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Reasons to use a paper-based task manager

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Re: Reasons to use a paper-based task manager

#2
Probably an ad hominem, but why would someone who has over 7000 tweets and who appears to be tweeting every 3 hours need to carry an additional pen + paper.

Wouldn't he have his phone anyway? I wonder why are so many "digital natives" still preaching the advantages of pen an paper over digital texts today.

Re: Reasons to use a paper-based task manager

#3
post #2

Probably an ad hominem, but why would someone who has over 7000 tweets and who appears to be tweeting every 3 hours need to carry an additional pen + paper. Wouldn't he have his phone anyway? I wonder why are so many "digital natives" still preaching the advantages of pen an paper over digital texts today.

I mean, that's answered directly in the article: phones run out of battery, Twitter isn't as each to reach for as a notebook.

I don't use this guy's specific method, but I've spent the past few months using pen-and-paper as well, and it just works very well for me (using the Bullet Journal technique: bulletjournal.com). I suspect this kind of thing varies wildly from person to person, though.

Re: Reasons to use a paper-based task manager

#4
> 1. Forces brevity

> 2. It's always available / It never crashes

> 3. Awesome Weekly Summary

> 4. Take notes anywhere

On 1.) This is something ultimately up to oneself, I could have a larger notebook, or use multiple pages. Brevity more over is about self-discipline in accurately describing tasks. It can also be double edged in that not enough information or vagueness may increase effort require. This is something digital tools can help alleviate by allowing for additional information (todos, comments, etc).

On 2.) Sure, paper beats the redundancy of digital or online tools, but let's not forget about the power and utility they can provide as well.

On 3.) Digital tools by contrast can work around this exceeding well and in detail (calendars, weekly iterations, etc).

Finally on 4.) Sure, I won't argue against papers innate redundancy, but I feel like digital services convenience me just as well with mobile & web apps (as long as I can get the full site though :P).

Anywho, my long drawn out point is : these strengths can be applied elsewhere, and just as well. For instance, I use Trello as a scratchpad about various things I have going on. I've got about 11 or so person boards. Writing things down and applying a method to limit work in progress is really the corner stone of getting things done in my opinion. Just my two cents.

Re: Reasons to use a paper-based task manager

#5
post #3
post #2

Probably an ad hominem, but why would someone who has over 7000 tweets and who appears to be tweeting every 3 hours need to carry an additional pen + paper. Wouldn't he have his phone anyway? I wonder why are so many "digital natives" still preaching the advantages of pen an paper over digital texts today.

I mean, that's answered directly in the article: phones run out of battery, Twitter isn't as each to reach for as a notebook. I don't use this guy's specific method, but I've spent the past few months using pen-and-paper as well, and it just works very well for me (using the Bullet Journal technique: bulletjournal.com). I suspect this kind of thing varies wildly from person to person, though.

The other aspect for me is that I can write better on a book with bound paper pages, than I can on a smartphone. I can type much better than either of those input methods, on a proper keyboard. But if I don't have a proper keyboard, I'm more skilled with a pen than with a simulation of a QWERTY keyboard on a 4.5" touchscreen.

Re: Reasons to use a paper-based task manager

#7
post #2

Probably an ad hominem, but why would someone who has over 7000 tweets and who appears to be tweeting every 3 hours need to carry an additional pen + paper. Wouldn't he have his phone anyway? I wonder why are so many "digital natives" still preaching the advantages of pen an paper over digital texts today.

I'm that guy and I always have my phone. But, I'd be willing to bet that from a standstill with nothing in our hands, I could write down a task to my Corbinizer faster than you can find the app, launch it, type it in and save.

I was excited about Siri as a final replacement for the Corbinizer, but even now I'd rather not scream my tasks at my phone during a meeting.

Re: Reasons to use a paper-based task manager

#8
post #2

Probably an ad hominem, but why would someone who has over 7000 tweets and who appears to be tweeting every 3 hours need to carry an additional pen + paper. Wouldn't he have his phone anyway? I wonder why are so many "digital natives" still preaching the advantages of pen an paper over digital texts today.

I wonder why are so many "digital natives" still preaching the advantages of pen an paper over digital texts today.

Different technologies have different qualities, I still find a small notebook and an A4 zipping folder indispensible. Paper is fast. For idea development, scribbling on lots of paper is still one of the best tools available.

Re: Reasons to use a paper-based task manager

#9
post #2

Probably an ad hominem, but why would someone who has over 7000 tweets and who appears to be tweeting every 3 hours need to carry an additional pen + paper. Wouldn't he have his phone anyway? I wonder why are so many "digital natives" still preaching the advantages of pen an paper over digital texts today.

Pen + paper is freeform - i can include sketches easily.

Pen + paper allows me to rip out a sheet and just give someone a note without having to worry about connecting phones or exchanging email addresses.

It's just nice to use a different medium sometimes.

Re: Reasons to use a paper-based task manager

#10

> 1. Forces brevity > 2. It's always available / It never crashes > 3. Awesome Weekly Summary > 4. Take notes anywhere On 1.) This is something ultimately up to oneself, I could have a larger notebook, or use multiple pages. Brevity more over is about self-discipline in accurately describing tasks. It can also be double edged in that not enough information or vagueness may increase effort require. This is something d…

I agree about the brevity. I don't personally see it as terribly important. As the article points out, once you're in the habit of tracking things, it does mean they absolutely will get done! But to my mind this suggests you should have more space, for keeping track of as many items (large or small) as required, rather than less.

(I just maintain an A5 notebook with a list of tasks. I let them build up as required, cross each off once done, and clip the edge of a page once all its tasks are resolved. Makes it easy to find the remaining items.)

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