Productivity systems - what works for you?

1

I’ve read and used Getting Things Done. Also tried Bullet Journaling, Trello, One Note, Mind Mapping. Now I’m making my own daytimer using disc planners.

I’m debating going back to bullet journrlling and figuring out how to combine it with GTD.

I need an analog system of some sort. If I use digital, I just enter data and never look at it again. I’m retired, but am an artist with many projects to track at any given point in time. Also events and appointments.

Any BTDT experience? What are you all using?

3 Likes
2

What problems are you trying to solve?

2 Likes
3

@plainjane , I think that’s the problem. I am:

  • running a household,
  • Trying to track special events in the family,
  • operating a small art studio,
  • trying to track projects in various media (nature journaling, trip journaling, visual journaling, fibre art, rug hooking, knitting, sewing, quilting).
  • Also being able to track the garden would be nice.
  • Plus I’ll be travelling in the future and need a place to gather info and organize the trips.
  • and Hubby wants to downsize again and move in a few years, so I need a place to organize all that too.
  • a place to track finances.
  • and I need a place to track all appointments and events. The standard bujo method (one line per day) is not enough space for me.

When I try to set an intention, as Ryder Carroll suggests in his Bullet Journal method, I come up with several - one for each area of my life.

The last time I bullet journalled I ended up with several separate journals for each area. Eg. The spinning journal was separate from the studio jourmal, was separate from the knitting journal, etc… It got confusing and time consuming.

So I thought I’d throw everything into a disc bound frankenjournal of my own creation this year. I am finding it…awkward.

  • Some pages aren’t used.
  • it’s difficult to find things that belong in the same category, but are spread across time.
  • It’s a large 8 1/2 x 11” format, which I now know is too big for me.
  • I can only fit two months in at a time. I have a need for 3-4 months ahead.
  • most future logs don’t have enough room for all the events/appointments I attend.

Now I write this all down, maybe what I need to do is tweak my disc bound journal. Design smaller pages and go for a smaller cover. Create designated areas within the one journal for different topics…with tabbed dividers separating them. :disappointed:. Or is it easier to just buy a Lechturm and start over again, trying to tweak the bujo system to make room for all my projects and events?.

4

I have a planner, and a daily To Do list.

I make a sketch of the garden but I usually forget to fill it in, but then I’m just surprised a little by what comes up.

I don’t actually want to be productive. It’s a trap! I’m pretty organized, though.