I get things done by rough to-do lists. I don't normally write every bit down, but I keep the important things around. I wish I could change over to planning my days with a planner, but I am simply not disciplined enough and I lack the motivation. I would be curious to try something new though

I put all my stuff in my blackberry and review it in the morning.

Mine's simple. The night before, I come up with my top 3-5 tasks, and write them on my dry erase board. It's right in the kitchen facing the living room, can't miss it. When I finish an item, I cross it off. When I cross everything off, I'm done. It feels good.

Annual Reviews, Followed by 3 month reviews where I see if I'm meeting my goals

Sunday planning sessions, where I set my goals for the week and the major MITs(Most Important Tasks) for M-F

Before sleep, review my MITs for the day and for tomorrow.

I've done hundreds of productivity systems, and this one works the best for me.

Theres not much of a system per say. I've learned with productivity systems, it's a minimum amount necessary, least amount of work type of thing. I've tried GTD, Things, iGTD, Outlook, several other todo apps and so on, but they are all too much work.

Now I just have the calendar app in my iPhone to remind me about appointments/due dates, and even then I don't bother putting most events in there (too much work).
The clock app for my alarm clock and parking timer and the notes app to keep free form lists of various things i need to do or get.
I find using notes is a lot faster than some list app, since each item i need to get is just a simple newline, vs a bunch of interface i need to navigate to add yet another item to my grocery shopping list. It's also with me at all times, and I can make all sorts of lists such as 'movies to watch', 'stuff i would like one day', 'stuff to get/to do', 'body fat measurements', 'corporation goals', and so on.

I think a good benchmark of a productivity/ accountability app is if it would be faster/simpler than using notes on an iPhone, if not, then it's not good enough yet. For example, WeightBot for iPhone (which i use every day) is nicer and faster than using the notes app for entering my weight, adds useful things such as graphs of my weight over time, has a goal chart, and has online backup/syncing for the inevitability of me reflashing my iPhone or something similar. I wouldn't use a web only app with my iPhone, since it's slower than notes usually, but an iPhone app with a web app compliment would be a big bonus. Some sort of passive tracking system like WakeMate or FitBit is also good for productivity tracking, a big part of personal productivity.

When I really need to plan something out (rarely) I get out a piece of paper and make a list/outline/milestones list. The rest I keep in my head.

I think things like GTD and such work really well for the overworked executive type they were designed for, while one for a student who doesn't have too much on his plate doesn't need much, or the other for the employee who just goes to work, and work is left needs only a scrap of paper for groceries. The self propelled entrepreneur needs another system.

Hey T,

Thanks for writing this blog, your perspective on a lot of matters is really helpful to my own life. I think about many of the points that you make in my own daily life quite a bit. I recently started doing Bikram Yoga, and the phrase you used in describing that meditation retreat as "simple and complex" is one that I really relate to and am drawn to in the things that attract me. Bikram Yoga is like that. Have you ever tried it?

Anyways, in terms of getting things done: I recently switched out of a lifelong (I am 28) mindset. I like to think about it like this: instead of putting out organizational (or other priorities) fires, I'm now approaching getting things done with the mindset of fire prevention. Maybe you will find this helpful.

I also use the 2 minute rule that says if a task will take 2 minutes do it immediately and get it done. Finally, I do use a to do list of absolute top priorities (written down, which makes them more concrete), and let lesser priorities fill in the gaps. I usually prioritize based on what the good and bad consequences of not doing or doing the task at hand will be, and the importance of the need or want that it will fulfill.

I also make sure to constantly have a notebook in hand, because the best thoughts come at the worse moments, and I find it very helpful to get their nuance or essence down on the page and then deal with them later for when I have time or can't "think". Hope this helps. Looking forward to seeing what others have to say.

I've got a big onggoing todo list hanging on my wall. As I do something I cross it off in thick red marker. This way when I'm feeling sluggish I can look back and see all if the great things I have accomplished.

My system is quite simple: do what needs to be done. However, I don't have much of a workload, so it's not applicable to everybody else. And if you have too much to do, just prioritize.

Before I had kids, I used to schedule everything out and make crazy to-do lists for everything.

Now, my day has to be much more flexible. We travel full time and have mobile jobs. No day is ever the same.

I use a Franklin planner to keep track of my to-do lists. I am normally a very techy kind of girl and have tried tons of different electronic programs on my iPhone and computer, but none of them work as well for me as writing something down on a piece of paper. I'm always up for trying something new though!

I re-write my list weekly...transferring all the items that didn't get done. Each day, I look at the list and pick the top 3 most important items that have to get done that day.

Someone once shared that "3 thing" rule with me and I've never forgotten it. It helps to make a big list less overwhelming.

If I'm having a particularly busy week and I'm feeling a little nuts, it's likely that I have not written everything down that I have to do. Once I do that, my mind is at ease.

Looking forward to seeing your program!

Sara

How did you guess? D:

I really do make a list of 3 things I MUST do each day.

The sheer satisfaction of checking off even one of those three items makes me feel motivated to do other stuff on a side list of (somewhat) less important items.

And a method that's really helped me out lately is Merlin Mann's (10+2)*5 method (http://www.43folders.com/2005/10/11/procrastination-hack-1025).

I'd really REALLY like to see your method.