Are you someone who doesn’t use a to do list? Then I am in awe of you. I blame my Type A ways, but not having my tasks on a to do list gives me anxiety. As part of my New Year, New You series, I’ve been working behind the scenes testing some task management methods. The most important part of any to do list is actually doing the things. You can have the best to do list, most effective workflow, but if you’re not motivated or active, well, the best app in the world can’t help you. (PSA: if you’re not motivated because you suspect you may be suffering from depression, please seek help. Depression is not a joke, and there is no shame in getting help in whatever way works for you). Today, before Monday’s post reviewing the first method, I want to talk about how I keep a to do list. I’ve used various apps over the years, and I know there are three things that are “must haves” for me:
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2016 was a weird year. For starter’s we’ve had a REALLY strange presidential election (and I don’t need to explain the hot mess that has been). There were some good things, absolutely, but for me, I won’t necessarily remember this year fondly - very sick family, the loss of dear friends, even a hurricane that wreaked havoc in my neighborhood. And while I finally got to start my business this year, it wasn’t easy and not without its hard choices. I am ready for 2017. Granted, I love New Years for one big reason - resolutions. It’s the one time of year, it seems, where we’re all committed to doing something better. Some take it to the extreme, some claim not to do anything new, but there’s a renewed sense of hope in the air late December. I’m not under some grand vision that 2017 is going to be super easy and not without its own problems, but there’s something about a clean slate that makes me feel better. And well, I just can’t wait. So what now? Today, I’m kicking off a new series to get you ready for 2017 - a new year, and a new you. Sure, we’re two months out, but I’ve got so much to share. I’ve been working behind the scenes, trying out new productivity methods, checking out new apps, redesigning my work area, etc. I’m stoked to share what I find so you can hit your own resolutions hard, and I’ll be offering some freebies along the way. You can sign up here to be emailed when I post updates (or in the sidebar). Don’t worry, I won’t spam you. Join me back here Thursday, when we’ll talk about the to do list and how to start mastering yours. I’ve been trying out a few methods to give you a no BS stance on what works, and what doesn’t. Let's make 2017 your best year yet. You can subscribe to my mailing list here. You can also follow me on Twitter or Pinterest. If you’re in need of a virtual operations manager, check out my FAQs or available services, then head over to my consultation page so we can connect.
If you poke around in your phone for a bit, you’ll find that keyboard options usually include a personal dictionary you can use to add words to avoid the dreaded "AutoCorrect screwed me." You can use this same set-up to save time (and typo frustrations) for things you type often or don’t want to use internet slang (on a somewhat related note, if you find your phone cleans up your language, you can use this or a new contact to avoid. Read more here).
Here are some examples of shortcuts I have set-up:
A few notes:
Here’s how you can do it in iOS - we’ll go with lol and make it “Laugh out loud!” I am a creature of routine. Some of my friends tease me about this, and I can appreciate their point, to an extent. Routines can trap us, and the word itself doesn’t spark much in the way of creative process. But for me, and I suspect for many, routines can actually free us.
When I wrote about Evernote and my own set-up using it, I shared that my system is drawn in no small part from David Allen’s Getting Things Done (GTD) System. One particular piece of the GTD system that appeals to me most is “your mind is for having ideas, not holding them.” This doesn’t just apply to emails and to do lists. A routine, for me, puts me into autopilot for the menial, everyday tasks, and frees my mind to be creative, or allows me to focus on the tasks at hand, without worrying I’m forgetting something important. Routine doesn't have to be a dirty word - we all have routines. I’m sure you don’t do laundry by staring at your dirty clothes and wondering where to start. No. You sort, load the washer, add detergent, start the washer. The washer’s done, and you move the clothes to the dryer. That’s a routine, and one you don’t put much thought into. Why?
So, how do you create a routine? You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who claims they don’t enjoy traveling. I think that’s an unfair description; most of us enjoy vacations, but traveling for business or other reasons can be a headache. I’ve done my share of business travel over the years, and still recall how excited I was for my first trip. So excited that, by the time I was done packing and adding “one more thing,” I ended up with enough luggage that it looked like I was embarking on a cross-country tour.
Over time, and lots of fine-tuning, I came up with my own system to avoid the headaches and enjoy the journey, so to speak. Today, I’m sharing the headache prevention parts of my system - pre-trip, homecoming, and everything in between. |