Eight reasons I no longer use a paper planner

[cdevidal]

I used to have a nice leather planner but switched to a Palm Vx a few years ago. (I know it's old but hey it works so why upgrade?)

Eight reasons:
1.) I have atrocious handwriting. :-)
2.) Writing (for me) is somewhat painful, but I can type at about 50wpm.
3.) Transferring data from my computer to my Palm is as easy as copy+paste.
4.) I read my Bible every day. Carrying a Bible plus leather planner is a burden. Plus it has a nice searchable concordance which is great for looking up verses when, for example, engaging an atheist in discussion.
5.) If I would like to read something else than the Bible or play a game I can pop into Acrobat or Boxman.
6.) Paper planners (of the size I used to use*) can't be popped in and out of a pocket.
7.) Paper planners can't be backed up with the push of a button. What happens if you lose your paper planner, as happened to me once? My backups are also copied to a remote server in case of fire/hurricane/Technology-eating aliens from the planet Zotokry.
8.) Paper calendars don't beep when it's time for an appointment. I'd heard this from a bank president back in 2000. He said this was his #1 reason. It began me thinking, and when I missed two appointments, I switched.

* I have since learned of the Hipster and PocketMod.com PAAs (Personal Analog Assistants). Much smaller in size but not without the other restrictions. Not to mention the added burden of replicating the data to the next week's incarnation.

Paper feels good and clean and retro, but because the Palm OS is so well thought-out I can't see that I'm really missing anything. Just learned about DoodleBug so now I can actually draw on my Palm. OS 3.5.5 didn't have the drawable Notepad that the later versions did. Paper might even give some of you a "spiritual" feeling of retro simplicity but for me it was not worth the detractions.

Plus I still have options. I could certainly write on a piece of paper and later transfer to the Palm.


What reasons do you have for choosing paper over Palm?

[kewms]

1. I have atrocious handwriting, too. Which means I can read it, but my computer can't. What's on paper, stays on paper.

2. I can write faster than I can type, and far faster than I can use Graffiti. And I can write in situations where a computer would be too clumsy and/or intrusive.

3. One system = no need to transfer data.

4. Not relevant for me. (Off the topic of your post, I wouldn't expect an atheist to be terribly impressed by Biblical quotations. (Or quotations from any other religious scripture.) As universal wisdom, maybe. As evidence for the existence of a Supreme Being, no. )

5. Numerous paper-based entertainment options exist. I've also learned that I don't actually need to have more than one or two entertainment options available at any given time. Long periods of downtime (like airplanes) usually offer opportunities to plan accordingly.

6. True, but a single sheet of paper will fit almost anywhere. I rarely need to carry more than that with me.

7. I've lost more data to electronic disasters than I've ever lost on paper. Also, I do keep static reference information (like address books) electronically. Paper information is more ephemeral.

8. If I need an alarm clock or appointment reminder, I can carry one. I usually don't need one.

9. Been there, done that. I carried a Palm for many years, but I quit carrying one this spring and don't miss it.

Katherine

[pageta]

Why I use paper:

I can type 85 wpm but I still hate data entry, and no, it's not just a matter of copying and pasting from my computer

I can format things however I want them. Just because I wanted to be reminded to do something as of yesterday but not necessarily do it right away doesn't mean that it's bold red today (aka overdue).

I don't have $$$ to spend on some electronic equipment.

I've used eletronic before, but backing things up and data entry got really old really fast.

And backups that fail? As in, they re-write the software to backup your computer to your hard drive instead of the floppy and you lose 6 months worth of data? Still makes my blood boil when I think of it. You couldn't pay me enough to use electronic to make it worth risking going through that again.

The programs never work the way I want them to. They may do all sorts of fancy things, but there's always some obvious stupid thing they don't do that annoys me every time I use them. Trying to make what someone else has designed work for me is not my idea of fun. Writing my own software - too time consuming. With paper, I can change how things look whenever I want - I don't necessarily need to know all issues in advance.

I've never lost a paper planner, but if I did, it would just give me a fresh start. It may help me greatly with day to day living, but a fresh start would not be the end of the world. I don't have an address book in my paper planner or anything else criticial like that - just my lists of things to do. If it's really important that I do something, I would remember it eventually. With computer programs, on the other hand, such as Netscape updating itself on my computer without my knowledge and deleting all of my Bookmarks, now that made me angry. Hate technology!

