I kinda black out sometimes when I start obsessing about planning systems. It's weird. Jason thinks that this happens when I feel I am not in control. As if, finding a new improved planning system or optimizing the one I have is going to GIVE me control.
I know that THAT is impossible. You have to go to the root of the problem.
What works for me? Simplicity.
What is fun for me? Thinking about and exploring all the options.
So I set that aside as a free-time hobby. Bottom line is I want to be productive and continually improve my skills.
And I also just love planners. Don't know why... not gonna fight it.
So in my searching, I must tell you I unearth so many cool things! So many people out there just like me and you wanting to make something of themselves and find ways to “make it happen,” “Get(ting) Things Done,” “Sharpen the Saw...”
Two things I uncovered yesterday.
One: I read an article by David Allen (GTD creator and guru) and he said that Time Management is more like Thought Management. You can't really manage time. But you can manage your thoughts and how they will behave to get things done in a timely fashion.
I thought (see?) that made sense.
Also along the way, I found an article written by a smart, dapper business dude who came up with his adaptation of the GTD system. I liked some of his ideas alot. He suggests that you base your entire to do management system on your email. Because in this business age, many of us are hand in hand with our email. Sure, we get alot of junk and spam, but in the midst of that, why not get reminders and thoughts and ideas from ourselves! There are two great ways to do this. One, obviously is to just send yourself an email. The next one is very cool. There is a web based free program called Jott. What it is basically is a way for you via cel or telephone to leave yourself a transcribed message as an email (It also includes the audio version too) but you can use this service, call the number and just like leaving an answering machine message, say, “Make sure I blah blah blah...” or whatever. Then in the wink of an eye, whalah! It appears in your email with your transcribed message in the subject line!
So if you are out and about and don't have paper, you can just call and leave yourself a transcribed message and retrieve it later when you are checking your emails. Then you can act on it later.
Cool?
YES.