Easier GTD Capturing

G

gtdstudente

Registered
GTDer's

Currently focusing on making the GTD's 5 Steps easier . . . one obvious way at a time:

Whenever I am attempting to to Capture an Idea, Thought, ect. the first instinct is "Pen" after that is accomplished then its 'find' Paper . . . admittedly, quite inelegant

Easier GTD Solution: Pens are always . . . never all by themselves . . . Pens are always to be stored with Paper wherever Pens are stored ?

One obvious way at a time because the only way is through

Thank you very much for GTD thoughts way(s) to make Capturing easier . . . the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly are all welcomed, thank you very much

As you see GTD fit
 
My best way for spoken capture so far is BeBop on my iPhone. 1 click with 1 hand on my phone to invoke BeBop, 1 click on microphone icon to invoke text to speech, speak my note and hit sync. Decoded notes (with all the errors of ewe becoming you that I've learned to deal with) is automatically inserted into my Obsidian inbox with a date stamp and info for further processing. Since I'm often capturing with 1 hand while the other is hanging onto a sheep it's great.

Alternative best way. Whip out my custom designed replacement for the David Allen Co Notetaker wallet that combines side by side credit card carriers with a standard cheap 3x5 inch spiral bound notepad I buy by the dozen off Amazon or in Sam's Club and a really nice backpacker's Space Pen and I'm good to go for longer notes that require more stuff to be saved.
 
Oogiem said:
My best way for spoken capture so far is BeBop on my iPhone. 1 click with 1 hand on my phone to invoke BeBop, 1 click on microphone icon to invoke text to speech, speak my note and hit sync. Decoded notes (with all the errors of ewe becoming you that I've learned to deal with) is automatically inserted into my Obsidian inbox with a date stamp and info for further processing. Since I'm often capturing with 1 hand while the other is hanging onto a sheep it's great.

Alternative best way. Whip out my custom designed replacement for the David Allen Co Notetaker wallet that combines side by side credit card carriers with a standard cheap 3x5 inch spiral bound notepad I buy by the dozen off Amazon or in Sam's Club and a really nice backpacker's Space Pen and I'm good to go for longer notes that require more stuff to be saved.
Click to expand...
@Oogiem

Very GTD elegant and GTD motivating

Thank you very much

Ps. Did looked up "BeBop" for Android: came up with Flight/Navigation ?
 
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If I have to "find" something when I want to capture, there is a good chance I will have forgotten what it was by the time I have found it.

The last time I optimised my capture, I gave up on trying to change what I carried but instead looked at how to use what I already carry better, or to make subtle changes in my environment to make capturing easier.

At my desk, I already have the pens and paper I need. They are always there.

When out and about, I like to carry as little as possible. For me it's wallet, phone, keys and even those are reduced as much as possible. Elastic strap for wallet, two keys on a simple ring without key fob, small smartphone. With this in mind, I didn't even want to add a small pen or a couple of pieces of paper. I added the braintoss app to my phone, so that things I capture end up in my email.

In the house, I put a pen and paper in every room with the location fixed so that I knew where it was.
 
@cfoley

GTD easy capturing at it's finest

Is Braintoss that much easier than just capture sending oneself an email message in the subject line for someone reluctant to add Apps to their smartphone?

Heard Apps are bad for smartphone's performance ?

Thank you very much sir
 
I find braintoss much better than sending myself an email.

It can capture text, voice or photo, and transcribes the voice. The app doesn't present me with my potentially distracting email inbox, and I only have to enter my email once on setup. Braintoss is incredibly good. In fact, I would say that Braintoss is the second best way of capturing on your phone.

gtdstudente said:
Heard Apps are bad for smartphone's performance ?
Click to expand...

What do you mean by performance?

I install the apps I need for work, and the apps I enjoy for leisure. Fewer apps than this is bad for my performance.
 
For capture when not at my desk, I just text myself on my iPhone since I am in iMessage the majority of the time. Syncs between my MacBook and my iPhone seamlessly. I then just go through my text messages on my MacBook and mark off the ones that I processed with reactions/stickers/etc. It's also kind of fun to scroll back through all of my messages to see the path of things came about.
 
