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Analog: A simple productivity system

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Re: Analog: A simple productivity system

#31

Post by garyrob »

throwawayboise wrote: post #16
garyrob wrote: post #4

I'm using this in combination with a Python script I wrote that sends me SMS messages for tasks as hard deadlines approach. So, if I get too distracted for some days, because of a technical issue or whatever, to pay much attention to the paper task process, I still get the SMS messages. Since I always check any SMS messages that come in, this prevents me from missing a deadline. And the physical setup of the Analog s…

I have tried SMS alerts for various things. What happens is that I start ignoring SMS. So this isn't something that will work for everyone, especially if the SMS messages become too frequent.

You are correct. I'm leveraging the fact that I do check SMS messages religiously, but that is not true for everyone.

Re: Analog: A simple productivity system

#32

Post by Eighth »

I understand the sentiment, and it's a nice looking bit of desk clutter, but if you're looking for a organising tool, just buy a cheap notebook for pete's sake. Keeping a notebook on your desk is invaluable if well used.

Re: Analog: A simple productivity system

#33

Post by mcguire »

The best system I came up with:

1. Get a small spiral-bound notebook, say 3x5 or whatever is sitting in the supply cabinet.

2. Write today's date on the top of the first page. Write each task on one line on the page. (You only need enough detail to remember what the task is.)

3. As you complete tasks, draw a line through them. It's more satisfying that check marks or whatever.

4. As you add tasks, just write them on the today page.

5. Or, if you know you aren't going to get to them until tomorrow, write tomorrow's date at the top of the next page and put them down there.

6. Or, if you know you can't get to it until Monday, write the dates on the pages in between, one page per day, until you get to Monday and write it there.

7. At the end of the day, look at the list of tasks you didn't get to. Carry them over to tomorrow's page and mark them out on today's. It feels great.

8. Try not to carry too many over to any particular day; after two or three, put the rest on the next day's page. Some days I'm only good for one or two things.

It's all about a) making sure you remember things, and b) making sure you aren't overwhelmed by what you have to do at any one time. (I almost never move a task up.)

Re: Analog: A simple productivity system

#34

Post by mcguire »

cle wrote: post #25
swordsmith wrote: post #22

I actually LoL'd reading this. You can buy packs of 10 small notebooks (each the thickness of 10 of these cards) for $15 on Amazon, they work just as well if not better. A notebook is much easier to carry than a stack of cards with a wooden holder. It can be stood up against the monitor, water bottle, or even by itself. The bubble symbols...spoiler it's very easy to mark each item with "*", "+", "-", and any other ar…

Some people like things that look and feel good. Personally I don't care about that, but I think it's fine that other people do.

True. And the wooden case looks pretty nice. But still hard to carry around.

I got one of these at the Atlanta Pen Show a while back: https://nockco.com/cases/fodderstack-xl

In a glorious one-off color: baby blue and hot pink.

Re: Analog: A simple productivity system

#35

Post by sandreas »

He should extend this to an analog "device" that can be used to structure meetings. I'd bet that companies would pay a lot for things reducing the cost of their meetings and you would need way more of the cards :-)

Did you also once work in a company that was paying hundreds of dollars for SCRUM office utilities? :-)

Now that I think about it, maybe I'll print some content of my article[1] notes onto cards and make a quick buck...

Well, at least there is no obvious sign that something so secret about Analog, that it cannot be told in the video and that you can't rebuild it yourself without paying.

I like it though (if you don't take it quite so seriously)...

[1] https://pilabor.com/blog/2021/04/tips-and-tricks-for-meeting...

Re: Analog: A simple productivity system

#36

Post by m463 »

thebean11 wrote: post #27
swordsmith wrote: post #22

I actually LoL'd reading this. You can buy packs of 10 small notebooks (each the thickness of 10 of these cards) for $15 on Amazon, they work just as well if not better. A notebook is much easier to carry than a stack of cards with a wooden holder. It can be stood up against the monitor, water bottle, or even by itself. The bubble symbols...spoiler it's very easy to mark each item with "*", "+", "-", and any other ar…

Yup this is hilarious. Maybe I'll start selling special sticky notes you can put on your monitor.

People probably don't remember "Macintosh Post-it notes" from Saturday Night Live...

https://youtu.be/6Q-BH8j06pM

Re: Analog: A simple productivity system

#37

Post by jperras »

mcguire wrote: post #33

The best system I came up with: 1. Get a small spiral-bound notebook, say 3x5 or whatever is sitting in the supply cabinet. 2. Write today's date on the top of the first page. Write each task on one line on the page. (You only need enough detail to remember what the task is.) 3. As you complete tasks, draw a line through them. It's more satisfying that check marks or whatever. 4. As you add tasks, just write them on…

I tend to avoid self-promotion, but this was just too on the nose to ignore: what you've described is almost quite literally the functionality of https://teuxdeux.com.

We like to say that our biggest competition is pencil & paper.

Re: Analog: A simple productivity system

#38

Post by KennyBlanken »

mcguire wrote: post #33

The best system I came up with: 1. Get a small spiral-bound notebook, say 3x5 or whatever is sitting in the supply cabinet. 2. Write today's date on the top of the first page. Write each task on one line on the page. (You only need enough detail to remember what the task is.) 3. As you complete tasks, draw a line through them. It's more satisfying that check marks or whatever. 4. As you add tasks, just write them on…

Ah, but that wouldn't let someone charge a subscription of $10/month for thirty small pieces of paper.

For comparison's sake: a small-ish clairfontaine cloth-bound notebook costs about $10

Re: Analog: A simple productivity system

#39

Post by [deleted] »

swordsmith wrote: post #22

I actually LoL'd reading this. You can buy packs of 10 small notebooks (each the thickness of 10 of these cards) for $15 on Amazon, they work just as well if not better. A notebook is much easier to carry than a stack of cards with a wooden holder. It can be stood up against the monitor, water bottle, or even by itself. The bubble symbols...spoiler it's very easy to mark each item with "*", "+", "-", and any other ar…

[deleted]

Re: Analog: A simple productivity system

#40

Post by [deleted] »

mcguire wrote: post #33

The best system I came up with: 1. Get a small spiral-bound notebook, say 3x5 or whatever is sitting in the supply cabinet. 2. Write today's date on the top of the first page. Write each task on one line on the page. (You only need enough detail to remember what the task is.) 3. As you complete tasks, draw a line through them. It's more satisfying that check marks or whatever. 4. As you add tasks, just write them on…

[deleted]
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