Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with GettingThingsDone

Can you help me figure out a hybrid paper/electronic system with an iphone or something completely different?

Not Supplied — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:52:50 -0800

I just need a 'Getting Things Done' system that works. Can you help me figure out a hybrid paper/electronic system with an iphone or something completely different? I really want to implement the getting things done system, but having a hard time finding a system that works.

I thought I needed an electronic system. I find it hard to lay out a project in sequential order on paper so using a system that allows subprojects where I can shift things around to my hearts content seems right. I enjoyed using omnifocus on a mac.

Partly on the strength of that I got an shared iphone contract with someone. However, I hate using omnifocus on the iphone its fiddly and rsi inducing...and I don't own a mac to do the main work on there. The iphone is good for occasional email and internet on the move but I don't like using it much.

Also stuff doesn't integrate that well...omnifocus can't do alarms for tasks when I need them or integrate with the calendar etc.

I'm quite attracted to the hipster pda idea where you use index cards etc to make a paper based organiser. I like the idea of capturing ideas on paper with mind maps etc. However I find it hard to see how I won't be endlessly rewriting lists...no way of rearranging projects and subtasks. Also for phone book, diary etc you can't really beat a pda.

I know it's a bit vague, but I'm basically saying 'help' I've been looking on the net for ages and just can't visualise something that would work for me...so has anyone got any ideas that might work out better. I could use my iphone or could look at trading in for something else..really need to get organised!

Blocking distracting programs to get work done

flatluigi — Sun, 03 May 2009 21:17:26 -0800

Help me focus on my work! I need to get some work done but I'm very easily distracted by things on the internet. I'd just go offline, but I need to stay connected for the particular work I'm doing.

Are there any programs out there that I can download to keep particular programs (firefox, chrome, steam, etc) from executing while it's running?

What kind of labeler should I buy

alms — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:00:14 -0800

Should I buy a stand-alone labeler (with built-in keyboard) or a labeler that attaches to my Macintosh? Recommendations for specific models would be great. Yes, I'm reading Getting Things Done. That means I want a labeler that is very easy to use. It should have low overhead for making "just one label that I need right now" as well as for making a set of thirty labels when I reorganize my files. Maybe I'd use it for spice jars and christmas letters, too, but that's less important.

It should be plug-in, not battery-operated, and it should take up a minimal amount of desk space.

Thank you for helping me reclaim my file drawers, and along with them the rest of my life.

Getrdone

parmanparman — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 06:23:31 -0800

I have many great ideas but I am a terrible personal and professional implementer. How can I do better now?

My white whale of GTD apps for Mac?

synecdoche — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 12:07:02 -0800

GTD-filter: I'm trying to organize my (academic) work life using GTD. I've read through the book, and it sounds like it can help me a lot. I am thinking of using my Macbook as my folder system, but I can't seem to find an app that works the way I want. I've tried a whole bunch, now-- kGTD, Midnight-Inbox, Journler, and maybe a couple others, but they nothing seems to work the way I am hoping them to. I may be searching for some sort of non-existent "dream app" here but I thought I'd ask around and make sure I'm not missing out on something.

Basically, I want a program that plays nicely with iCal and Mail.app. I don't want an all-out harvesting of everything that comes into my e-mail inbox, because a lot of that has nothing to do with me organizing things, or else they are little things that I can deal with in two minutes without having to file them. Furthermore, I use iCal to schedule my time, which often involves a block of time that is just "Reading" or "Office hours." Midnight Inbox, for instance, just harvests EVERYTHING from both of these apps and I'd rather not waste time going through each little thing that comes into my inbox twice (once to deal with it in Mail, and then again in Inbox).

I also want something that easily lets me create little notes of things that I can easily drop into my tickler file. In my case, I'll get an idea for a paper that I can't do anything about right now, but I might be able to work with, say, next year. So I might have a little note that says "Write paper on so and so." That'd be great for my tickler file, as I want to have a reference for it, but I don't want to have to go through any hoops to create what is essentially a sticky note that gets filed away.

Ideally, this app would also have folders for me to file other documents (ie Word docs, PDF files, and so on) into, and associate these on projects. So, if one of my projects is "write this paper," I can just drop in a PDF file into that folder be done with it.

Finally, it'd be nice to be able to rank actions. I schedule my time in chunks, as I mentioned, so I might have three hours in the morning where I read, and then three hours where I deal with some of the tasks in the folder. It'd be nice to have them prioritized for me.

Last requirement: free or cheap. I am a grad student, after all.