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Matt_M said:
For capture when not at my desk, I just text myself on my iPhone since I am in iMessage the majority of the time. Syncs between my MacBook and my iPhone seamlessly. I then just go through my text messages on my MacBook and mark off the ones that I processed with reactions/stickers/etc. It's also kind of fun to scroll back through all of my messages to see the path of things came about.
Click to expand...
@Matt_M

Nice . . . have been emailing to email account for promptly immediate Clarifying / Organizing into digital email system and drive system mostly for Support and Reference when extra capacity is appropriate . . . easiest digital input Work Flow engagement thus far

Thank you very much sir
 
If I am in Outlook I will create a task. If not, I will use a yellow legal pad or notepad nearby. If I am on the road or especially when driving I use Braintoss.
 
boomer70 said:
If I am in Outlook I will create a task. If not, I will use a yellow legal pad or notepad nearby. If I am on the road or especially when driving I use Braintoss.
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@boomer70

Thank you for your post

Thus, are you saying your 'task(s)' is functioning as a 'digital Inbox' and as such could have multiple captured input items waiting to be clarified?

Likewise:
Legal pad / Notepad captured items to physical Inbox for clarifying?

Braintoss captured items to email Inbox for clarifying?


Thank you very much
 
@gtdstudente

Great questions please see my answers below in bold.

Thus, are you saying your 'task(s)' is functioning as a 'digital Inbox' and as such could have multiple captured input items waiting to be clarified?

Typically, if I have Outlook open and have a thought. I will try to clarify it and turned it into a task right then as I use Outlook tasks as my list manager During a daily weekly review, I may reconsider my initial though on how to clarify.

Likewise:
Legal pad / Notepad captured items to physical Inboxfor clarifying?

When doing a review, I will review the items on my legal pad and determine what I need to do about them, which is quite often clarifying and turning it into a task the next time I am in Outlook,

Braintoss captured items to email Inbox for clarifying?

Messages from Braintoss are routed into an outlook folder called @action required . During daily or weekly reviews, I review the contents of this folder, which may also include emails that I had received while on the road that need to be clarified and possibly turned into tasks and will process the Braintoss notes in the same fashion.

I hope this helps clarify the process that works for me most of the time. ;-)
 
gtdstudente said:
GTDer's

Currently focusing on making the GTD's 5 Steps easier . . . one obvious way at a time:

Whenever I am attempting to to Capture an Idea, Thought, ect. the first instinct is "Pen" after that is accomplished then its 'find' Paper . . . admittedly, quite inelegant

Easier GTD Solution: Pens are always . . . never all by themselves . . . Pens are always to be stored with Paper wherever Pens are stored ?

One obvious way at a time because the only way is through

Thank you very much for GTD thoughts way(s) to make Capturing easier . . . the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly are all welcomed, thank you very much

As you see GTD fit
Click to expand...
I can definitely relate to the importance of keeping pen and paper together for quick captures. Personally, I still use what David Allen used to sell—those flying papers—paired with an elegant metal frame. It’s been a trusty method for capturing ideas on the go.

On the digital front, I’ve developed a system on my desktop using Outlook client version, inspired by Page 2 of the GTD blueprint for the ideal app. I created a user form that overlays my Outlook environment with a multi-page object that displays two versions of the mind sweep trigger list (one for professional, one for personal). Each combobox is loaded with elements from the trigger list, and when I select an item, a popup shows more details, it then pre-populates an input box with a subject format like “MS-Perso-Administration-X”. Where X is what I type in. This helps me quickly distinguish between mind sweep items (MS) and regular emails, without cluttering my inbox.

On mobile, I use Braintoss for capturing, so I always have an option, no matter where I am.
 
Y_Lherieau said:
I can definitely relate to the importance of keeping pen and paper together for quick captures. Personally, I still use what David Allen used to sell—those flying papers—paired with an elegant metal frame. It’s been a trusty method for capturing ideas on the go.

On the digital front, I’ve developed a system on my desktop using Outlook client version, inspired by Page 2 of the GTD blueprint for the ideal app. I created a user form that overlays my Outlook environment with a multi-page object that displays two versions of the mind sweep trigger list (one for professional, one for personal). Each combobox is loaded with elements from the trigger list, and when I select an item, a popup shows more details, it then pre-populates an input box with a subject format like “MS-Perso-Administration-X”. Where X is what I type in. This helps me quickly distinguish between mind sweep items (MS) and regular emails, without cluttering my inbox.

On mobile, I use Braintoss for capturing, so I always have an option, no matter where I am.
Click to expand...
@boomer70

Thank you very much and in kind GTD reply:

Firstly, thinking you might be using 'Task' and @Contexted Next Action(s) interchangeably ?

