This is the story of a guy and his process. He rehashes his process and begins to learn a little about how he uses applications or how applications grab hold of him. He later discovers that the mobile platform is a great way for him to actually “get” the whole GTD thing.
Recovery Update: Thanks to Dean Robinson, I was able to recover this post. Thanks Dean!
A week or so ago, I talked about assimilation, or rather, the ease of having anything fit into my workflow. Whether that was using iCal or going to the gym, it was like pulling teeth after about two weeks.
But this time we’re going to add another one to the list, GTD. GTD or “Getting Things Done,” has been the one thing that everybody else seem to get that has alluded me. To-do lists. Task management. Sorting emails. I couldn’t keep up with it. I wouldn’t necessarily say I was unproductive, because I survived fine without it, but I felt that I was missing something. I’d see people talk about achieving the super-amazing “Inbox Zero” and I’d just sit there, petting my failwhale, looking at my Inbox 268.
But the mailbox talk is for another day because I might have found my way to “get” task management.
Enter Things
Things, by CulturedCode, is a task manager that you’ve probably heard of. I was lucky to get invited to the alpha when they first put the word out, but after downloading it, I did the usual. I opened it, stared at it, inputted and deleted a task or two, closed it, and zapped it. Was it bad? No, not at all. I just didn’t get it. During the span of 3 or 4 months I gave it a few more tries, without any luck. Even if I told myself not to delete it, it would just sit there looking entropic. But it’s not just Things, it’s any life management application that requires semi-constant updating. Delicious Library 2 would be another example. I haven’t opened that since the day I bought Practical Django Projects. But I digress.
Then the lovely AppStore for the iPhone came out and I realized what my problem was. It wasn’t the program, it was the platform. Now, this could very well be an isolated case. Notebooks didn’t work, desktop applications didn’t work, but the mobile platform did.
Enter Things, for the iPhone
So last night, I buckled and got Things for the iPhone. Sure enough, I sat there typing at least 10 to-do items in the first 30 minutes of using it. The kicker is, I kept checking and inputting more tasks as they came out mind. Now, let’s back up a little bit.
Why did mobile work for me? There are three things I have with me at all times.
- My wallet.
- My keys.
- My phone.
Sure, I’ll forget one every now and then when I’m rushing, but 90% of the time I’ll always have my oversized black leather wallet, my keys on a Media Temple lanyard and my iPhone. So it’s always on me. That’s a biggie. Whenever there’s any sort of downtime, such as waiting in line, I would always either update Brightkite or check Twitter using Hahlo, and now, Mobile Twitterific. Even when I’m home, sitting in front of my laptop, I’ll check stuff on it.
So we can conclude that I have the attention span of a doorknob. But that attention span has limited my ability to use applications I know I don’t need to use daily. However, since I’m always clicking around my iPhone during those dead moments, there’s always going to be a chance that I click on Things. The more I click it, the more I’m going to use it and obviously a lot of that you have to attribute to the lovely interface.
Could this work for other things?
Maybe. I’ll just have to wait for nice enough applications to come and fill those needs. Example, since I admit I’m a stats whore, when Nike+ comes out for the iPhone, I’ll probably be running more.
But I now know that mobile applications win me over, which will be very bad for my wallet.
Sidenote: Now, I realize that many people haven’t bought Things because of its lack of syncing. For me, I could go without it, Things for the desktop would probably have a backup of what I input into the iPhone app. So, when that comes, it comes. It also irks me that people expected so much out of such a short development period, but that’s another story for another day.
Until syncing between the mobile and desktop apps becomes available this won’t be important for you, but the desktop app has a wonderful ‘quick input’ feature that’s triggered by a system-wide shortcut to create new todos & projects. You never even have to see the actual Things app, but you get the benefit of an actual keyboard to type it out. I think you should at least give it a try.
I’m really close to buying Things just for those “I’ve got an Idea, I need to write it down” moments that I usually have while sitting on the bus to and from work each day, then they would be recorded and I could attend to them later on. Sure I could probably use a pen and paper, but wheres the fun in that.
Oh and thanks for the mention of Hahlo :)
Kyle — Ah, now that’s cool. That shortcut seems worth the $39 in itself.
Dean — I’ve used Hahlo from the day I got my iPhone, it is still by far the best Twitter client out there, mobile or otherwise (sorry Snook!). You wanna talk about easy assimilation. If anything, I should be thanking you. :D
So, I must ask, now is it Twitter = Hahlo? ;)
I’m definitely in the same boat, Bryan. I have a hard time getting a good grasp on any new method or app that is supposed to ease my day-to-day. But even harder, is keeping that grasp.
A few months ago I bit the bullet and purchased a license for OmniFocus. I preferred Things for its simplicity, but it just wasn’t far enough along in development at that point. I’ve since been using OmniFocus for keeping track of my monthly expenses and everything associated with my recent move (where to update my address, things to pick up at the hardware store, etc.). But I don’t use it nearly as much as I should, or could. When the app store was released, I immediately snagged OmniFocus for my iPod Touch. I, like you, am constantly checking in while away from my desk on my iPod Touch. I figured I could use the portable version of OmniFocus for day-to-day, non-work related tasks while keeping the desktop version for business. I can sync between the two, but I don’t think I’m going to.
I have a huge issue of not getting things done, and forgetting things I need to do :( Unfortunately, other than a pen+paper or my notebook, I have no other good mobile device for making lists. I have a razr for a phone, which I’m not fond of, but nor am I fond of cell phones. I have a very old palm pilot but I don’t use it. And my notebook, let’s face it…it’s a little large and inconvenient to just whip out any time I get an idea. So it comes down to a notepad…which ends up messy because I end up writing other things on it too.
Oh, what is a girl to do? It may be getting time to invest in some sort of little handheld device…a new phone or perhaps a newer palm-type thing. But of course, money’s a pain (and so is the lack of a macbook :<).
Ever heard of a little thing called a tape recorder? They do come in awfully handy and free up your mind a little as they provide an instant outlet to ‘take notes’ if you dare. I take one with me everywhere I go for those ‘Oh yeah’ moments when my hands are busy doing other things. They are also very cheap!!!
Fanny Cuiso
I definately know what you mean with the whole “not getting” GTD. I’m starting to dip my toe into it, a little. I’m going to be purchasing an iPod Touch within the next few weeks, and I was considering OmniFocus Mobile, but now i’ll have to check out Things.app too. Thanks :)
I agree with you Brian. I have tried many task oriented application for the computer and have left them all to dust. But now that is is on a mobile platform i use it all the time. It is not that i do not want to use a task program, it just was not correct for my needs. When on the computer i think of doing work., not checking my to do list. I play with my phone all the time, having it their for me as well as you, is where it belongs. I do not care about the syncing either because well that was our problem to begin with. It was on the computer. Glad to see it is working for you on the mobile platform. Be looking for a follow up, make that a task.
I agree with needing the mobile access. But I need the sync. I’m an OmniFocus fan. Either way though, go GTD.