Productivity: GTD & Bullet Journal (BuJo) Mashup
I rely on a mashup of systems to maintain a level of personal effectiveness and productivity
GTD frames up the notion that humans perform best when:
The need to "clear your head" of anything that can be written down in a system that you can trust
Tasks are done in context, e.g., when I am at Target what is my shopping list
Tasks are started when framed in "what is the next physical action", e.g., stop by Target to pick up items on my list
Tasks are done when emotional energy is high enough to take the next physical action - not driven by time but by energy
Bullet Journal (BuJo) frames up the notion that humans perform best when
The act of writing things down is more powerful than being digital
Their planning tool is 100% customizable and can be started from any angle that is useful to them
Humans like to categorize things - and it has to be very low friction
Every bullet journal should include these collections in the following order:
Index: This section is at the front of your notebook and serves as a table of contents with page numbers to different collections and a symbol key that you update as you go.
Future Log: This four-page spread is a year-at-a-glance calendar with future events, goals, and long-term tasks. Add birthdays, travel plans, and major holidays.
Monthly Log: This two-page spread includes a calendar with a bird's-eye view of the month and a task page with things you want to tackle during the month. You can also add other monthly tracking pages ("modules") including a food, fitness, finance, or book log.
Daily Log: This is your day-to-day to-do list.
While you should create a key that fits your needs, Carroll recommends using the following symbols if you want to be a BuJo pro:
Tasks: •
Events: O
Notes (facts, ideas, and observations): —
Priority: *
Inspiration (mantras, insights, and ideas): !