Typically, if I have Outlook open and have a thought. I will try to clarify it and turned it into a task right then as I use Outlook tasks as my list manager During a daily weekly review, I may reconsider my initial though on how to clarify."

Does this mean you have two points of clarifications: "ad Hoc" or during the Weekly Review?


When doing a review, I will review the items on my legal pad and determine what I need to do about them, which is quite often clarifying and turning it into a task the next time I am in Outlook,

You seem to be using your Legal pad / Notepad as a Capturing tool, Inbox, and a Journal Reference 'file'?


Messages from Braintoss are routed into an outlook folder called @action required . During daily or weekly reviews, I review the contents of this folder, which may also include emails that I had received while on the road that need to be clarified and possibly turned into tasks and will process the Braintoss notes in the same fashion.

Interesting, as such your emails and Braintoss 'go' to the 'same' email Inbox for Clarifying into 'Task' and @Contexted Next Action(s)
Anything on the above regarding: Someday/Maybe's and Projects?


After all is said and done is "Tasks" in Outlook your digital tool of choice for @Contexted Next Action(s)?

Thank you very much
 
gtdstudente said:
@boomer70

Thank you very much and in kind GTD reply:

Firstly, thinking you might be using 'Task' and @Contexted Next Action(s) interchangeably ?

Typically, if I have Outlook open and have a thought. I will try to clarify it and turned it into a task right then as I use Outlook tasks as my list manager During a daily weekly review, I may reconsider my initial though on how to clarify."

Does this mean you have two points of clarifications: "ad Hoc" or during the Weekly Review?


When doing a review, I will review the items on my legal pad and determine what I need to do about them, which is quite often clarifying and turning it into a task the next time I am in Outlook,

You seem to be using your Legal pad / Notepad as a Capturing tool, Inbox, and a Journal Reference 'file'?


Messages from Braintoss are routed into an outlook folder called @action required . During daily or weekly reviews, I review the contents of this folder, which may also include emails that I had received while on the road that need to be clarified and possibly turned into tasks and will process the Braintoss notes in the same fashion.

Interesting, as such your emails and Braintoss 'go' to the 'same' email Inbox for Clarifying into 'Task' and @Contexted Next Action(s)
Anything on the above regarding: Someday/Maybe's and Projects?


After all is said and done is "Tasks" in Outlook your digital tool of choice for @Contexted Next Action(s)?

Thank you very much
Click to expand...

Yes, where I use Outlook Tasks as my list manager for my contexted next actions I used the terms interchangeably.

Yes, I try to clarify adhoc but then during my weekly review, look at my next actions and reconsider/renegotiate those commitments.

I guess my legal pad probably functions as a capture tool and somwhat of an Inbox however depending on time sometimes the sheet gets torn off and put into my Inbox for later review/clarifying. Not reallu used for reference as sheets get trashed once items are clarified.

Yes, “Tasks" in Outlook is digital tool of choice for @Contexted Next Action(s) as the way it functions between my Outlook emails and OneNote makes my daily process vert efficient. I used the GTD setup guide to configure. I also love the ability to print a nicely formatted list by context to carry as I am on the road quite a bit and is very easily reviewed.
 
boomer70 said:
Yes, where I use Outlook Tasks as my list manager for my contexted next actions I used the terms interchangeably.

Yes, I try to clarify adhoc but then during my weekly review, look at my next actions and reconsider/renegotiate those commitments.

I guess my legal pad probably functions as a capture tool and somwhat of an Inbox however depending on time sometimes the sheet gets torn off and put into my Inbox for later review/clarifying. Not reallu used for reference as sheets get trashed once items are clarified.

Yes, “Tasks" in Outlook is digital tool of choice for @Contexted Next Action(s) as the way it functions between my Outlook emails and OneNote makes my daily process vert efficient. I used the GTD setup guide to configure. I also love the ability to print a nicely formatted list by context to carry as I am on the road quite a bit and is very easily reviewed.
Click to expand...
@boomer70

Thank for GTD reply

Your GTD is most admirable in making good use of the "GTD setup guide to configure"

Thank you for 'advance answering' what might have been a question when doing:
"I also love the ability to print a nicely formatted list by context to carry as I am on the road quite a bit and is very easily reviewed."

Good job . . . Carry GTD On with Godspeed and road safety

Thank you very much sir
 
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