I don't have to worry about keeping it charged. Pens are easy to come by and so is paper.

I like crossing things off and seeing what I have accomplished without having to go back in and manually delete each crossed off item at the end of the week. New page with the handful of leftover items and a fresh start - love it!

I can record thoughts and ideas on the same type of page as I can write a new list. I don't have to worry about using some software appropriately so I will be able to find things (supposedly).

Don't miss search because I know where things are because I have things organized. Search engines always bring up 90% garbage and 10% what I actually need, and I hate weeding through the garbage.

Those are some of the reasons why I choose paper over Palm. But really, whatever works for you. It sounds like you have great reasons for loving your Palm - use and enjoy!

[AdamMiller81]

Seems like my reasons are pretty similar, but I'll breakd them down.

1) Likewise, my writing is pretty brutal, but I can understand it, and hey, I can always use the practice :) Plus, its quicker than Graffiti (I used to use a Sony Clie) and typing is faster, true, but I find that paper is more flexible for these basic uses.

2) See 1.

3) I very rarely have to rewrite anything, or if I do, its usually transcribing some notes from meetings, half of which I find I don't need, and the other half needs some editing anyways, so they'd require pretty much the same amount of work, and that's if I could enter info as quickly with Graffiti or a thumb keyboard (a la treo/bb) as even though I have a laptop, I don't really work at the type of organization where I'd carry it to meetings and not get some looks.

4) I read a lot of books for fun, and usually have at least one with me, plus when you throw in my iPod and a few other things, I'm carrying a bag of some sort with me anyways (laptop case, man bag ;) etc.)

5) Likewise to # 4. And There are some good sudoku books which fit in my junior size planner and still allow me to close it, for if I'm just carrying that.

6) See the comment on the man bag.

7) My project support materials aren't in the planner anyways, and I've got an electronic calendar that I keep up to date in addition to my planner (works for me), so the worst I would lose would be my list of NA's, which I could reconstruct if need be in an hour or two, generally by doing a good weekly review anyways.

8) If I'm at my desk, Outlook will beep for an appointment, otherwise, I'm checking the paper calendar as much as necessary to not have to worry about it anyways that I notice when stuff is coming up.

Plus, paper is discrete from the office computer system, so I don't have all my personal tasks sitting on the exchange server.

Then there is the money factor, and once I've made the initial $50 investment in my paper planner, I can run it off relatively inexpensive pens which I'd be using anyways, paper I can either get on sale or at work, and free templates from DIYPlanner or purchased templates through work.

[TesTeq]

7.) Paper planners can't be backed up with the push of a button. What happens if you lose your paper planner, as happened to me once? My backups are also copied to a remote server in case of fire/hurricane/Technology-eating aliens from the planet Zotokry.
You can easily backup all pages of your paper planner using your mobile phone's 1 megapiksel camera.

[cdevidal]

3. One system = no need to transfer data.

You've never transferred some computer-based information into your paper system by hand? I had to, it annoyed me.



(Off the topic of your post, I wouldn't expect an atheist to be terribly impressed by Biblical quotations. (Or quotations from any other religious scripture.)

Off topic, yes.

You're right, I fully do not expect an atheist to be impressed with what they think is nothing more than the fanciful writings of a pink unicorn.

But I think you're missing something because I didn't go into detail. I was speaking in instances where an atheist is trying to disprove the Bible by quoting the Bible, or when they have begun to see the need for the Savior. So yes, I have actually needed to search for a Scripture with my concordance while out talking to people like atheists. It would have been quite difficult if I used a paper system -- I don't carry books everywhere.

I don't intend to go down this rabbit trail here in the forum, so if you'd like to discuss this further please email me: Chris (AT) deVidal (DOT) tv. You will get an automatic reply, click the link.

[kewms]

You've never transferred some computer-based information into your paper system by hand? I had to, it annoyed me.

Send to printer. Punch holes in paper. Done.

Katherine

[cdevidal]

8) If I'm at my desk, Outlook will beep for an appointment, otherwise, I'm checking the paper calendar as much as necessary to not have to worry about it anyways that I notice when stuff is coming up.

I'm not always at my desk and I guess one just has to get into the habit of looking at the time/calendar very frequently. I didn't, and I missed two appointments, which is when I finally got fed up with paper.



