I've been searching for an easy high tech way to essentially implement GTD. I'm almost done with the book, but unfortunately, probably don't have the time (two days) to implement it for a few weeks. This is fine since I've got a lot going on, and it gives me more time to research how I'm going to implement it (with what tools, etc.). I decided that I did need some sort of easy to use and flexible content management system. Fair enough. I'm not sure what I'm going to use for that, but I thought about a wiki, so I installed Instiki. That's fine, but I did want something a little more flexible.
I also installed ExtCalendar2 on this server to manage my calendar. I like it, there are features that I'd like to see added, but I'll save those for later.
One thing I did yesterday was to start up an account on tadalist.com to manage my lists. I like the checkbox feature since it gives me a sense of "I got things done!"
Now, as you can see, this has already gotten to be a pretty disparate list of tools. Three different places, all of which I need a computer to use. One thing that I saw today, which is especially targeted directly to GTD people is: TiddlyWiki. I am playing around with it right now, just to see if it will work, and if it does the things that I'd like it to do. A neat feature (of many) that is implemented on this page is the fact that these lists can be printed directly onto 3x5" index cards (on of the GTD supplies), and filed into your Hipster PDA. The Hipster PDA can also be "modded" to fit your personal preference.
Right now, I want something that can do todo lists, calendaring, contacts, and link them all together. Oh wait, you say Palm makes those? They sure do. I don't like Palm products though. I sure as shit don't like Microsoft's Windows CE products either. And, I'd like something that does all that and is a telephone too. Hmmmm. Something like a blackberry? Yeah, something like that.
Posted by yakuza at May 10, 2005 04:11 PM | TrackBackI am into the GTD stuff, too. After trying some software/tools (as well as the Hipster idea) I think I am gradually shaping up the tool set to be used.
1. For "main" action lists, I am using LifeBalance off Palm and PC. The good thing is that it has the concept of "place" which is almost identical to GTD's "context". It also allows the weighting of each action in term of the "fuzzy" importance. I can set an action to be "essential", "somewhat", "not every", or any of the 5 or 6 priority levels. I can also assign the effort level to be "maximum", "average", "below average", etc... The to-do list will organize the action basing on the "place", and sorted them basing on "importance" and "effort". BTW, it also allow an action to be periodically "happens" such as "every two weeks". It is a little pricy for the whole package ($75 for both PC and Palm versions) but it is worth it.
2. However, LifeBalance is not very good at dealing with projects. For projects, I use Progect from SourceForge. It is a neat Palm open source app that is very good at creating and managing lists. It even shows the progress bar of the list(project) basing on the completion of the items. Of course, checkboxes, percentages, numerics are all supported for indication the completion of each item. It has a companion PC freeware called PDesk (also from SourceForge) that makes the creating and editing the lists very easy off the PCs.
3. For quick "collection", I use the Hipster idea. I take a small envelope (the types for mailing checks), seal it completely, then cut off one end to make it about 4.5 inches long. I then insert a small stack of 3x5 cards and a pen. I make some sets and put them in my car, bathroom, sunroom, and garage. It is very useful to catch some random thoughts quickly so I can tranfer them later into PC/Palm.
Last, for the gadget device mentioned above, it's there already. Palm's Treo 650 which is a phone/PDA with the right form factor and selling like crazy. Everyone loves it. However, it is very pricy. Last time I checked, it was sold at around $500+ range.