Indeed! I used to try lots of fancy-pants apps. Now I have beat the Outlook category system into submission and use this plus a pocket notebook and folder for projects. Done and done. Sometimes the quest for better organization is counterproductive!

Troy F.

Er, I mean I may be in many different places at any given time. I am not omnipresent... though that would probably relieve my need for a GTD system altogether!

lkraven

My major issue with most GTD apps is that I'm in many places at once... and not being able to access my GTD applications kills the whole thing. I don't always take my Mac with me, and at work, I work on a PC... at home, I have another desktop... and when I'm out and about... you get the picture.

Syncing was not the answer (try to keep even *3* things synched reliably...) What I found WAS the answer was to go through the (admittedly difficult) setup of Tracks GTD web app. Version 1.5 was just released... and it has a mobile edition I can access with my phone when I'm out. And anywhere I have a webbrowser, I have the list.

It has been a GREAT tool. It also generates RSS feeds, is easily integrated using the RESTFUL Api, and I even have an email address I can send to that will automatically create a new task for my inbox.

Check it out here:

[www.rousette.org.uk]

lkraven

@lkraven: Hey, Tracks looks pretty swell...I like that you can own the installation by hosting it yourself. Thanks for the tip! Now if only I had a GTD system to which I could add "To do: Install Tracks."

monster79

Seems a lot of productivity is being lost to keeping up with all the productivity tips and methods.

3x5 card and pencil. Done.

Joe Alien

@lkraven:

I just found a BitNami version of Tracks. So, on my Windows box, it was a clicky-click install (next, next, next, finish, for all you technical types).... :-)

It took a lot longer to download than to install.

I'll check it out, soon. It's available as a simple install for Windows, Linux, and OS/X (Intel and PPC).

[bitnami.org]

mikehoskins

I agree - I've been using the 'Hacked Moleskine' version [hyalineskies.com] and I find it absolutely awesome. I still use Outlook to categorize emails, but I just use the emails as actual references for when I process the task.

By keeping everything in the Moleskine and continually keeping that around on my person, I find I'm actually able to follow a GTDish workflow (never been able to commit fully to a GTD system).

Tyrun101

I tried all these GTD apps, but for me, Blackberry + gCal sync application + Toodledo + Jott = crazy delicious.

4ster

@lkraven: If you set up the system that Dennis describes with IMAP, it all follows you wherever you go.

Steve Rubel

@lkraven: Well, being omniscient myself, I, of course, knew exactly what you meant.

Unfortunately, I'm just not structured enough for GTD. I figure, if you're going to spend so much time organizing what you need to do that you don't actually get to what you need to do, then you might as well not bother organizing at all. I just do what I can when I can and don't put off till tomorrow what I can do today. Procrastination: the natural enemy of GTD. :D

GlennA

I spent about five minutes trying to set up a GTD app and got bored and deleted it. For me, it's a calendar, to-do list, and shopping lists on my iGoogle page.

Jarick

I have to agree w/ 4ster above: Perfection for me is Blackberry + Toodledo ([www.toodledo.com])+ Jott. Only difference is I use Plaxo for synching of contacts and calendar, instead of gCal synch.

orchardadvisors

I'm going to give some love to GTD (sort of). I rarely use any of the advanced features of GTD, but Remember the Milk, iCal and Omnifocus keep me pretty well focused. I'm writing a thesis though, so I keep my detailed outlines for writing inside Omnifocus and deadlines and all that. I do agree though, that if it takes you longer to put it on list than it would to complete the task, you should just do it.

deverbative

I spend WAY to much time fiddling with my GTD setup. I'm in my last year of highschool, so I am not truly in dire need of a setup but I want to get it going now so when I really need it, it's there.

Myles

I know I am a heretic, but I use Google as my homepage, calender, email/todo list. That and a purse sized moleskin plus a pen and I am good to go.

kittent

I thought this sounded like a great solution until I found out iCal doesn't support repeating tasks. I'll stick with Things for now.

Vramin

I spent a bit of time setting up all the folders and calendars in Mail and iCal last night. I have been using Things for months now and have been really happy with that application. But using these apps to manage a GTD system just makes sense.

a) I already have Mail and iCal open all day long - so moving my system to them means I have 1 less app to have open.

b) iCal syncs to my phone so I can bring my schedule with me when on the move - Things does not sync

c) Mail and iCal sync through [dot]mac with my desktop iMac at home

d) I use Bento to organize projects, invoicing, file versions etc. Bento works with iCal so I can add tasks to iCal from Bento in relation to projects I'm working with.

I had previously thought that the GTD method could be pulled together through iCal and Mail, but I really didn't have the knowledge of the applications to put this system together.

For my use, this system has a lot of benefits compared to what I have been using. Two thumbs up to Denis Best for putting it together and explaining it to me.

(on a slight side note - in the article by Denis he sets up two smart folder "groups" - I have no idea how to do that so just have all the smart folders made but not grouped - if anyone can explain to me how to do it I would appreciate it!)

chrismehigan

@Vramin: there's an easy way to set up repeating tasks in iCal. Just create a calendar called "tasks" and then set up recurring tasks as recurring appointments. (to keep things clean, I hide the "tasks" calendar, and just set up alarms on all my recurring tasks so that they just pop up on my screen). Ghetto? Maybe. Works? Definitely.

:)

amielb

Remember the Milk is my GTD app. I've adapted my tags and tabs to accommodate my contexts and lists. It's quite awesome. I can get to it from my phone, my browser, it interacts with launchy, quicksilver, and twitter so I can dump to it instantly and continue to focus on what I'm doing. Yes I love RTM.

JiveMasterT

I've been using GTD php for a while now hosted on my own server,very nice simple GTD accessible anywhere a net connection is. Seeing Tracks though I'm going to have to check it out since it looks all shiny. Now I'm going to end up with too much choice, not knowing which GTD app to stick with doh.

Crake

@brecke: I see what you mean, unfortunately no answer. From my understanding the To Do's don't feature in the iCal itself, but are kept in the side bar and also in Mail. (seems weird, I know)

Maybe someone else can shed some light on this

chrismehigan

I'm a very recent mac user and I've been doing preety much what the guy says in the blog. However, I haven't been able to show todo "due dates" on iCal.. i'm only able to view them on the sidebar. Help anyone? :)

brecke

I've been using a web-based GTD app that allows me to access my GTD from my Windows computer at work, my Mac at home, and carry with me on my cell phone. For that matter, I can access the system if needed from a friend's computer or even at the library. I've written about my experiences with the app in a couple of recent blog posts at [johnkendrick.wordpress.com]

jbkendrick

@chrismehigan: Chris, I struggled to find this for a while myself. In Mail, it's actually on the Mailbox menu and is called "New Smart Mailbox Folder..." Find that, and all of your wildest dreams will come true.

notbadbutgood

For 4star and orchardadvisors, could you let me know how you access Toodledo on your Blackberrys? I'm a big fan of TD, but NOT a fan of their WAP accessibility... Drives me absolutely nuts that I can't save my username and password at the WAP login page. So I wanted to find out what you guys do right that I'm not doing! Thanks!

AmishMafia