Then there is the money factor, and once I've made the initial $50 investment in my paper planner, I can run it off relatively inexpensive pens which I'd be using anyways, paper I can either get on sale or at work, and free templates from DIYPlanner or purchased templates through work.

My Vx is a work loaner, so I'm immediately saving money (but then, so was the leather planner) :-D

PDAs have now come under a $100. If I needed to replace my Vx I could get one on eBay for about $60. Your investment over a few years is likely to come to about $60. I'd say this is a draw.

[cdevidal]

Don't miss search

Oh yeah, forgot about that one! I *would* miss search if it were gone.


Make that my reason #9.



Those are some of the reasons why I choose paper over Palm. But really, whatever works for you. It sounds like you have great reasons for loving your Palm - use and enjoy!

Totally agree. Not dissing paper, just telling you why I don't use it anymore. Me, personally. I think #8 (paper doesn't beep) is the biggest.

[cdevidal]

And backups that fail? As in, they re-write the software to backup your computer to your hard drive instead of the floppy and you lose 6 months worth of data? Still makes my blood boil when I think of it. You couldn't pay me enough to use electronic to make it worth risking going through that again.

I guess it's because I work with software backups all day long that I trust them. I know how to run them, I know how to make sure they're always working.

My backups are stored in two buildings miles apart so in case those technology-eating aliens from the planet Zotokry do hit my work office I can recover.

But if that ever happens, I'll probably have bigger things to worry about :grin:

[cdevidal]

Send to printer. Punch holes in paper. Done.

Yeah I suppose so.

I'm not dissing paper, really. What could I possibly have against it? Just saying why I choose a Palm instead.

[Max]

What reasons do you have for choosing paper over Palm?
I ditch the palm a while back.

Eight reasons:
1.) I have atrocious handwriting - but it's better that my graffiti
2.) I can type fast too. but I type on a computer not my palm. SoI find it just as easy to print the info as it is to sync.
3.) Transferring data from my computer to my Planner - again print.
4.) I read my Bible every day, well at least once a week (Carrying a Bible should not be a burden.) But I find ebooks include the Bible to be the only reason my Palm isn't filed in File13. {...rant deleted regarding verse quoting...}
5.) Can flip to my reference section. Or doodle on a blank page.
6.) Screen too small to see all the info i need at one time.
7.) Don't have to worry about backing it up. I know that it contains the one accurate version of my system.
8.) No interruptions in my thought process due to that annoying beep.

[alsa]

7 years with a Palm (OK, about 5 of them) -- have never looked back at a paper organizer. I always have a weekly backup of my Palm on the computer, so data loss is no issue for me. My current Palm also has a horizontal keyboard, and entering data is much faster with it even though I am very good with Graffiti as well.

I realize PDAs are no longer in vogue (since about 3 years ago -- many factors here), and smartphones and Ipods are all the rage now, but my Palm does everything I need -- fast, reliably, and (one of David's favorite words) elegantly.

[alsa]

I ditch the palm a while back.

Eight reasons:
1.) I have atrocious handwriting - but it's better that my graffiti
2.) I can type fast too. but I type on a computer not my palm. SoI find it just as easy to print the info as it is to sync.
3.) Transferring data from my computer to my Planner - again print.
4.) I read my Bible every day, well at least once a week (Carrying a Bible should not be a burden.) But I find ebooks include the Bible to be the only reason my Palm isn't filed in File13. {...rant deleted regarding verse quoting...}
5.) Can flip to my reference section. Or doodle on a blank page.
6.) Screen too small to see all the info i need at one time.
7.) Don't have to worry about backing it up. I know that it contains the one accurate version of my system.
8.) No interruptions in my thought process due to that annoying beep.

Being able to turn the beep off is the easiest thing you can do on a PDA (or Palm specifically) -- let's be serious, please. That's the least we can do. :)

[Max]

Being able to turn the beep off is the easiest thing you can do on a PDA (or Palm specifically) -- let's be serious, please. That's the least we can do. :)
No problem.

Actually I never used the beep. I don't want by pda (or outlook for that matter) interrupting my workflow.

[Jamie Elis]

The real issue is not which one is best but how you feel about how you work with it and how well you feel it supports you in your various efforts.

Clearly if you wish to carry around reference materials, whether it is bible or prescribing information, the PDA is lighter and readily searchable.