Honestly, if there's a way to get mail.app to do complex nested folders, let me know, as that might be the easiest thing. I am not sure. Simplifying the sheer number of applications I have running is appealing. But any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Help me find an organization system that actually works for ME.

SanctiCrucis05 — Sun, 13 May 2007 17:45:43 -0800

I've tried a lot of personal organization systems, and have had varying degrees of success with each. I've yet to stick with any, however, so I'm trying to find a system that works for ME so that I can be productive more often than not. After trying and dropping many systems, I've tried to figure out why no particular organizational system has worked for me, and I think I've discovered the reason why: for someone to stick with a particular system, it needs to mesh very nicely with their workflow. If the system clashes with the system at all, or adds too much overhead, I think it's nearly impossible (and possibly unwise) to continue with the system. Put another way, the opportunity cost of following the system outweighs its benefits.

So I'm hoping that if I write a bit about my experiences thus far, and about my workflow, that some of you all can hit me with some great advice. I'm a software developer, and I've found that I get my best work done when I get into "the zone" with coding. But as you all probably know, getting in the zone can be a process itself, taking 10 minutes one day and 2 hours another. Beyond my "zone" periods for specific, challenging coding tasks, I'm definitely someone who shifts contexts alot. I like to drift from one action item to the next, and if I can create a chain of productivity, I really do well in a day.

I've tried paper and computer systems, and I think I've had more luck with the computer than the paper -- I DO tend to scribble thoughts, phone numbers, etc, but do not keep up with a written planner (or the DIY PDA that I kepy on 3x5 cards for awhile). For computer systems, I've tried basecamp (but without a real system behind it), ta-da lists, remember the milk, and most successfully, StickIt. I think StickIt captured the way I work well, but it just wasn't mature enough to be where I wouldn't have to fight the system a bit to get things properly into it. I've also tried Getting Things Done, and I appreciated the Context system from that, and also the idea to ALWAYS have an ability to write down an idea / inspiration (that has been very useful for me).

PHEW! I think that about covers it. I'll be happy to answer any follow up questions you may have. Please -- help me get organized and be productive!

Designing a GTD Office

five fresh fish — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 18:06:02 -0800

Designing a Getting Things Done office! The room is approximately 14x14' square. The door is at the south-west corner facing south; there are two windows, perpendicular to one another, at the north-east corner. The east wall has a closet; the south-west corner has walls on both sides. There are electrical plugs on all walls; the plug nearest the window is switched at the door. The ceiling light is centred in the room. The room is devoid of all furniture, and awaits your best ideas.Any and all ideas for designing an office specifically to facilitate GTD is most welcome! The space will be shared between a GTD workspace (including any required wallspace), a sewing centre, and a general worktable for, well, most anything needing doing, from repairing small appliances to doing craftworks. The most important thing, though, is that the room really makes GTD fly.Lighting, audio, ethernet, storage, table heights, bins, filing cabinets, anything you think is needed -- go to it. I must have a functional GTD environment, dammit!

GTD Getting things done questions galore

filmgeek — Sun, 09 Oct 2005 22:29:39 -0800

GTD - Getting things done questions for people who have 'adopted' it. Ok, I'm taking the plunge against procrastination and the chaos that is life. I never had a formal system in place, and David Allen's Book (Getting Things Done) seems to make decent sense.

What mistakes did you make/advice would you give me that you made for me to avoid? Have you used any of Allen's services? Did you see him speak?

I'm using a Mac - and stumbled across KindlessGTD (an omnioutliner format.) Did it work for you? fail? Better tools?

I'm toying around with the idea of using VooDoo Pad wiki (a shareware personal wiki) instead, but I can't seem to wrap my head around how to structure it with the context idea (are you using an online wiki? personal wiki? how is it structured?)

I'm not obsessing on the tools; I've started clearing my inboxes across the board and organizing using Kindless..but I can always change.

Have you adopted GTD and found it failed you in some great way?

Browser for Palm

karmaville — Mon, 06 Jun 2005 22:43:52 -0800

As a new convert to Getting Things Done, I want to incorporate the GTDTiddlyWiki into my Palm Tungsten T. In order to do that I need a web browser of some sort but can't seem to find one that is A.) free and B.) designed for the Palm. Any suggestions for an application I could download? Is this even possible?

Are the Outlook Add-ins 'You Perform' and 'Getting Things Done' worth buying?

Carsey — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 14:55:50 -0800

Has anyone checked out the Outlook Add-ins: You Perform or David Allen's Getting Things Done? Are they worth buying?