Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Analog: A simple productivity system

ugmonk.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 97 posts

Re: Analog: A simple productivity system

#41

Post by unexistential »

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…

After years of trying to be productive with to-do apps, I've found that nothing beats the flexibility of plain old pen and paper. Even analog systems like Analog or Bullet Journal impose rules of varying inflexibility, and that made them very unappealing, for me at least.

I guess this is because people have different ways of thinking about goals, tasks and timeframes. For me what works best is a 'week todo' that contains coarser/larger tasks and a daily todo that contains more granular tasks, often sub-tasks of the weekly ones. Adopting this method has made me more productive than I've been in years.

Re: Analog: A simple productivity system

#42

Post by dpweb »

In the past I'd eyeroll at $100 for some index cards, as something for the 20s/single/300k programmer crowd. But these look great I have to admit its tempting. I like 2 or 3 things on my desk MAX and it does matter those things are pleasing to look at 14 hours a day.

Re: Analog: A simple productivity system

#43

Post by porcoda »

TameAntelope wrote: post #10
porcoda wrote: post #5

I’ve tried these kind of systems with pre-printed forms/lists/labels on cards or pages. I’m not convinced they’re worth the extra $ beyond my good old fall back: a couple different colored post it note pads and notes organized around the edge of my monitor.

I love post it notes! I stick them semi-randomly around my desk/on my monitor and they give me a real-time sense for how I'm doing: * I stack the completed ones, productive days have fat stacks. * As my desk gets more cluttered by post it notes, it triggers my desire to "clean" my desk, by accomplishing the work. * I periodically re-assess the utility of the work, which keeps me focused on the most important things.…

I also like that I can prioritize things by sticking them to my laptop next to the trackpad. Important notes that need to follow me away from the desk often get stuck there.

Re: Analog: A simple productivity system

#44

Post by thenerdhead »

I've used this system for years, but never considered buying this overpriced product. I am quite sad to see this be so marked up as a designer / minimalist type of product to make productivity seem more sexy than it really is. I know people buy it, but it feels wasteful.

I buy dotted grid index cards and use an old smartphone stand to keep it upright. Total cost is maybe $20 total for a couple years of supply. I use my own notecard template I came up with and bullet journal syntax for each line item. I plan only individual days with notecards. Usually it's one highlight(i'd be happy with my day if done) and three things I want to get done that day.

The benefits of writing things down on paper are insane. It definitely sticks better than apps or websites that provide similar functionality and syncing. I usually use todoist in combination with my notecards. I see the notecard method as my daily "tactics" and a notebook or app as my longer term "strategy".

Re: Analog: A simple productivity system

#47

Post by dpweb »

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…

Same concept maybe, I use emails as my todos and snooze them to popup at the right time. Inbox always at zero so its easy to see something I gotta take action on. Things will definitely get missed otherwise and my email is always with me.

Re: Analog: A simple productivity system

#48

Post by toastercat »

LMFAO

All jokes aside, this looks really well designed and thought out, but the pricing is hard to justify even if you're the type of person who can drop $100 on a block of wood and index cards without wincing, especially if you're the kind of person who is self-aware of their socioeconomic status. I do applaud the creator for giving an overview of how he came up with Analog in the intro video (which includes him mentioning he first found success with index cards).

I do agree with him that it's hard to stay on track when using digital productivity tools. I use a whiteboard I bought at Walgreens, draw a bunch of checkboxes on it, and keep that over my desk, so I can't ignore it.

Re: Analog: A simple productivity system

#49

Post by jamesvclements »

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…

Love the SMS idea, it's the one thing I always check / have access to. Few months ago I setup a # I can text things I'm grateful for throughout the day and it saves them in Notion. Makes it a little easier to practice gratitude as cool things happen without needing a journal or separate app

Re: Analog: A simple productivity system

#50

Post by allenu »

egypturnash wrote: post #17
gcr wrote: post #11

I saw this last year! You can replicate this system with a stack of index cards and a hair tie. :) You can even make the top card stand at a similar angle if you want: take the top card off the stack, bend the edge inward by 120 degrees or so, and tuck that "hook" of the bent card back into the hair tie to stand it upright. You can even put a pen in there. It's great to take to the store for shopping!

A binder clip works well too. It's the Hipster PDA! http://www.43folders.com/2004/09/03/introducing-the-hipster-...

I immediately thought of the Hipster PDA as well. I'm so glad the page is still up after all these years!
Post reply on HN