When you use something over and over again in the course of a day, the specifics of how you do it either make it work well or detract from your work. If your reference material is just one page, it works well to put it in apaper planner.



I would like to see more along the lines of "8 things I do to make my PDA work for me". For example, I am planning on setting it to beep to remind me to check the day's hard landscape and to scan ahead, something I did often with the paper one that cued me on many levels.

[davidr521]

Whether it's PigPog, ping-pong or whatever...

Use whatever best suits you. I've got a whiteboard with little boxes of high-level tasks (whether it's a @WaitingFor, NextAction, or whatever) that stare me in the face until they're done. Then I erase them. ;-D

When I wrote my "hard landscape" down on paper, I saw what I've got to do. It's pretty simple, it's pretty small, and I can fold it up and put it in my pocket. I can add to it, and cross stuff off.

With the number of fires I have to put out on a daily basis, I don't have time to do anything but scribble them down.

*All in one place is the key*.

IMHO.

[Big Wes]

I use a Tablet PC, which gives me the best aspects of both worlds. I have the free-form note-taking flexibility of paper combined with the search-ability and storage capacity of an electronic medium. I used a paper planner, switched to a PDA (an ancient Handspring Visor) and then went back to paper after the PDA wasn't meeting all of my needs (plus I just loved scrawling notes in my planner).

I stumbled across the Tablet PC a little over a year ago while notebook searching and was very interested. So I bought one, and haven't looked back since. I use Outlook 2003 along with an add-in, Tablet Enhancements for Outlook 3.0. This makes Outlook ink-enabled and replicates the feel of a paper planner quite nicely. I can create handwritten appointments, contacts, meeting notes, and journal entries all in one program. However, I also use MindManager 6 Pro in combination with OL to visually represent my projects, NA list, and to aid in my weekly reviews. I can also carry tons of project support materials in PDF format wherever I go, so I can knock out some @computer NAs whenever I have a few spare minutes. The system is working very nicely for me.

Of course there are a few drawbacks to using a Tablet PC, such as the cost and limitations imposed by battery life (though with some power-management techniques, I can easily make it through an 8-hour conference without needing a recharge). However, the benefits of my system, for me at least, have greatly outweighed the negatives. That's the great thing about GTD--it can be adapted to whatever system best fits your needs. I like paper, loathed my PDA, but absolutely love using my Tablet PC.

[cdevidal]

I suppose two things also helped me choose a Palm vs. paper.

1.) I sit at a computer ALOT. Very rarely can I not type in notes.
2.) I've become paper-phobic in other ways (rarely do I print anything). Paper feels like too much mess. Two monitors helps keep notes on one screen and work on the other.

[webhak]

I suppose two things also helped me choose a Palm vs. paper.

1.) I sit at a computer ALOT. Very rarely can I not type in notes.

Same here. I sit behind one from 8-5 every weekday and often several hours weeknights and weekends.

I've had paper planners, Palms and Pocket PCs, so I have some experience with these systems.

The gadget freak in me will always lean toward electronic toys. I like the flexibility of the electronic solutions and their portability. That's one of the main reasons I switched from the paper models to the Palm Vx years ago. I recently switched back to paper because I do stare at a computer all day. I was getting tired of having to run to the computer for everything. My life centered on my ability to have power (of the electrical kind) available.

I read about the Hipster PDA and found it intriguing at first. I tried it a couple times and couldn't get it to stick. Finally fed up with staring at any sort of electronic screen, I went completely Amish with my organizational system about four months ago.

You can see how I'm using it here: http://theoutdoorjourney.com/journey/?p=118. This mainly details how I use it for fitness training, in addition to organizing my life, but you may get some ideas.

Yes, I still have my electronic PDA. I use it mainly to synch my address book and calendar between the home and office computers.

webhak

[ojibwa13]

I use a Tablet PC, which gives me the best aspects of both worlds.

My TabletPC is perhaps the best purchase I have ever made. The ability to type or write allows for plenty of flexibilty. I also use MindManager 6.0 to track my projects, and what an outstanding application that is (I must thank Jason Womack for this purchase). I then synch this with my Palm Treo, and I have my needed information with me at all times.

For me personally, I could not imagine using a paper-based system. Although I find it very interesting to read about how others are using their paper systems.

Phil

[GTDWorks]

I use paper as a journal to record the events of the day as they happen (Day-TImer 2-page per day) and my PDA for calendar, Tasks, and Contacts. I have Day-Timer two page per month pages for longer-range planning.

