Productivity/Getting Things Done...thanks Architect

[Sixup]

Have any of you read the book and/or started using the system "Getting Things Done" (GTD)? If not, do you use any sort of productivity system?

I found it through some of the old posts where Architect and others talk about it, and it happened to almost synchronistically align with a blogger I've been into lately who mentioned it...so I picked that book up and have started implementing it.

I'm naturally horrible with organization. And the idea of a productivity system has always made me cringe. It kind of conjures thoughts of annoying suited, fake-smiling bureaucrats checking schedules in 15 minute time chunks to fit in all their shitty meetings. Seems like a horrible life.

Anyway so far I'm liking GTD. Seems like what I've needed my whole life. I always would get the tools but never had a good way to use them that would make me want to stick to it. Hopefully I do stick to it...so far so good.

 

[Ex-User (9086)]

I tried to use GTD, but it's too absolute and required too much management for me. It felt like that one time I tried to collect receipts to see what my actual monthly expenses were in each department. Too tedious and I tend to constantly forget about that. I also added loads of small ideas I had that usually don't make it and this was further confusing, since I often want to do everything and I couldn't stand changing my mindset to accepting I won't get to them anyway, so I'd rather add them to the list to have that opportunity, but this system didn't like that.

For me using a handy scheduler phone app (it has to require as little time to add events as possible) and a small notebook is more useful since I use it when I need it and I don't have to micro-manage it to keep reminders reliable.

 

[_whispers_]

^Which app do you use? I've gone through a few, but can't seem to find a good one.

OP, I haven't read "Getting Things Done", but just from the Wikipedia description it looks like something that would make me waste time with too many details. Is this true?

 

[Architect]

OmniFocus (Mac/iPhone only) is the best.

If you do creative work then Contexts become difficult. Actually in the modern world Contexts are difficult. Who doesn't have access to resources most of the time in this mobile world? For me when I'm working I have all the resources I need. This idea was invented in the day of resource (especially information, like the phone) scarcity. I never found a solution to the Context problem, which removes one of the major benefits of the system, which is the dual axis of Project-Context.

The other thing is that it was invented for busy executives, running from one activity to another. Works well for busy parents too. But if your life is more streamlined between a few activities then its a list management system, which is good enough reason to use it.

I don't use it actively most of the time. The main benefit was that it taught me that I had too many ideas, and wasn't doing anything. INTP's are Ti dominant (do) and Ne (idea) auxiliary, it's the ENTP's (Ne dominant) who are more the idea people. The hundreds of ideas and projects I dumped into OmniFocus made it clear that I had a misconception about myself. So I dropped hobbies, tasks, activities and such from my life left and right, trimming it down to a few activities (maintenance, family, entertainment (music) and work (three simultaneous projects maximum). So really I'm just thinking about my three projects, and don't need an external system for it. But I wouldn't have come to this point without having dumped everything in OF, and knowing it's still there.

It's a great tool, best in class, but you should know its strengths and weaknesses and how to best use it for how you live your life.

 

[Sixup]

OP, I haven't read "Getting Things Done", but just from the Wikipedia description it looks like something that would make me waste time with too many details. Is this true?

I thought that too...but that's kind of the point in the beginning. You go through the entire process of collecting everything in your life and write it down. Which seems like a waste of time, but he talks about how even trivial ideas floating in your head are taking up your "RAM" just the same as any important ideas, so you write it down somewhere you know you'll see it again, which frees you up subconsciously. Once it's all stored somewhere, then you only need to worry about active projects.

Then, what Architect said above I have already found to be very true:

The main benefit was that it taught me that I had too many ideas, and wasn't doing anything. INTP's are Ti dominant (do) and Ne (idea) auxiliary, it's the ENTP's (Ne dominant) who are more the idea people. The hundreds of ideas and projects I dumped into OmniFocus made it clear that I had a misconception about myself. So I dropped hobbies, tasks, activities and such from my life left and right, trimming it down to a few activities (maintenance, family, entertainment (music) and work (three simultaneous projects maximum). So really I'm just thinking about my three projects, and don't need an external system for it. But I wouldn't have come to this point without having dumped everything in OF, and knowing it's still there.

That's huge for me. Do a few things excellently...store the small things somewhere so you don't have them floating around in the back of your head taking up space, and you can come back to them when/if you really want to.

 

[computerhxr]

OMG! I wrote a well thought out response with a bunch of techniques that I use but I got an expired token error. Oh well!

 

[Sixup]

OMG! I wrote a well thought out response with a bunch of techniques that I use but I got an expired token error. Oh well!

I was looking forward to seeing what you had to say. Maybe you can give us a little tl;dr version?