61–70 of 74 posts
Similar to GTD, I use a technique called "Bullet Journaling" [1] and it's been transformative. It's less opinionated than GTD and I find it flows a bit more readily. I find it ironic that as a tech CTO I'm connected to my phone and computer probably 80% of my day and love playing with productivity and organizational tools -- yet I've still never found anything better than putting pen to paper! I keep a small pocket-s…
People who feel no impediments in getting things done are those who feel no need to share their plans, interests or self-perceived successes. They can actually remember more than two things at a time, and prioritize them using their brains.
One of the main purposes of GTD is to acknowledge the fact that minds are limited. If you waste too many brain cycles trying to keep your grocery list in your head, you won't be able to remember it or you won't be able to focus on the board meeting. It's a deliberate method (as opposed to an ad hoc method) to help you expand what you're able to accomplish in any period of time.
Since you're a programmer, I will ask: Do you also eschew structured programming because you can keep an arbitrarily complex flow in your head? Or do you accept that modern programming languages are better for designing (at least) programs than straight assembler or machine code?
Emacs Org-Mode, along with its org-capture mode and the ability to clock in/out, is a perfect tool to implement this, btw. https://emacs.cafe/emacs/orgmode/gtd/2017/06/30/orgmode-gtd.... http://orgmode.org/worg/org-gtd-etc.html
This is a great summary. I have always liked the idea of GTD, it is just that it can be a bit overwhelming at times :( Is there a GTD lite or something for beginners ?
I usually point people at Zen to Done, it takes an incremental approach to setting up the system instead of throwing the whole thing at you. https://zenhabits.net/zen-to-done-ztd-the-ultimate-simple-pr...
This is a great summary. I have always liked the idea of GTD, it is just that it can be a bit overwhelming at times :( Is there a GTD lite or something for beginners ?
http://gettingthingsdone.com/fivesteps/ Capture everything in your head. Who you need to contact and about what, upcoming trips, list the projects you're working on. Clarify what all this means. Why am I trying to juggle this information in my head when I can put it into a proper notes app or notebook (it's information, record it, reference it later). If it's a project, add more detail (actions). If it's action, you'…
I've tried to implement GTD a couple of times before but I always fail when I end up with organised but huge lists of things to do, along with things that become irrelevant over time (time-contextual "could-do's") and getting snowed under by day-to-day maintenance chores. Has anyone had success implementing it, and if so, was there any trick or technique that helped it "click" for you? I also realise I might just be…
I started with this: https://trello.com/b/2f37iYzy/sample-gtd-board Then I made some alterations to fit my lifestyle. For one, there's a giant "Homework" list with all of my assignments for the semester and due dates. This helps me make sure that on any given day, I know whether an assignment is coming up. I sync this Trello list with my Google calendar, which sends me an email reminder the day before something is du…
+1 to getting rid of project-specific lists. I now create a separate Trello board for anything that requires more than 3-4 tasks.
People who feel no impediments in getting things done are those who feel no need to share their plans, interests or self-perceived successes. They can actually remember more than two things at a time, and prioritize them using their brains.
Good luck with this. At some point, you're going to want to record what you're doing or intending to do. If not for yourself, then for the team you're working with or managing. One of the main purposes of GTD is to acknowledge the fact that minds are limited. If you waste too many brain cycles trying to keep your grocery list in your head, you won't be able to remember it or you won't be able to focus on the board me…
No, grocery lists don't occupy my mind and stop me from thinking and remembering other things. Here's how I handle groceries which may be too crude for your high level manager mind: What is needed is my need. First, I own the need and imagine each subject in my mind, amplifying their absence. That helps your remember things like your keys and your glasses as well. Try it some time.
No, minor details don't go away or open you new possibilities when you put them in a list or somehow believe that you measured their impact and are not akin to coding in assembler. Not even sure how that analogy works.
Now for any person who lifts their head from the feast and wonders for a moment; Do train your brain, don't go lazy. Because the next person who does is better than you.
GTD does work but to be almost any system that is used with habit like fervor will work. General productivity of contacting people and writing up things is pretty easy to manage and in large part most of it is just getting it out of your head so that you can focus on other perhaps cerebral things. But that is the problem. Systems like these aren't at the surface terribly helpful with creativity. However I do believe…
Look into Cal Newport @ calnewport.com Basically he says the trick is something called deep work. Where you set aside as big a contiguous block of time as possible to sitting around and thinking about something. Make sure you have no distractions, don't have a phone or computer. Just maybe a pen paper and white board. If you need to do any research try to do as much as possible before and after these session of "deep…
[1]: https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Work-Focused-Success-Distracted/...
This is going to sound crazy to GTD'ers but I don't maintain a task list of any sort. I used to be crazy about Franklin Covey, then GTD, and it was all stress and anxiety. If something is important it will bubble up to the forefront and I'll take care of it. Otherwise I just let it go. You'd be amazed how few things you actually have to get done to enjoy a happy life and to be successful in your work.