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Several months ago I was raving about 30 boxes - the calendar web-tool, todo list manager, and social networking thing. Then I quit using 30 boxes because I started using google calendar.

Just thought you might like to know that 30 boxes is still very cool, and they added a bunch of cool features since the last time I checked.

30 boxes is a very cool web-calendar system. The only thing I don’t like about 30 boxes is having to log in — and it’s not their fault. Sometimes I am too lazy to login to a website for a few weeks. Some people are more pragmatic than me, and will keep trying things until they find something that fits their lifestyle. Google makes it easier (to login to the calendar), since all the google apps are moving toward a common login or common ID for all the google apps.

Then along comes the Open-ID project to make it easier to sign in to all web applications from one common ID management system. We’ll see if Open-ID catches on.

Tags: calendar, GTD, open-id, Web 2.0

“Todoist is a simple, efficient and dynamic todo list manager.
The main focus of the application is to help you get organized!
It’s a perfect fit for Getting Things Done people.”

Tags: GTD, How To, to-do list, Web 2.0

or.. How to Clean Out Your Sock Drawer

Right on the heels of reading Getting Things Done, a friend told us about FreeCycle.

Using the GTD method, you are encouraged to fill up your trash can every day. The inbox is your friend. The file drawer is your friend. The trash can is your friend. And now the FreeCycle re-cycling network is your friend. You can get lots of FREE stuff from FreeCycle and you can give away all your junk on FreeCycle.
Example: I was cleaning out my sock drawer and found I really had 3 sock drawers and way too many white socks. So I put a listing for 1 dozen pair of white socks (no holes, clean, almost new) - FREE.

My friend Cartrel had an expression for something that is quickly completed: “Boom. Done.” So easy to do, and so quickly completed.  Within minutes — 9 people contacted me who wanted the FREE socks. Boom, somebody picks up the FREE socks off my front porch. They are happy and I am happy. Boom. Done. Freecycle is cool!

Tags: GTD, recycling, social network

I finished reading “Getting Things Done” on Sept. 5, and plan on reading (reviewing) it again in March 2007. Chapters 11 and 12 really summarized everything nicely.

My basement office is transformed. My bed-room is clutter free. My project list is longer than ever, but I’m getting that “feeling of relaxed control” more often than the feeling of panic.

All this is nice, and it’s more than just a 30 day expirement. Real change has happened in my life. But is there a downside to being so driven by lists? What good habits will slip (decay) in the next 6 months? Will any inbox get too full, neglected, and tossed into the “back room”? What buckets will spring a leak?

Note to self: Conduct a rigorous self-audit in March 2007.

Tags: audit, GTD, inbox

1. I bought the book - Getting Things Done by David Allen.
2. Read the first 2 (two) chapters.
3. My inbox gathering and emptying skills are already greatly improved, but I’m still trying to figure out what some of my other “trusted buckets” are. Like the old song said… “There’s a hole in the bucket.”
4. Noticed that Michael Hyatt has a section of his blog Working Smart - with tips about GTD.

Tags: book, book review, GTD, How To

I’m excited about Getting Things Done, the book by David Allen. (Amazon link.) GTD is Getting Things Done - see definition of GTD. I’m already getting more things done, because I’m more organized, and haven’t even read the book yet. I’ve read a couple reviews, outlines, and summaries of the principles and main ideas from the book. That was enough to jump start me into a new way of thinking and working. Here’s what’s happening:

• Learned a better way to manage my inbox(es).
• A smarter way to manage my project lists and to-do lists.
• I am better organized and more focused on my goals.
• That’s all for today — I have to run, and Get Things Done!

We’ll come back to this topic in a couple weeks and see what other progress I can report.

Tags: book, book review, goals, GTD, inbox, method, methods, project management, to-do list