Life getting "in between" is what "The 4 Disciplines of Execution" would call "the whirlwind." Tracking/organizing your tasks is only one tool to combat the whirlwind, but I'd recommend reading the book to consider a more comprehensive set of tools to fight that fight.
Ask HN: How do you organize everything you want to do?
181–190 of 291 posts
Re: Ask HN: How do you organize everything you want to do?
#182Stephen Covey's system embodied by the Franklin Covey planners were the most holistic system I've ever seen for managing the day to day, and keeping the big picture in mind (the fulfilling part). It's sad the company has all but died.
GTD is great for churning out done tasks. Though afterwards I felt less fulfilled.
Since Franklin Covey failed to ever produce a software product of any use I use an ugly mix of iPhone reminders, Things (by Cultured Code) and Microsoft OneNote.
http://weekplan.net is an attempt to mix Franklin Covey and OKR (Objective & Key Results). It has some good features, but it's buggy and confusing.
I've also gone without any planning system for a time. Only focusing on what bubbled up in my mind. If you remain undistracted it's incredibly liberating when you discover how little you must accomplish to enjoy a healthy productive life.
Most of the items on our todo lists are worthless to us anyway. Which is why the Self Authoring program helped me immensely. https://selfauthoring.com/
Re: Ask HN: How do you organize everything you want to do?
#183I use Trello boards for various aspects of my life (personal, tech, etc), each with five lists:
* Ideas - stuff that I might want to do in the future(lots of random items on here).
* To-Do - things that I actually want to do soon.
* In progress - things actually being worked on.
* Review - things that are mostly finished but need final tidy up.
* Completed - done and dusted!
I arrange the order of the cards from highest priority to lowest priority. And I don't start working on anything new without making sure it's on the board and prioritised accordingly.
Re: Ask HN: How do you organize everything you want to do?
#184I've been working on a project for the last 4-6 months around managing your books: https://getpolarized.io/ You guys loved it: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18219960 ... but I'm sure not all of you have seen it yet. Basically you can keep all your books and web pages in one central repository, tag them, flag them or archive them and read them while keeping track of your reading. It also supports highlights, an…
Have you considered a web app version? I move around quite a bit and often don't have access to a PC on which I can install software.
Yes... that and mobile but I have to do a significant amount of work to make that happen.
I think probably web version first.
Re: Ask HN: How do you organize everything you want to do?
#185Simple. Keep it to three things max. Always. Having N things you want to do is a sure fire way get nothing done.
Edit: and I say that as a 45 year old that’s done a “lot” of things
Re: Ask HN: How do you organize everything you want to do?
#186One of the highest forms of procrastination, but it seems it's much easier to come up with ideas than to execute them.
The best system I ever had consisted of papers that I just hammered up on a wall using nails. Such a good system it has a spatial element to it that is just fantastic. Might want to check with your landlord first though.
Other than that I do trello, notes that I have in a directory and keep track of with git and tomboy. I have to say that tomboy is a gem for sure, does a lot of sense in many ways sad to see that it's not more polished.
Re: Ask HN: How do you organize everything you want to do?
#187Work is more valuable than ideas.
Re: Ask HN: How do you organize everything you want to do?
#188One of the highest forms of procrastination, but it seems it's much easier to come up with ideas than to execute them. The best system I ever had consisted of papers that I just hammered up on a wall using nails. Such a good system it has a spatial element to it that is just fantastic. Might want to check with your landlord first though. Other than that I do trello, notes that I have in a directory and keep track of…
You could use tape adhesive, no need for nails doctor Jones.Landlord is such happy.
Re: Ask HN: How do you organize everything you want to do?
#189I have kind of an open question but: do we have a way to quantify what it means to get something done?
For example, I feel in my heart that I can solve any problem, given enough time and resources. Sometimes I don't get even 1 important thing done in a day. Meanwhile I watch other people get what seems like 10-100 things done in a single day. Then they do it again the next day, consistently, their entire lives. Which of us accomplishes more in the grand scheme of things? Which of us feels happier, or more fulfilled? Which of us makes more money? Is that want accomplishment is, earning money? Or is it freeing oneself from obligation? Or is it having been useful to others? A few thoughts:
* Is getting something done mostly about the feeling of accomplishment? Or is it a tangible, quantifiable thing like crossing an item off a todo list?
* I began using the calendar app in my phone a year ago. I feel a sense of relief not having to remember everything, and I stopped missing appointments. But my calendar is filling up fast, and it worries me. Is this good or bad?
* If (potentially) we're not after the things, but the sense of fulfillment from the things, then could it simply be about changing habits? Getting up early in the morning and accomplishing nothing in the 2 hours before work may feel more rewarding than deliberately wasting the hours between 11 PM and 1 AM over a beer and video streaming. But is the risk/reward worth it? Is it sustainable? Can life be improved by simply going through the motions until the improvements stick?
For what it's worth, my new year's resolution is to begin starting things, finally. So I am working on improving motivation, building a new habit every week or two, saying yes to the accessory gatherings and exercises that build rapport, etc, feng shui'ing my life basically.
Re: Ask HN: How do you organize everything you want to do?
#190Marie Kondo style -> you would be surprised how much clearer your mind is once you take the time to declutter your home.