Comments on: I Hate 99% of All Productivity Gadgets

By: Simply Put, Always Carry A Pen And Paper With You! - Practical advice on personal development, productivity and GTD

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:34:25 +0000

[...] musings regularly, but I still forget this simplest of tips. It’s not just about carrying a pen and paper with you when you go on a long trip or travel to a meeting, it should be with you when you nip to [...]

By: Chris Shah

Chris Shah — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 04:10:50 +0000

I agree with you. I used tadalist for a while then stopped since it was to simple. Then I used a more robust app http://www.anyinput.com to organize all my stuff including lists. Then i stopped doing that too.

By: Brad Tanner

Brad Tanner — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 06:19:23 +0000

If you want to use the simplest single page paper planner, try a Paper Assistant. I carry mine in my back pocket everyday. Brad

By: J.D. Meier

J.D. Meier — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:21:00 +0000

I agree. I’ve never found productivity software to be productive.

I think the worst thing is to end up overly adapted, and lose your adaptability. Productivity is not static. Stuff needs to slough off. You need to be responsive to your current skills and demands.

That said, I do think productivity should be interspersed in software, that performs a meaningful job (help me write better, help me present better, help me whatever better.)

By: Success Professor

Success Professor — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 04:10:13 +0000

One more thing. I use pen and paper for my entire weekly planning process. You can see it: http://successprofessor.ca/2008/07/29/six-steps-to-plan-your-week-for-success/

By: Success Professor

Success Professor — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 04:08:04 +0000

Great post. I use paper for most things too. I have a day planner, contact list for business contact, goals list, and notepad for ideas.

By: Bobby Rio

Bobby Rio — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:36:10 +0000

I can agree with what you’re saying… I always run out and buy a new planner or software… and always wind up just using the time tested pen and paper..

that being said… i just began using Jott… and am really liking it so far, just for the ability to leave myself notes while driving..(where i tend to have my biggest bursts of inspiration)

By: Dave Fowler

Dave Fowler — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:51:57 +0000

Scott, I’m with you on this one and I arrived at the same conclusion through experience.

I use Toodledo as my master list of almost everything. I look at it about once a week when planning the week ahead and other than adding new stuff to it that I might want later I don’t touch it. For the rest of the week I run from paper having selected from Toodledo the things I want to work on that wek.

My Gcal is a master calendar for regularly recurring events but on a daily basis I use a paper calendar.

I find it much easier – easier to access and easier to amend. As I’m often on the move during the day I’m able to make the best use of my time while I’m stuck somewhere without a computer.

It took me too long to realise that paper is the better option.