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Getting Things Done

by Joseph Michael
11 replies
What are your favourite tools to get things done?

Mine is a strange story, I used to basically not keep a to do list, I had the "to do lists are for girls" attitude.

But since last year when I gave up the day job and went full time into IM I felt the urge to become very professional, so I brought a few to do list managers, like remember the milk and todoist and I trialled them all.

I then got a bit obsessive, and started putting EVERYTHING down on my to do list, and it looked horrible. Even tho I had categorised them, it still felt horrible. I felt trapped by all these little things.

I know the whole GTD thing says you feel better when you write all your to do's and ideas down, but...

I didn't to be honest. I think I was just writing things down for the sake of it. These things I never really intended to do... and I never did.

I think the best way to get things done, is forget these productivity tools. Get a sheet of paper, write down 2 BIG things you ARE GOING TO DO TODAY and then just do them.

Then finish work for the day & let everything float.

If it's important enough it will be scratched into your brain.
#things
  • Profile picture of the author nadia712
    Originally Posted by joewooweb View Post

    I then got a bit obsessive, and started putting EVERYTHING down on my to do list, and it looked horrible. Even tho I had categorised them, it still felt horrible. I felt trapped by all these little things.
    Oooh yeah. Mine always looks like that. I have a bunch of different to do lists for different things, and they're all pretty hellish. I do end up getting the most important things done, but, you're right, there are always little things that end up being on your list eternally because they're never quite important enough to inspire action.

    I do feel better knowing I've got little things written down to help me occupy my time productively when I've got nothing better to do, though (even if that's an exceedingly rare circumstance). At least I feel like they might get done someday, and that eases my mind. It's crazily frustrating not being able to remember something you wanted to do, too, so it saves you from that.
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  • Profile picture of the author Andyhenry
    I have a wall planner that has my stuff to do on and I just do it when I feel like it unless it requires someone else, then I just do it when it needs doing.
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    nothing to see here.

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  • Profile picture of the author BIG Mike
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    • Profile picture of the author PaulaC
      My problem is remembering to do things so I have to write them down. Since I have my iPod Touch with me most times its easy to jot things down so I don't forget.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lisa Gergets
    I use Gmail as my todo list - while some may argue against it, it works out great.
    Hey Big Mike, can you explain a bit more?
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    • Profile picture of the author BIG Mike
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      • Profile picture of the author Joseph Michael
        Originally Posted by BIG Mike View Post

        Sure...come on over and we'll talk about it

        Seriously - in Gmail you can create colored labels for different things and apply one or more labels to every email.

        I send myself emails (notes) and apply labels to them and archive them. Then, on the left-hand side of Gmail's main screen, all your labels are visible. Click one and you get a mini-list of whatever has that label.

        At the same time, it's handy for keeping track of support requests and so forth (more on this later).
        Not to mention Gmails built in to do list app,

        which allows you to keep multiple lists and prioritise and sync up witht he calendar.

        I like your method though Mike and I do agree,

        Sometimes when you've got one of these big complicated systems you become a slave to it, which completely goes against the goal of GTD which is to be at zen like peace with your STUFF.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lisa Gergets
    Sure...come on over and we'll talk about it
    bow chicka bow-bowwwwwwwww
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  • Profile picture of the author RoyChan
    Here is a list of things you need:
    - A project list
    - A project plan
    - Next Action List
    - Mindmaps (if you do a lot of internet marketing stuff)
    - Convenient Stationery Including Folder

    Also, you need an overall business plan.

    As for gmail, there is a hack tool which enable you to make gmail a list itself. Powerful stuff.

    Cheers
    Roy
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    • Profile picture of the author Marty S
      I actually combine two tools for this, and no I don't spend a lot of time on them but it DOES REALLY help to take the time to list your projects and then look at what you have accomplished after a set period.

      On my Mac i use What ToDo as a way to list my long term projects (days, weeks, months) and since I know what is coming up as a due date, I will add time to work on that project in another program called The Action Machine. It is essentially flash-based job timer, and not really all that full featured, but I do use it to keep focused - which is one of my biggest faults working from my World Headquarters ie lonely little basement.

      One of the other things I do is accept work from a client or two to mix in with my own. Although it is very debatable as to my dollar hour value, I find that it simply keeps me grounded by knowing I have deadlines on their stuff, which makes me work harder on my own! But that's just my quirky.

      The more I use these tools, the more I accomplish. Its almost like a built in boss keeping tabs on me.
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      • Profile picture of the author ShelbyC
        Thanks for mentioning The Action Plan Machine I didn't know they had ported it to Mac's, will have to pick it up
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  • Profile picture of the author ShelbyC
    I've found it best to focus on 2 big things a day written down in Notepad

    I use a timer app or a physical timer and work in 33 minute blocks with a 5 minute break as suggested by the master Eugene Schwartz.
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  • Profile picture of the author jennypitts
    I try to keep a "to do list" as well. And just like some of you, it sometimes drives me nuts; especially if I have put so many things on it I end up just having a hard time getting to everything. I got into writing things down on a calendar while in school, then when I started IMing I realized, the spaces inside a calendar weren't enough.

    So the daily list got started, and it is divided by priority. And I do try to get to everything on that list. If I do not get to it, I try to make it my second or third priority the next day. And, more often than not, it works.
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