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For productivity applications, I recommend these three tools:
Faction3′s FocusList: Faction3 developes web applications that center around the concept of Focus and simplicity. Check it out here: To-do List
OmniFocus: A very simple focus and concentration application.
The Pomodoro Technique: An amazing take on productivity.
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Scott Scheper is an entrepreneur, writer and investor from Southern California. Scott's companies have been featured in Tech Crunch, Mashable, Read Write Web and more. In his early twenties, Scott helped build a start-up that started in a basement into a multimillion-dollar company. This was done through mastering the art of simplicity and focus.
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Two I have been using for more than ten years:
Above & Beyond Diary http://www.1soft.com
You can organise your diary based on a number of parameters.
Also good for recording and tracking time.
MindManager http://www.mindjet.com
Free thinking management of tasks. Easy to link to all the tools and files needed for the current job on the current map.
Thanks for the additions, Andrew. Appreciate it. I’ll check those out now. Thanks.
One of the best tools I have found is a good notebook – I prefer Moleskine Large Soft Cover Grid Rule.
In addition to taking notes from meetings, I create to-do lists in the notebook. I take these on 4×6 ruled Post Its, so I can move them forward in the notebook and keep tract of lists for different projects. This completely eliminates hunting for coded info in the notebook.
I also like to use two different symbols for to-dos I am going to delegate vs. do myself – a square box for me and a box with an arrow for others on my team.
Tom — I really like that system. I’m a big fan on paper to-do lists; as I’ve experimented with most (if not all) other to-do lists and they’ve failed in comparison to plain paper.
Here’s another nifty resource that I’m going to test out soon. Likely going to pick one up this weekend: http://www.paperblanks.com/us/en/product
I’m also a fan of paper lists, which I’ve been using with the Pomodoro technique: http://www.pomodorotechnique.com/
In a nutshell,
1. make a list
2. choose one task and work on it and nothing else for 25 minutes (set a timer)
3. when the timer is up, mark an x next to the task, take a 5 minute breather
4. repeat steps 2-3 until the task is complete and move to the next task
I’ve found the technique is really about reducing distractions, and cultivating focus.
Hey Yancy — I just checked out the pomodoro technique and it looks really neat! Thanks for the recommendation.
I’m using “Pomodoro Tasks” program for Android platform. Allows to enter tasks quickly, easily and quickly arrange them in a priority list, mark as done. It has very simple interface, allowing to focus on task at hand instead of fiddling with program for half an hour. Plus it has built-in timer to use it for practicing Pomodoro technique described by Yancy.
Hey MooNWalker — I’ve heard a lot of good things about the pomodoro technique. I’ll contact the team over there and check it out.
-s