The Weekly Review

The Weekly Review – The Heart of “Getting Things Done”

I admit it.  I am right now a closet runway planner.  I am only looking at GTD from a runway level, and the 10,000 foot level – very rarely higher.

10,000 feet feels different than I thought it would – it feels like getting through the week, and all I am doing is checking off to-dos that I’ve done.  Then again, that is a good thing, although I could check them off when I did them and that would be even better.  But there is more to it than that – there is a ton of self management that is involved in that process.  It gives me a feeling of being in control, of deciding, what I am doing next.  It makes me feel like nothing is slipping through the cracks, and that is terribly important.

One of the keys that I’ve found to ensuring that nothing is slipping is taking notes throughout the day.  Most people I know would freak to find out I was “taking notes on them” but that isn’t the principle.  It lets me process my notes from the previous day and ensure that nothing is slipping.  It lets me keep a record, so that I know what I have committed to – childish, but if I haven’t written it down, it’s like my mind doesn’t think it exists.  I’ve heard lots of people rave over Moleskine notebooks – heck I even bought my wife one for Christmas, and she loves it.  However, I’ve found a great, cheap notebook that does the trick, and you can find something for your needs too.  If you have to know, mine is the Blueline A9C, a steal for about 8 bucks Canadian, and from a Canadian company too.  Reviewing my notes from the week prior during my weekly review or the first thing on the first morning in the office really helps me to stay focused on that runway and 10,000 foot level.

Now if I can just get myself to soar a little bit higher….

Let your GTD slide

Today was a day filled with frustration. I had such high hopes – I even went a new route to the office that was suggested by a friend, and saved 10 minutes. How wonderful!

On arrival, our receptionist’s computer was dead, and I had to swap it for one of our spares, thank heaven we have them. Frustrating to lose time you had planned to spend doing other things, especially when the Christmas Crunch is looming. However, we got the problem resolved, and I spent the day essentially putting out fires, or trying to feel like I was being more productive. I did manage to process my "in".

SWMBO has long been searching for the "perfect" planner or notebook to jot her thoughts. After my reading several blogs on GTD (including Michael Hyatt's, which I've posted a permanent link to), I've read many people rave about the Moleskine (pronounced mole-ah-skein-ah) notebook. I found them at Notables, a gifty-type stationary store, and $15.00 I had another gift for my wife. I'll secretly have a good look to see what everyone is fussing about...

Personally, I've chosen a made-in-canada option - the Blueline A9 notebook. Great notebook, spiral bound, able to take a beating (it would seem), and perforated pages. The only thing missing is a built-in ribbon / bookmark, but I'm sure I will live with it. $8.95 at Grand and Toy. I am needing to admit, though, that for the luxury of it, I am sorely tempted with another Canaadian offering - one of the Pierre Belvedere notebooks (right below the Moleskine). Leather-look, perforated pages and a bookmark. Very nice looking, but at $17.95, I'm sticking with my Blueline A9.

FWIW, this relates because of an article I read at Michael Hyatt's site. He's right - I've only started taking notes on everything for a week, and alreadyd I've found them useful to refer to.

Tomorrow will be better.