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August 04, 2008
Collecting directly into a handheld
A GTD'er wrote to me and asked:
How do you capture ideas, projects, and NAs with your Treo? Do you enter them into the Treo directly as you think of them? Or do you write them down and enter them into the Treo later? If I enter into a PDA directly, I subconsciously resist capturing the idea because of the multiple steps it takes to enter something. If I capture on paper, then it seems inelegant to carry around both a Treo and a notebook.
My response:
Yes, I do sometimes capture actions directly on my handheld if I know exactly where I want to put it--meaning I'm collecting/processing/organizing directly into my lists if all the thinking required is done and it's easy enough to put it directly on the list. If it's just simply collecting something that I still need to process & organize, I usually capturing/collecting on paper first. I almost always have a notepad with me as well as my handheld.
Here's the bottom line here folks: Decide before you organize. If you are putting things on lists that still need thinking than you're no further along in having your attention be freed up from it. If you haven't figured out what your next action is, it doesn't belong on a next actions list yet. If you really want to capture directly on a handheld, just create a category called "mind sweep" or leave it uncategorized in Tasks until you process it. Here's an easy way to think of the flow of your work:
Collect = the first entry point where stuff comes in for you
Process = the step where you are deciding your outcome and next action with what you've collected
Organize = you're putting what you've made decisions about in a place you trust
Posted by Kelly at August 4, 2008 10:22 AM
Comments
Back in my Palm OS days, the best input program I found was DiddleBug (http://diddlebug.sourceforge.net/) you could capture on the screen in electronic ink, and then later using plug ins get the data right where it wanted to be in textual form. And it's free.
Posted by: Ran Barton at August 4, 2008 10:44 AM
I use Jott.com and capture my thoughts on the go via the phone. They're SMS'd and e-mailed back to me and then I copy & paste them to the right place (with add'l info if necessary).
Posted by: schultzter at August 4, 2008 11:36 AM
When I am mobile I find I capture items directly into my blackberry more often then I write them down. This really saves me from having to carry around an extra pad. One thing I wish was easier on the blackberry is journaling. I love to write about things but I am just not comfortable writing for a long time on my BB.
Posted by: Brian Darnell at August 5, 2008 02:56 PM
I always send my self an email and use Outlook at my primary inbox with a 94% in to zero success rate.
I have some strange implementations in Outlook - I have folders: @ACTION TODAY @ Defer ACTION by Weekend and @INCUBATE that I use to triage all incoming mail when sitting in from of an intenet connected computer or laptop..
Posted by: Diane Cunningham at August 6, 2008 04:42 PM
