What Do You Carry Every Day?

DA Wallet: I still have my DA leather wallet (circa 2007), but lost the pen (well... it finally self-destructed..) and haven't resupplied the little paper-pads. But... I have DollarTree notepads in my jacket pocket, and a pen, so I'm covered.

GTD plastic folders, that I take back and forth between Home and Work. I use traditional workflow to process papers (I'm a clinical social worker): Labled - IN; CPRS (paperwork capturing that now has to be processed into a EHR; Scan; After Scan (when I'm reviewing my scans in Outlook); File; Shred; Read/Review; Home (to remind me to unload stuff needed at home. Works really well, and I can do batches of stuff (Scan; After Scan; Daily Shred).

Pocket recorder: This dynamite $50 investment is the best capture tool. After seeing a client, I spend a couple minutes reviewing the paper notes and capture top-of-mind thoughts. When on the road, I also use it for things that pop in my head. I could be doing the actual processing a couple days later, and the audio recording has capture everything I had observed and assessed. A lot of it is subtle observations that are difficult to write down in the moment.

iPhone: Synched to OneNote which is my trusted GTD Project and Action tool. I've been seeing some posts lately on OneNote and Excel. I'm using a Notebook (GTD); Sections are the contexts (In, Checklists, Phone, Computer, Office, Home, Agendas, Read or Review, Wait-For, Errands, various Project sections; Pages are then the "Actions within each section. By using this method, I can move an action from one section to another, for example: I've done a call and then can prepend with the date (12/26) and drag over to Waiting-For. I typically have to drag it up to the top, so that the newest date on top, but that's no big deal.

Having the iPhone in the field is great for review client Project and Action Support. Also, when in foodbank line, and have a couple minutes, I can discreetly move away and check my PHONE list for some calls to do during "weird time" - those unschedule moments that become available.

Excel is more used on laptop at the office. That's vital for keeping track of recurring actions (annual; 6 month; 3 month; current). It's basically an electronic tickler file, but it keeps me completely focused in the moment and for the week, and little slips by. If it does, then I change the color of a field, and address first thing in week. Each client has their own row.
 
Thanks for the video, Dave. I also love a good EDC video and enjoyed your "What's in my bag" style video. It was a refreshing change from the knives, torches and screwdrivers that usually feature.

My EDC is much more boring: Phone, wallet, keys.

To keep the bulk down, my phone is as small as I can get away with and has no case. My wallet is very thin and made from elastic. My keyring has just a single house key. If I am taking the car, then I use an alternative keyring with the single house key and my car key.

My phone has Obsidian for my lists and reference material, and Braintoss for text, image or audio capture.
 
When I’m awake, I have my iPhone and Apple Watch with me. Wallet and keys when I go out. I sometimes take pen, paper and/or an iPad as well, usually in a cross-body bag. Sometimes I throw in a charger. It’s really pretty simple these days.
 
Thanks Dave. The one item that I chuckled at and I am a huge believer in in the Tide to Go stick. I was once leading a meeting and during lunch of tacos some salsa ended up on the front of my shirt which I did not realize until I started the meeting again and was standing in the front of the room. I used my Tide stick and explained to my team the importance of it! They may not remember anything I reviewed during the meeting but they definitely all remember that.

When going to work or traveling, I carry a Tumi briefcase that is a bit larger than I wish as I bought it with a flip out section for security which I don't need as I contained TSA precheck shortly after buying the bag. I have had it about 15 years, and it is still going strong. In it I carry my work laptop, an iPad (for personal work and entertainment), my Kindle, file folders and cables/pens etc as well as a yellow legal pad. The one downside is that I tend to collect more than I need so reviewing and paring down the contents frequently is essential.

Other than that, I always carry my iPhone and a rollerball pen. I use Braintoss for capture when on the road and paper is not readily available.

I did like the envelope with small notes for tipping. I will have to remember that as I always want to be able to easily tip housekeepers etc. at the hotel and don't always have smaller notes. I do carry with a spare credit card as well as my passport in an inner pocket just in case.
 
iPhone SE, key(s) (depending on whether I'm walking or driving), camera, spare battery for camera.

Some times I take a camera bag too, in which there's more spare batteries, another lens, a notebook, lens cloths, business cards, and a water bottle.
 
Dave Edwards said:
what GTD followers carry with them every day
Click to expand...
I have an eclectic list.

Leatherman tool on right hip in a holder with a snap closure (NOT velcro) I have the Rebar model because it has the serrated blade necessary for cutting electric nets if a sheep gets tangled in them and weighs less than other versions with that specific tool.

EpiPen in right tool pocket of my Carhaart pants oriented so I grab the part I need to twist to deploy the syringe. When needed I need to have it in muscle memory how to use it as my brain is AWOL at that time.

Left hip belt pouch contains my own custom GTD wallet that contains appropriate dividers to handle my credit cards, ID, medical and insurance cards, sheep inventory list, space pen, 3x5 spiral bound notebook, first aid kit with bandaids, suture material with attached needle, superglue in a small one time use dispenser, pocket monkey, business cards for all 3 major businesses, 1 blank check for all accounts, and appropriate cash in both large and small bills. My phone also lives in this pocket. Left pocket of my overshirt has 2-4 nitrile gloves. Right front pocket of shirt has my emergency inhaler. During lambing I have a lamb towel stuffed into my belt that is replaced as used.

Right front pocket contains my keys and another small leatherman tool with a scisors and a whistle.
left front pocket is my handkerchief.
My purse adds a more extensive first aid kit including gauze bandages, cough drops, toilet paper, safety pens, needle and thread, face masks, dental floss, ear plugs, benadryl, antihistamine, sudafed, aspirin, pepto bismol, antibiotic ointment and cough drops, small roll of vet wrap and a blood stop emergency bandage. I also carry spare reading glasses, tape measure, spare hair bands, chapstick, flashlight, paper clip bent so I can deal with resetting small electronic items, small amount of shock cord, compass, magnifying glass, several beer coins, predator bite mark ruler, spare pens and another 3x5 notebook.

I have a load out list for trips that include taking AnimalTrakker equipment that include all sorts of required cables, charge blocks, battery backups etc. I have made ones for 4 wheeler rides in the backcountry, ones that are part of the grab and go for an evacuation due to fire, snow or other emegency and more. Checklists are your friends. In stressful situations you nedd something quick easy and readable and just follow it as higher brain functions are gone.

All these checklists are verified as current and accurate once a year. In fact I am evaluating and editing them now as part of my new year review.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top