcoutinho wrote: post #16

I use the bullet journal system, which is essentially a way to structuralize a notebook. Instead of removing redundancy, it embraces it. 1. Make yourself a very brief year plan 2. Every month refer to year plan and go into detail as needed for that month. 3. At the beginning of every week, make a plan while referring to the month plan. 4. In the morning give yourself a daily plan or keep notes to help stay on track.…

> if you're interested in learning about bullet journaling, stay away from Instagram, pintrist, and tumblr - people have a tendency to turn this amazing productivity tool into an art contest, and it only gives the illusion that the barrier to entry is higher than it really is

This is exceptionally good advice for any kind of organizational system. It's really easy for me to get down on myself for not creating these robust, beautiful pieces of art that memorialize my experiences and help me work. I used to have a tendency to view organizational systems as much more difficult than they are. Now, I use a very basic task list that's on my computer and phones, that is organized by due dates and projects. I don't let myself get down when I miss a due date, or I forget to document everything for a couple days. I just hop back on and keep working.

Re: Ask HN: Do you plan your next day ahead?

#33

Post by blizkreeg »

I recently started using an obscure app on Mac called DayMap. I'm really loving it. I'm usually working on multiple projects and this has a nice day/task/week 1-screen view split by project that helps me keep the big picture in front of me all the time.

Re: Ask HN: Do you plan your next day ahead?

#34

Post by mrleinad »

didibus wrote: post #29

Here's what works best for me: Write down big life goals for 6 months, 3 years, 5 years, 10 years and 30 years. Every month, re-read/revise your list. This allows your subconscious to calibrate what truly matters to you. When I say every month, it's loose, everytime you feel you can't remember the essence of your life goals, you should read them again and think if they still relate to you. Every morning, choose to ge…

What does a 30 year goal look like? "Be successful in life"? "Have great kids"?

Can't help but think that I'll probably be close to dying in 30 years, so I'm not sure what my goal can be, other than "be able not to forget who I am, have some money to live, and not shit my pants"

Re: Ask HN: Do you plan your next day ahead?

#35

Post by problems »

dsr_ wrote: post #27
terminalcommand wrote: post #19

For the last 3 years I've been trying to find a way to organize my life. Before that I was in a rebellious phase, I didn't believe in time management and plans. I thought they caused stress and inefficiency. I thought there was enough time for everything. However, then I crashed and realized that professionalism and proper planning have their place. But I could not and cannot manage to adopt a system. I tried org-mod…

"Most things that I perceive as tasks are either not important in the end, or they go away. The ones that remain receive my undivided honest attention and in the meantime I procrastinate." Every honest organization system is trying to teach you that very point. You can amass an infinite tasklist in finite time, but only the important things matter. It's much better to accomplish one important thing in a day than twen…

Don't downplay the significance of small jobs though - investing a few hours in housework, server configuration or refactoring can all pay off hugely in my experience.

Re: Ask HN: Do you plan your next day ahead?

#36

Post by davchana »

cbcoutinho wrote: post #16

I use the bullet journal system, which is essentially a way to structuralize a notebook. Instead of removing redundancy, it embraces it. 1. Make yourself a very brief year plan 2. Every month refer to year plan and go into detail as needed for that month. 3. At the beginning of every week, make a plan while referring to the month plan. 4. In the morning give yourself a daily plan or keep notes to help stay on track.…

Absolutely right about art part. My bullet Journal is on a simple notebook, using only left side of paper, not the both sides of sheet. Yes, monthly plans exist, but otherwise its just a checklist with date as heading. I try to tick as many as possible items, but in the end of week or month whatever is pending, has too little chance of getting done. Wider topics gets their own collections, like vacation preps.

No fancy color pens, no washi tape, no artwork, no clean handwriting, no tabs. Just pen, paper, page numbers.

Re: Ask HN: Do you plan your next day ahead?

#37

Post by OJFord »

mholmes680 wrote: post #12

I use Trello, with Todo, doing, deferred and done columns. If you want to go full scrum, great, but that's too much overhead. Signed wife up as well, so it works for both of us. I also have Alexa in four rooms to push my to do list into Trello via ifttt for those dishwashing moments. IMO, and off topic a bit, Amazon killed their dash button market when they packaged three Dots for $120.

> Amazon killed their dash button market when they packaged three Dots for $120

That's a strange way to put it; assuming you're right, I'd have thought that was a win for Amazon - up-selling people to what I presume is the more profitable product.

Re: Ask HN: Do you plan your next day ahead?

#38

Post by werber »

Before I leave work I set everything up so I can hit the ground running hard the next day. Relevant files and requirements open and pertinent information set to remind as I go through the morning. Before I go to bed I prep my lunch for the next day to cook in the morning, and hang my clothes in the bathroom. I use (according to friends, abuse) Siri with time and location specific reminders for everything else. Also I keep a small sketchbook where I write down more general long term reminders and use it as stress release (can't figure out a problem? Draw my hand, or make a repeating geometric pattern till something useful comes to mind). Also emailing myself frequently. And voice notes. I'm not organized, but I stay organized with that mishmash

Re: Ask HN: Do you plan your next day ahead?

#39

Post by jwfxpr »

mrleinad wrote: post #34
didibus wrote: post #29

Here's what works best for me: Write down big life goals for 6 months, 3 years, 5 years, 10 years and 30 years. Every month, re-read/revise your list. This allows your subconscious to calibrate what truly matters to you. When I say every month, it's loose, everytime you feel you can't remember the essence of your life goals, you should read them again and think if they still relate to you. Every morning, choose to ge…

What does a 30 year goal look like? "Be successful in life"? "Have great kids"? Can't help but think that I'll probably be close to dying in 30 years, so I'm not sure what my goal can be, other than "be able not to forget who I am, have some money to live, and not shit my pants"

> "be able not to forget who I am, have some money to live, and not shit my pants"

Seems like those deserve a place in all of the 6 months, 3 years, 5 years, 10 years and 30 years goals. At least one of them is achievable? Right?

Re: Ask HN: Do you plan your next day ahead?

#40

Post by blazespin »

terminalcommand wrote: post #19

For the last 3 years I've been trying to find a way to organize my life. Before that I was in a rebellious phase, I didn't believe in time management and plans. I thought they caused stress and inefficiency. I thought there was enough time for everything. However, then I crashed and realized that professionalism and proper planning have their place. But I could not and cannot manage to adopt a system. I tried org-mod…

Cautionary tale.
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