Lifehacking the Hipster PDA GTD Workflow
After reading an article about Getting Things Done for students on Lifehacker, and also considering the Hipster PDA, I’ve adapted these into my own “workflow” which I will attempt to follow for the coming semester (and, if it proves useful and doable, the rest of my college carrer).
I’ll be using what I call a “minimal Hipster PDA” (or, for acronym acolytes, the MHPDA) which consists of a stack of 10-15 note cards clipped together, to be kept in the front pouch of my backpack (since I carry it with me at all times during the school year).
Here’s how this will work:
Inbox:
- The top card(s) on the stack; keeps track of “action items,” or tasks to be done, along with dates, if applicable
- When presented with a new assignment in a class: enter the first “actionable” step on the task list (not to be sorted by class or anything)
- For large, longer projects, note final due date (along with due date for current step) and enter into Google Calendar at earliest convenience (which I have set to send a text message reminder the day before it comes due)
- Upon completion, tasks will be crossed off with a single line. When all items on a card are completed, the card will be discarded
Abstract:
- This will be a separate note card(s) used to keep track of things that need to incubate in the brain-box. Basically, this is a moleskine replacement. Random thoughts or half-ideas that occur during classes or at work can be jotted down here for review later. To be reviewed before going to the gym or taking a walk, or while in a “thoughtful spot.”
That’s it! The idea is that by keeping this system as simple as possible, I might actually follow it instead of abandoning it immediately like I have done with every daily planner I’ve ever owned.
I just check my planner on Monday to see what’s due for the week, then look at it each morning to see what’s due for the day. I used to do this in high school and it worked SO WELL for me. I’m not sure why I stopped doing it after high school, but I’m going to reinstate it for this semester.
I think the problem with that method for me is that I would enter things that were due in the future and then not ever see it again until it was the week the project was due, so it didn’t really help. I’ve just been writing things in the notebook for each class, but that leads to having a bunch of to-dos scattered across multiple notebooks and in different parts of each notebook, so I need a new system.
I have begun to rely heavily on my daily planner, which actually started as a run log (To record daily runs/workouts and tally a total at the end of the week) But because of all my interviews, extra hours at work, volunteer days, school projects (when applicable), races, and just general plans (e.g. band w/ Jim @ 9AM) I started to really organize and be able to effectively plan my coming days/weeks/ and even up to months. I review it every day, so the stuff never slips my mind, because I am always looking ahead to see what’s coming up, and how to fit in stuff. I should’ve started sooner in college, but now I couldn’t go without it.
For implementing GTD you can use this web-based application:
http://www.Gtdagenda.com
You can use it to manage your goals, projects and tasks, set next actions and contexts, use checklists, schedules and a calendar.
A mobile version is available too.