| In my mind, productivity systems are like diets. Everyone is looking for one that's guaranteed to succeed. Like fads, they come and go. Some inspire annoyingly strict adherence among their fans. Users love to evangelize about them. They are hard to stick with. And none works for me. I've been pondering this topic because of Angela Haupt's article looking at the pros and cons of five popular productivity systems. I've never actually tried any of these approaches, but I've flirted with so many other tools and techniques that I literally cannot remember if I had a PalmPilot. (I think I did.) I've dabbled with a variety of real-life planners, as well as the online systems Evernote, Trello and Airtable, a bunch of "to do" apps with cute names like Remember the Milk, and bullet journaling. The problem is that I would eventually tire of using them. I wouldn't write something down and, like an addict, would try to tell myself it was a one-time failure. Then I would march along in cheerful denial, keeping everything in my head until it exploded, and I had to start using some kind of system again. (By "writing things down" I mean noting them in some fashion, whether digitally or via pen and paper. I much prefer the latter.) The physical productivity tool I stuck with the longest was the Franklin Covey Planner system. I had (still have) a binder, which had a calendar, planning pages, photo sleeves for pics of my kids, room to list phone numbers, weekly lists, and plenty of pockets to stuff in notes. I used that for several years -- partly, I think, because I liked all the accessories. I might be using it today if smartphones and the Internet hadn't come along and so much of my life didn't have to be online for other people to see. I love setting up productivity tools; I just don't like using them. I had a great time color-coding our family Google calendar when my kids were young – and emphasized to my husband and daughters the importance of maintaining it. But I would eventually slip up, and it would be my husband who would pointedly say, "Did you put it on the calendar?" A few years later, I bought all the things for bullet journaling – a pretty journal, fancy pens, a straight edge. It lasted a few months. People like me are the reason so many productivity systems come with notebooks, journals, calendars, organizers, charts, stickers, planners, notebooks, templates, worksheets and timers. Clearly, I still don't have this productivity thing down. So, what I like best about Angela's article is that, at the very beginning of it, the experts she consults say that no one system is going to work for you (this is like so many aspects of wellness). "Mixing and matching is really going to be your best bet most of the time," according to Anna Dearmon Kornick, a time-management coach. "These strategies are fantastic and a great starting point, but there's not going to be a one-size-fits-all solution for everyone." At this point, my productivity systems are patchworks of tools and hacks – and more mix than match. For work, they include an online calendar and a large paper desk pad, and Trello boards for stories because entries on Trello are so easy to move around. I also have a reporter's notebook on the side of my keyboard, in which I have to jot down every idea or every task I have to do as soon as they come up, because otherwise I might forget. At the end of the day, I cross off what I've done and circle the others. To guard my focus, I sometimes pause notifications in our office message system, Slack, and close email, so I won't see the alerts. I use desktop sticky notes – both literally and digitally, for temporary reminders. I try to tackle the yuckiest/most important stuff first. My real-life system is a similar patchwork of mostly iPhone-related apps (hello, Siri and Notes and Reminders). But, after reading Angela's story, I don't feel like a failure for not sticking to one special productivity technique. Nonexpert though I am, I do have a tip, though: Read the instructions. The other day, I used my Apple watch to ask Siri to find my iPhone. My younger daughter looked at me in astonishment and showed me that I could simply touch an icon on my watch to do the same thing. This is something I would have known if I had bothered to read through the manual or watch a YouTube video, or anything other than just basically put the watch on my wrist and go. Sure, it will only save me several seconds every time I misplace my phone. But when it comes to productivity, every second counts. Take care! | Review ● By Chris Velazco and Geoffrey A. Fowler ● Read more » | | | |
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