Has anyone gone back to paper?

[cfoley]

Thanks for all the advice, encouragement and words of caution. I have moved most of my action lists to paper and am experiencing an overall improvement. Paper is nicer to manipulate, easier to read and more flexible in terms of layout, drawing, tearing, folding, highlighting, etc. I’m half way through my weekly review and it was a pleasure to scan through my action lists. My project lists are still digital and the prospect of reading through them is so daunting that I’m writing a reply here instead.

(It’s not all bad though. I’m going to try printing them out for the review.)

Some things I’m having difficulty with, or have to think about my options for:

Deadlines
My digital system handles this nicely with due dates and saved searches. At the moment I’m writing due dates in red beside actions. Hopefully, I’ll stay engaged with my lists well enough for this to work.

Start dates and Ticklers
I used start dates on my digital system to cater for both of these. I’m not sure if I want a physical tickler system so I might stick to a digital one. My biggest issue with a physical tickler file is where to put it. It’s true that I wake up (almost) every day in my own house so that’s a perfect time and place to check it, but I spend most of the working day at my office which is where and when I want to tickle most items.

Calendared Actions
I like Google calendars too much to leave it but it’s a lousy place to put action items. As much as I hate the idea of two calendars, I’m trialling an action calendar: Page-a-day with only action items that must be done on that day. I’m not sure if I want to store deadlined items there as well as on my action lists and I’m struggling similarly with start dates.

Repeating actions
Some are ideal candidates for the action calendar. Others are a bit more flexible. I remember some long threads on here recently that I should probably go back and read.

Again, thanks for all your advice. If you have any thoughts on these issues I’ve highlighted, I’d love to hear from you.

[CJSullivan]

Deadlines
My digital system handles this nicely with due dates and saved searches. At the moment I’m writing due dates in red beside actions. Hopefully, I’ll stay engaged with my lists well enough for this to work.

Start dates and Ticklers
I used start dates on my digital system to cater for both of these. I’m not sure if I want a physical tickler system so I might stick to a digital one. My biggest issue with a physical tickler file is where to put it. It’s true that I wake up (almost) every day in my own house so that’s a perfect time and place to check it, but I spend most of the working day at my office which is where and when I want to tickle most items.

Calendared Actions
I like Google calendars too much to leave it but it’s a lousy place to put action items. As much as I hate the idea of two calendars, I’m trialling an action calendar: Page-a-day with only action items that must be done on that day. I’m not sure if I want to store deadlined items there as well as on my action lists and I’m struggling similarly with start dates.

Repeating actions
Some are ideal candidates for the action calendar. Others are a bit more flexible. I remember some long threads on here recently that I should probably go back and read.

Again, thanks for all your advice. If you have any thoughts on these issues I’ve highlighted, I’d love to hear from you.

Tickler: I use a paper tickler file, and I have it at the office. I keep personal and work things in it, and it's the first thing I look at (after I get my coffee and boot up my computer!)...

Calendar: This is where I actually have multiple calendars (paper, Outlook, and Google), which wouldn't work for everyone, but works for me. My planner has my MASTER calendar. I try to be pristine with what I put on any of my calendars - really only actions that HAVE to be done on that day, plus reminders of looming deadlines (!)

Repeating actions: I'll use a digital reminder and/or tickler file depending on the nature of the repeating action.

[speeding]

Only in collection stage, I use paper to record the idea, then, I send the project to my omnifocus in iPhone, set the date, context, repeat properties... then do it and review weekly.

[razorboy]

I am experimenting with project management software, and I expect that I will eventually use Amode for that purpose. I will have GTD-type lists; but when I am doing my ToDoToday list, it is in my daybook. At night, I work on any cleanup.

Of course, if I had 125 things to do each day, this system might well be inadequate.

[rightbrain]

i use hybrid.

paper for my current projects list, and action lists,

i organize reference information on either paper or freemind mindmapping software .

i use basic tools and so its free to evolve and it does keep evolving !...its like seeing a kid grow..

why should i limit my gtd tool to the imagination of the person who designs a gtd software.............

i mean ...if i use a digital gtd tool.....it wont evolve...right ?

and i cannot tweak it ..as i am not a programmer.

paper works great for me........as i use a lot of sketches and colour pen markings.
..

[macgrl]

When i fall off the gtd wagon i refocus / regroup by using paper and then input it into my electronic (omnifocus system). I prefer electronic as it syncs across my devices and is backed up, easy to edit and organize.

[artsinaction]

My system is paper-based except my calendar. iCal syncing across devices is the only way I can handle date/time based actions. Otherwise, I love paper!

Dena

[vicve]

I have moved back to paper temporarily but quickly lost my enthusiasm for it once I realized that it was much easier for me to forget my paper planner and also, a paper planner is not as mobile as my iPhone which is where I keep my lists and projects.

I use paper for brainstorming and for mapping out initial project plans but after I'm done with that, straight to digitial. I love the mobility too much to give that up permanently.

[OF user]

I recently went back to paper from OmniFocus. Don't get me wrong, OF is the best electronic tool I have ever used. It is so good and you can create so many views (perspectives) that after a while you find that if you can't tweak OF to do more things, it's not as fun to use. Plus, if you every view your whole list (Show All), it looks mind boggling.

Even with paper, I tend to go for something that is fun using (Filofax Malden in Ochre), but with paper you tend to interact with it in such a way that you don't need to tweak it. Plus, it never seems overwhelming while an electronic list always looks huge no matter what you do.

Not sure this makes sense to you , but yep I am back with paper.

[CJSullivan]

Even with paper, I tend to go for something that is fun using (Filofax Malden in Ochre), but with paper you tend to interact with it in such a way that you don't need to tweak it.

I have a grey A5 Malden, and I LOVE using it. I love the feel and the smell - and the crinkle of the paper as I flip the pages. I have seen people do LOTS of "tweaking" of their Filofaxes, but I agree - I find I am spending more time on the actual items on my lists when I use paper, as opposed to how many ways I can view said items. I think it comes down to "which tool do you enjoy interacting with?!" and I would never try to convince someone who is a diehard electronic list manager person to "go paper"!