A quick review

I downloaded MobileDB from Handango, since I can't resist a free app. I don't like it as well as I do PSDB, since I can't change the font size. Since I don't need to sync with Access or Excel, it doesn't really give me any features. I can export PSDB to a memo, which seems to work out better. Check it out on Handango, if you're interested. I'm sticking with PSDB. In fact, I like all the apps I have from that developer.

All systems go

For the three people or so who actually read this, prepare to be amazed ;) I've dumped my very nice little system (and it is a good setup, using the KS apps, with a linked memo to easily access all your lists.) I've been using a nice Apica notebook as my systems notebook. In it, I review what I'm using and thing of ways it could be better. I've noticed that, about every four weeks, I express a desire to use Life Balance again. It usually passes and I move on. Well, my focus this week is goal setting. I've been trying to hammer this out for the last few weeks. I really feel like I'm drifting. I used a "roadmap" (basically a mind map) this year, that hangs next to my computer. I've been working on a new one. And I've found that my current, sort of plain vanilla system isn't working to keep those goals in front of me.

I wrote this in the notebook on the 26th: What I want from my system is

• ease of use,
• enough built in fun that I don't get bored,
• focus on my goals and list of intentions,
• the ability to work at the desktop.

That nice, simplified system had me bored and unfocused. I felt drawn to hack my Life Balance setup and really got it whipped into shape. I incorporated all my list of intentions, into those tasks designed to keep the TLI from coming into the outline. While most people wouldn't consider LB to be easy to use, I've got a couple years experience with it. It was pretty simple to restructure my old file to work with the goals I have today. I still have some work to do, adding in all those someday/maybe goals and a few new ones that aren't in there yet. It's the closest I've been to a full blown weekly review in a long time.

I don't think I'll ever be happy with a plain, memo based system. I wish I could articulate why. I just want everything into one app, with just one place to look. I'll continue to have reference stuff in memos and in Mac Note Taker. It's like coming back to an old friend, to use LB again.

To make life even more interesting, I found the Moleskine 2005 pocket diary for 50% off. So I bought one. I don't think it will replace my Apica notebook, but it will give me an idea of why these things are so popular.

Inspiration

Took a quick look at the new Inspiration for Palm today. It's nice software. If you're not familiar with it, they publish both a Mac and Windows desktop of their mind mapping software. This is the Palm version, which will sync with the desktop. The best feature is the "rapid entry" where you can quickly add a bunch of topics to a central point. It would work well for those looking for a good mind mapping app for the Palm. It's not for me, as I think it's more complex than I'm looking for right now.

I've dumped the Checklist app and moved my projects back to memos. I was trying to delete one of the lists and kept getting a fatal reset. Wasn't getting a good review of my projects at any rate. And I've reinstalled pTools, as I miss the excellent find feature. So it's still streamlined. When I get the urge to have a fancier app, I just fire up Life Balance on the Mac and do a bit of work in it. It gives me the chance to work in a different app without changing what I use on the Palm. Now I've got to sit down and add in some projects that I don't have in my system yet. I also upgraded PSLink, but haven't tried the new features yet. Need to get back to the basic habits first, before I start trying to use the upgrade.

Paper reminder file

Here's the other piece of my new system, not as tested as the rest. It's a paper reminder file. I use a large sized index card box. Inside, I have the "43 folders" (1-31, and Jan.-Dec.) plus a set of A-Z dividers. The first part I use exactly like a standard GTD tickler file. Any reminders are put on index cards and I review those each day. I am using this mostly for bills right now, although I do toss in any receipts or other items that I enter into Accounts and Loans. The A-Z sections are for reference items. For example, I can write down the author and name of books I'm interested in and toss that in the B section. When I go to the library, I pull out this card and take it with me.

I could set this up in a Palm based system, but it couldn't handle things like receipts. I know I could do them in 2 minutes, but I don't always get to them immediately. This reminder file fits nicely next to the computer and serves as an inbox for many things. I'm happy with the way it's working out.

This seems as good a place as any to mention that I'm not doing any of my checkbook stuff on the computer any more. My bank files won't load into the older version of Quicken on the PC and when I use .qif files it can cause duplicates. I have a nice program for the Mac called Budget that I never seem to use. So I have gone to Accounts and Loans, as I can check off items as cleared and then do a reconciliation with my bank statement. Splash Money can do a nice job of this, but I've found ANL to be more stable and I like the way you can send reports over as memos. Works for me and is a clean, simple program to use.

Finally, a working system!