It works for me.

[Gameboy70]

Four years ago, I went without a Palm for months without missing it one bit. But I still had to carry a cell phone, so an organizer of any kind was just another cumbersome accessory to carry. Then I got a Treo, which I've stayed with since. I capture on paper, usually with a notetaker wallet, then process everything into the Treo, usually at the Palm Desktop. I'd actually prefer an all-paper system, but have compromised on the organizer side because:

1. Most of my information arrives electronically, so I can paste action support material into memos or note attachments in the Palm Desktop. Palms can also store whole Word and Excel docs, which is usually an overrated feature, but for small reference material it comes in handy.

2. I'm left-handed, which makes the typical looseleaf organizer a non-starter. The rings at the left margin get in the way. A perfect bound organizer solves with problem at the expense of losing the looseleaf's main advantage: the ability to insert, redact and rearrange pages. GTD requires more flexibilty with lists than provided by most commercial organizers, which tend to be calendar-centric.

3. Size matters. The Treo is conveniently small relative to most paper organizers, especially now that I've refitted it with a 2.5mm antenna, and remains small as reference and support material increases.

4. I see the need to reenter what I've captured as a feature, not a bug. I can write something down inarticulately without worrying where to park it in the system, knowing that I'll loop back around to clean it up. I can write something as fragmentary as "tires," and later, process that single word into "Get new tires" in Projects and "Call tire store for prices" in @Calls. Of course, the fact that the paper/PDA system forces the issue doesn't mean that you can't do the same thing using either paper or electronics exclusively.

[GTDWorks]

Gameboy 70:

Thanks for this. I plan to upgrade from my HP to a Treo once my current plan allows for it. I carry a PDA, a cell, and a Day-Timer right now and I look forward to the PDA/phone combo.

Anyone else using a Treo? Would you recommend the Palm OS or the Windows OS?

[DoingIt]

I use a duplex system: I maintain my GTD data on a USB memory stick running OpenOffice. My data are held in a spreadsheet thus giving me lots of flexibility with the creation of Context lists, checklists etc. However, for safety's sake, as well as for convenience when I'm away from a PC, I also keep a hardcopy version of the whole spreadsheet.

This system suits me because I can backup my data by easily keeping a remote electronic copy and I can also use the hardcopy version whenever it suits me.

Before anyone else comments about it, I'll be the first one to admit that keeping two systems, as I do, is inefficient. It's not too bad though, once you get used to it. Anyway, one of the first things I learned about the different ways of implementing the GTD system, especially on this Board, is that "if it's good for you, then go ahead and use it".

[JSR]

I tend to follow threads like this with interest because I am still trying to determine whether I want paper or a palm for my system. I have switched back and forth or gone hybrid for the past year.

However, shortly after this tread started, I was listening to the GTD Fast cds (which I purchased 2 years ago and have heard 2 or 3 times). This time I noticed what David said about note-taking. Essentially he said he tried all of the programs available for the palm that are meant to make note taking possible, but they were "toys". Writing on paper is always faster (for him at least). And he said something to the effect that the higher tech your organizational tool gets (he says the palm is an organizer, not a note taker) the lower tech your collection/capture tools should get.

Why this did not hit me before, I do not know. I have always taken notes on paper in meetings or when the phone rings, or whatever, and then felt obligated to copy anything I commited to or needed to remember to either a palm note, or to the right-hand side of my 2-page per day planner. My notes are very messy, so I would never just write them in the limited space on the planner, and the input limitations of the palm make it impossible for me to take notes directly into there (and even if I could, I over-note take and would have to decide what to keep and delete the rest anyway).

Now I realize I do not have to have 1 tool for both capture/colleciton and organization, but can capture anywhere on anything but make sure it gets into an inbox. Then I can process it into my system directly as calendare, action, waiting for, etc. without being forced to recapture the note onto paper or a palm memo.

I have permission to break a rule I have heard in many programs - that your system is all in one binder or palm that needs to be with you all of the time. This was impossible anyway because the inboxes are in different formats, but I thought I had to somehow get anything of use from the various inboxes into my system before I could process. No more. Capture is different from process, and now I just process it.

