Some days ago I re-initiated reading a book on GTD aka “Getting Things Done” methods.
I don’t know exactly what got me into this, but since the methods seem quite tested, I thought to give this a go. I don’t know yet where this will lead me, but I am willing to try things as they are explained by the authors.
I’m applying the system in different areas in my life and was thinking of explaining how I do stuff and how I feel about GTD in general.
I’ve yet to finish reading the book, but so far I’ve found that there’s couple of things that I really feel already benefit me. Here’s summary of them:
Shopping list 2.0 (name by me) GTD explains that you should be aware of the “context” or “location” where you can do something. For example, if you need to buy Diapers from shop, it makes sense to have a list for “shop location”. Instead of checking “what’s missing”, I’m now gathering stuff like “butter” or “diapers” or “xmas tree” in the shopping list. And when I’m at the proper location (supermarket), I’ll simply check the list. This is different from having a shopping list you try and create. I append this list whenever I think “I’d need to buy item X”, I keep appending the list and get stuff out of my mind. It’s brilliant. Inbox this is another pretty sweet thing: list for stuff that I need to do, uncategorized. Whenever I get a “task” I’ll add it to my list. Whether the task is “research thing X” or “do thing Z”, I have it written down. This is a good way to get things out of my mind (Later I process these, but I’ll explain more about that later)I’ve also tested several different systems for capturing items, and ended up with a combination of iPod/iPad “Reminders” and “Notes” apps. Reminders is missing some stuff I’d like (foldering, arranging tasks, showing number of undone tasks on list title) but it is much more simpler & easier to use than other products I’ve reviewed or tested (such as Things, Evernote, Remember Milk and others). So, to me, Reminders is just great device for capturing items
Currently I have the following lists in the device:
- INBOX
- GAMEDEV: project name (8 different, such as “gamerelease.net, infected, blog posts” and “misc”)
- HOME: “project” name (7 different, such as “homework, own stuff, xmas preparations” etc)
- LOCATION: place name (I have 4 different: “computer, pharmacy, shop…”)
- WAITING
- SOMEDAY/MAYBE
- VISION
This list is very much subject to change but I’m listing it here so that I can later check back and see how the list looks (off-topic: I’m scheduling a task to my INBOX to reflect back on this matter…)
What is important that these lists should only contain things that I’m supposed to do, they don’t contain the actual work material. I’ve set up “library” folder on my harddrive to contain all my stuff there (and I too set up a backup too to better sync all the files into separate external hard drives). The items in my lists merely help me know where to look in the library folder if I need to do so.
So far I’ve found out that it’s essential to have a great way to write things down anytime. iPod Touch is a neat device for that for me. It’s also important to capture stuff so that they don’t haunt me when they shouldn’t… and I was first sceptical about the “location” based lists, but I now see that they are brilliant. I’ve managed to amaze my wife by telling her what we need to buy and she has been like “oh, good that you remembered!”
These were merely some thoughts on “capturing” items. What I do about these is a matter of another blog post.
The first impression is that I feel somewhat more organized, getting somewhat more “misc home stuff” done and me and my wife spend less time talking about “what we should do” since we know that we’ll mark stuff down and will review “what to do” on weekends (or so).
I’m experimenting this out for at least month or two, if not the whole next year, and reporting my findings and results.
This entry was posted on Thursday, November 10th, 2011 at 12:14 am and is filed under Game Development. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
