GTD with RTM

Productivity

Following my colleague and friend Mathias's advice, I've been using GTD (Getting Things Done) to keep myself organized for some time now. A recurrent question is "what software are you using ?". I tried several programs, but nothing could quite fit my system and decentralized use.

Lots of folks are now pushing GTG (Getting Things Gnome). While I see a lot of potential in GTG, it's still a task manager (everything is a task) rather than a flexible list manager. GTD uses lists of things that are specifically not tasks (the inbox, the maybe lists, the project list...).

Mathias recommended using Remember the Milk (RTM), a highly flexible web service with lots of APIs (and more). I originally set up something along the lines of this reference post, but it failed for me in several areas:

  • Parsing Inbox was painful (no shortcut key to move tasks to other lists)
  • No "tickler file" approach allowing you to forget about an item for some time
  • My projects are using work items in Ubuntu blueprints, keeping them in sync was also painful

So I changed it, here is my new setup:

  • New items are created in the "Inbox", without tags.
  • A @ToProcess smartlist, using "list:Inbox and (isTagged:false or (tag:hide and dueBefore:tomorrow))", contains the stuff I need to parse during next Process phase
  • Process phase: for each item in @ToProcess:
    • If it's actionable and takes less than 2 minutes, do it, mark it as completed (\<c> shortcut)
    • If it's actionable but needs more time, use \<s> shortcut to tag it with appropriate context ("me" if only me is required)
    • If you don't want to process it now, but want to file it in your tickler file for it to reappear in two weeks: use \<d> "two weeks" to set a Due Date, then use \<s> and tag it "hide"
    • Delegate tasks by using \<s> and tag it "wait" + some context of who you're delegating to
    • As soon as it's tagged, the item disappears from the @ToProcess list, which is good !
    • If it needs to go to one of the Maybe lists, move it there
  • My @NextActions smartlist uses "isTagged:true and not (tag:wait or tag:hide)"
  • My @WaitingFor smartlist just uses "tag:wait"

I don't maintain anymore "one list per project", which was painful to me. I just use a "Projects" list that is a regular GTD Projects list I use during weekly reviews. I use multiple "Maybe" lists (one for ideas needing incubating, one for technologies to look at, one for blog article ideas, etc.).

A few remarks:

  • I use Google Calendar for actions occurring at a specific time
  • I use the priority shortcuts to give a sense of urgency that helps me quickly pick the right next action from the @NextActions list
  • I use context tags for everyone: for example, I mark "jib" all tasks that require jib to be completed. When I talk to that person, I use the RTM tag cloud to quickly bring up a "tag:jib" search to get a list of all subjects I need him for, but also a reminder of tasks I delegated to him.
  • I try to have my inbox at hand all the time, to be able to quickly drop there a quick idea that crosses my mind. I use RTM google calendar plugin, RTM netvibes module and also coded a "rtm" tool using their python API, for direct use when I'm hacking in a terminal. All create items in the default list (Inbox) and without tagging, so it just works.
  • I also use an ActivityReport smartlist (completedWithin:"1 week of today")

Hope it helps :)