In the spirit of the original post to the thread, I use a palm becasue
1. My writing is messy, even when I try to be neat. Difficulty reading a weeks or so later
2. I type much, much faster than I can write, and I can type into the palm desktop when I process or review, sync, and I am done.
3. I do like the backup - and it gets backed up at work and home, so I am fairly sure one will survive if the other dies.
4. It is really easy to carry with me, plus it has audio books or MP3s I can listen to while I walk and digital books I can read when I get bored. And I can carry a lot of reference material in the memos or word files (I do not think it really works for excel, but I only need spreadsheets when I am at my desk anyway)

That being said, there are issues. The screen is small, but it only bothers me when I am doing a weekly review, and I can do that at my work desk using the palm desktop software on the screen, so I can see the entire month's calendar or action list on the big screen.

And I do drop it a little too often. But I will always repair or replace it (in my current mindset), and the desktop software with backup means I can print and carry around my calendar or lists with me and even update on the desktop as needed until I get it repaired or replaced. Then it is just a sync away from all being back in the palm.

I know now, even more than before, that the tool does not matter. I do not need to be costrained by any tool. I will use what is easiest for and most trusted by me...

[kewms]

I have permission to break a rule I have heard in many programs - that your system is all in one binder or palm that needs to be with you all of the time. This was impossible anyway because the inboxes are in different formats, but I thought I had to somehow get anything of use from the various inboxes into my system before I could process. No more. Capture is different from process, and now I just process it.

Yes. This was an enormously important insight for me, too. I have some of my best ideas when I'm away from my tools, whether walking in the park, or eating lunch, or out and about with friends. In those circumstances, I'm simply not going to carry a bulky paper planner, and data entry into almost any electronic device is just too slow. (Maybe taking a camera phone picture is fast enough, but that only helps if the idea is visual.) But with a few extra business cards and a small pen, I'm all set.

Katherine

[TesTeq]

data entry into almost any electronic device is just too slow. (Maybe taking a camera phone picture is fast enough, but that only helps if the idea is visual.) But with a few extra business cards and a small pen, I'm all set.
What about a voice recorder? Many mobile phones have one built-in.

[wordsofwonder]

What about a voice recorder? Many mobile phones have one built-in.

I'm another "capture on paper, organize on my Palm" type of person, and I've tried the voice recorder method of capturing. (In fact, my new Treo 700p has a voice recorder, though I've never used it.)

The reason voice recorders don't work for me boils down to self-consciousness: I feel a lot more self-conscious talking about stuff into a little silver box than I do pulling out a notebook or 3x5 card and just scribbling down some notes.

I don't feel self-conscious talking on a cell phone, though, so I don't know that I can adequately explain why a voice recorder bugs me. I just notice that it does, and that it creates enough disturbance to my psyche to subtly discourage me from using it. And that's an attribute one definitely doesn't want in a capture tool.

-- Tammy

[kewms]

What about a voice recorder? Many mobile phones have one built-in.

Making a voice note seems like more of an interruption than writing a note. That is, it's more disruptive to whatever conversation sparked the note in the first place.

Katherine

[Cristian_9-3]

It's about six years I use a PDA. I started with a Palm, then 3 years ago I switched to PPC.

Now my problem is that I can't be without my computer in my pocket!

I'm a mechanical engineer, I lead an R&D office, and I do many things with my PDA: calendar, to do's, contacts, all kind of database (engineering, products, personal things, encripted,...) datasheets (I'm famous because I can make any calc directly in the moment), scientific calculators... and much more.

At office I'm used to do about 10 projects during the same day, with many telephone calls and other interrumption in the middle. I manage everything with the PDA and if I forget it at home I have to drive back!
Program crashes, battery drop and hardware damege are big problems for me.

I feel everything under control with my PDA... But since some months I got a bad feeling. It's like I'm managing too many things, at evening I'm stressed and sick of my handheld.

I tryed to go back to paper, to it's natual feeling, but it's like I can't anymore. I love paper agendas, I buy one somethime, I like to write and sketch on paper... but to be extremely high-productive my simplest and most complete way is with a computer in my hand.

In the morning I wake up refreshed and I bring happly my HPC. I hope in the future I will feel like that more continuosly during the whole day.

[TesTeq]

I feel everything under control with my PDA... But since some months I got a bad feeling. It's like I'm managing too many things, at evening I'm stressed and sick of my handheld.
It is not a PDA fault that you are managing too many things. Try to renegotiate your agreements and delegate some work (if possible).