Comments on: Update 1: GTD Hybrid System – 30 Day Trial

By: Update 2: GTD Hybrid System - 30 Day Trial « Free Flow Life

Update 2: GTD Hybrid System - 30 Day Trial « Free Flow Life — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:05:07 +0000

[...] has gone by and I’m still going with my trial of a GTD combined electronic and paper system. Last week I wrote about some of the set up experience and of some initial reactions. This week I want to make [...]

By: Simon

Simon — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:51:40 +0000

Thanks Ned for your comment. I’ll go into some more detail in tomorrow’s update post but I have kept the page layout pretty straightforward. I have divided things up by Context and pretty much just list the Next Actions and then cross them out when done. They ARE just lists by the way – even for Projects. Any supporting material I keep separately.

By: Ned

Ned — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 03:19:06 +0000

Thanks for the posting. I too am interested in finding/developing a digital/paper GTD system that will support both my personal and work needs. On the digital-side, I’m using Gmail, Gcal and GTDInbox which works well for my personal needs with my iPhone. I have done web searches for ideas for the paper-side but haven’t found ‘good’ ones. I’m curious what you developed for your page layout/content for Next Action, Someday/Maybe & Projects. Also what about Contexts? Thanks

By: Simon

Simon — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 11:16:28 +0000

Thanks for the comment Jennifer. I totally get the “out of sight, out of mind” notion you describe. It bugs me because I WANT a digital solution to work but there is something about having the physical items in front of me – I guess they’re just harder to ignore. I had to work on something this weekend at home and I printed all the bits I would need in the office even though I could access them all electronically in my study. It worked – I got the task done!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:43:07 +0000

Recently I’ve also been learning about the usefulness of manipulating physical things rather than digital ones. I’ve been more productive since I started working from pieces of paper (a printed-out email, a draft of something, etc.) and physical folders. I have folders for today, later, home, waiting, etc. and I get so much more done when I pick out one piece of paper at a time and deal with it. Maybe it’s just because it’s a new approach, not sure, but I think at least for me, there’s an “out of sight, out of mind” quality to digital information that gets in the way.

By: Simon

Simon — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:49:13 +0000

@Jennifer: Definitely a powerful focus – I’m moving on stuff that was on my electronic lists for an eternity! It’s a good feeling

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:14:53 +0000

I find the same thing about rewriting my lists by hand. Sometimes it’s just easier to do the damn thing than to rewrite it.

By: Simon

Simon — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:18:54 +0000

Thanks Laurie! Even after all these years of using a computer I still find that when I have a large document to read or review that I need to print it out on paper. Can’t explain this but it is a different experience.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:45:47 +0000

Paper just rocks doesn’t it? My hub will do things on the computer when just using some paper will be quicker and more efficient. I thought computers were going to make us a paperless society….Well, we use more paper than ever because it is just so darn easy to print out 10 copies of that billion page report! :O) Good for you Simon Hill.