After all the flip-flopping around, I suddenly seem to have something that makes sense. The most interesting thing is that the software is all free (and Japanese). Let me see if I can describe what I'm using.

KSDatebook--to replace the built in datebook. Has the ability to pull up Teikei for a template and also has floats (called tasks). Also has a nice weekly view. My hard landscape.

KSTodo--replaces the built in todo. Has icons to jump directly to a view in KSDatebook. Also pulls in Teikei for templates. Used for just quick day to day actions.

PSMemo--Memo replacement that looks very simple, yet has a lot of power. Nice sorting ability, and an easy to use toolbar at the bottom of the memo. Can send a memo over to PSDB to create a new database file. I use this for all my reference lists, my daily memos, and my budget planning memos. Most of my stuff lives here.

PSDB--a very simple, freeform database. It actually creates .csv files (which it seems to store on the SD card.) I use this for my pay log and my pay bills reminder log.

PSLink--Lets you create a link that will open that memo or whatever in that application. I use this primarily for my "Hub" memo (more in a bit).

Checklist--Builds a simple checklist. Can pull a memo into it to create a checklist. My projects live here.

The "5" apps--I am using CutandPaste5, Switch5, Shortcut5. Switch5 is nice, will let you jump back to a previous app or pull a list of recently viewed apps.

Memoleaf--for searching memos and recategorizing.

DALauncher--For a few DAs (daMemopad, Misosiru, Raku, Teikei, WeekDA) Misosiru is a view of your calendar items that you can step through one at a time or can jump to a date. Raku will let you enter a Todo, Datebook, or Memo from the DA. Teikei is great for templates and commonly used phrases. WeekDA give you a cyberpoche style week date.

I've got other apps installed (iSilo, Aeroplayer, Accounts and Loans, Bejeweled, Bible Reader, Knitable & Countable, eReader, Mac Notetaker, Splash Photo, Backup Man, and Teal Script. Not used in my planning system but useful for other things.)

I have two floats on my calendar. The first is a link to a memo with the week date, as in [04w50]. Tapping this will jump to a memo with that title, that contains the next actions I'm working on this week. The second link is a memo called [Hub] Hub contains a link to the previous, current and next week's memos. It also links to a series of @ context memos (@Palm, @Work, @Browsing, @Computer, @Home, @Date Tickler), a memo with the budget for the current pay period, and two memos that I review to remind me of more important things (my List of Intentions and Things that Make me Happy.) Each of these memos has a link back to the Hub, so I can scan them, then click to go back. I can click to a memo, click back to the Hub and then click to the next memo. I don't have to do a lot of maintenance here. At the end of the week, I click the link to the current week's memo as completed, so it won't float any more. I create a link to the new week's memo. I add this link to the Hub and I delete the link to the oldest week memo. That's most of the linking I do. I've found that I can link to items within PSDB. I probably won't link to any of my project checklists as it's easy to just scan through everything in that app. I can copy anything and move it to my Hard Landscape or to the Todo list very easily. I can create a project memo,then turn that into a checklist (not a necessary step, but I like checking off items.) Every application I'm using is very simple, without a ton of features or icons. It all works nicely.

I have a pretty simple life, but I think that I could ramp things up and still have a very useable system. This is definitely something that works for me and something I could use even when I'm at my sickest. I don't think I'm going to be changing this one any time soon.

Hipster pda, etc.

I've been really interested in the whole idea of using index cards for GTD. I've actually read about several systems that use index cards for organization. There's the Sidetracked Sisters Happiness File (which I actually did many years ago when we lived in the bus. I used the address part of it for years.) And, in Write It Down, Make It Happen, there's a story about another person who uses index cards. So I've found these pictures interesting: pix Interesting enough that I picked up some index dividers (A-Z, 1-31, Jan-Dec) and set up a tickler file. And I have plans to use this in my goal setting for next year. I've been working on that, but haven't really gotten things squared away. I don't intend to get rid of my Palm any time soon. I use it for MP3s and taking photos. And I may still use it for planning. I just need a break from all this stuff and need to get back to the "doing" part.

I've been trying to decide whether I want to upgrade my computer to a PC or stick with Macs. It won't happen any time soon, but I know that I need to do something in the next year, as this G3 just doesn't cut it. I'd like to upgrade the OS and can't do it without putting some money into it. Saw a very nice Powerbook at work and am thinking seriously about an iBook. I know I could get a PC cheaper. Every time I think about all the anti-virus, anti-spyware stuff you need with a PC, I lose interest. And I've used lots of versions of Linux and haven't found one yet that I really like. So we'll see. Spacewise, a laptop would give me more room on this tiny desk.