Using paper, but not switching to paper

[dtj]

I think of it in tactical and strategic terms. High level strategic is digital, which is in some ways based upon volume. Tactical is on paper, and represents like the next week of time. I use 3x5 cards for tactical and really really like scratching off items on the list. Sometimes I have a daily list, which goes on half 3x5 cards, for more like the list of errands i'm gonna do. One dieting method is to use smaller plates, and this scheme relies on that. Keep my focus by physically not allowing myself to have a long list. *Sometimes* I finish my list more quickly than intended, in which case I just throw it away and make a new list.

 

[GNewman]

Interesting thread. I stumbled upon this tonight looking through the forum for ideas on some of my analog struggles.

A lot of 2024 I used OmniFocus and a notebook. Since December 2024 I’ve been fully analog in a travelers notebook. What that gives me is an insert for GTD lists (projects and next actions), an insert for mind maps and free thinking and an insert that is daily interstitial journaling. What the latter does for me is I plan out my week with what projects and next actions I want to focus on and then daily I jot down a list of what I need to get done today based on the weekly plan or anything that was listed in prior days that popped up. During the day I write the time and 1) what i completed (and mark it done) or 2) markers about distractions and 3) new things that come up. I still use digital calendars and if I need a reminder I throw it in apple reminders.

This process has served me very well and I haven’t had a need for a digital solution at this point. The friction reduces the cruft I add to my lists. I actually opened up my OmniFocus database tonight and couldn’t even stomach looking at it. A welcome side effect is I don’t pick my phone up as much.

What I am struggling with is keeping everything in line with my higher horizons and that is just a mental disconnect on my end I think (my analog struggles).

 

[gtdstudente]

Interesting thread. I stumbled upon this tonight looking through the forum for ideas on some of my analog struggles.

A lot of 2024 I used OmniFocus and a notebook. Since December 2024 I’ve been fully analog in a travelers notebook. What that gives me is an insert for GTD lists (projects and next actions), an insert for mind maps and free thinking and an insert that is daily interstitial journaling. What the latter does for me is I plan out my week with what projects and next actions I want to focus on and then daily I jot down a list of what I need to get done today based on the weekly plan or anything that was listed in prior days that popped up. During the day I write the time and 1) what i completed (and mark it done) or 2) markers about distractions and 3) new things that come up. I still use digital calendars and if I need a reminder I throw it in apple reminders.

This process has served me very well and I haven’t had a need for a digital solution at this point. The friction reduces the cruft I add to my lists. I actually opened up my OmniFocus database tonight and couldn’t even stomach looking at it. A welcome side effect is I don’t pick my phone up as much.

What I am struggling with is keeping everything in line with my higher horizons and that just a mental disconnect on my end I think (my analog struggles).

@GNewman

First and foremost, thank you for your very good GTD post

As such, what that gives me is an insert for GTD lists (projects and next actions), an insert for mind maps and free thinking and an insert that is daily interstitial journaling.

As such, for perhaps easier GTD conceptualization, perhaps one could also be GTD thinking:

GTD list (Projects, Calendars, Contexts, ect.) f o r Next Actions. . . .

In regards to:
"What I am struggling with is keeping everything in line with my higher horizons and that just a mental disconnect on my end I think (my analog struggles)."

Solution on this end would be a life 'Areas-of-Focus' structure that remains in effect in the midst of dynamically changing realities ordered toward's, for better or worse, in increasing or decreasing one's 'Areas-of-Focus' ?

Thank you very much

As you see GTD fit. . . .

 

[fooddude]

What I am struggling with is keeping everything in line with my higher horizons and that is just a mental disconnect on my end I think (my analog struggles).

This is the job of the weekly review. You also noted you have a daily to do list. GTD is context based. It's whole design seems to be on getting away from daily to do lists.

 

[GNewman]

This is the job of the weekly review. You also noted you have a daily to do list. GTD is context based. It's whole design seems to be on getting away from daily to do lists.

I'm mostly good with my weekly reviews but can always do better!! The problem is not creating space for my horizons and instead dealing with the work issues.

I wouldn't call it a daily to-do list. These are interstitial journal pages where I write what the focus is for that day as a historical log. It's separate from my GTD next actions list. If I pull something from my next actions list, it gets added on this page. If I don't complete it for some reason I write out a note why. It's helped me to see areas where I could be focusing more or where I'm getting distracted by shiny objects.