Improve your life (Warning: Low on Absurd Scale!)

I was browsing my Netvibes GTD blog feed this morning (see Az, I really do use it at home!), and I found a really thoughtful post from over at Lifehack.org on 10 Virtually instant ways to improve your life -- every single point was something everyone needs to have tattooed to the back of their hand to remember (figuratively speaking, of course).

For example:

Don’t invent rules. A huge proportion of those “oughts” and “shoulds” that you carry around are most likely needless. All that they do for you is make you feel nervous or guilty. What’s the point? When you use these imaginary rules on yourself, you clog your mind with petty restrictions and childish orders. And when you try to impose them on others, you make yourself into a bully, a boring nag, or a self-righteous bigot.

Now, I do have life rules, but they are lessons learned rules, so I think they're okay.

Rule #1
"Always wear comfortable shoes."

Rule #2
"Never live with your best friend."
[Corollary to Rule #2: "Live with someone who can be your best friend."]

There really are only 2 rules, but I'll jokingly add them as they come up. Like, Rule #23 (in the Travel subset of rules) "Always use the bathroom when you get a chance."

Any to add?

Lori

Still trying to find a system

As you all know, if you've been reading my blog, I have 3 fixations: the absurd, cats, and gadgets. The latest gadget-focus is on a system to be productive.

How difficult can that be? Well, if you type "GTD" [Getting Things Done] into a search engine, you'll be innundated with options, ideas, and lifehacks. For a start, try the Ultimate GTD Index.

Tips and tricks abound, and there are loads of web applications all vying for your attention, trying to be your solution.

Well, I'm narrowing down my solution. Wanna hear about it?

First
I use Gmail. If you haven't found it yet, go get thee an account. Huge memory, archiving, Google searching of emails, conversation management, great labeling system.

I've added the GTD Extension to my Firefox, which is really just a ramped-up system of labeling your emails. A couple of added shortcuts that I've come to like, but they're only available if you're on a Firefox that's got the extension.

Second
My start page is Netvibes. Sign in from any computer, and all your settings are there -- your email accounts, bookmarks, to do lists, feeds. I'm turning it into my office.

Third
The viable To Do lists. This is a hard one. I'm still toying with just using Netvibes' to do list capabilities, but now I can put a Remember the Milk module on my Netvibes page -- and there's just so much more you can do with its functions. And I've added IMified to my gmail contact list, which enables me to send my To-Dos directly to Remember the Milk. Very simple and elegant!

Fourth
Dealing with documents. This is a tricky one. Do you need a place to just store docs online to access them yourself, or do you need to share them? Or is it bigger than that? Perhaps you need to create an Excel spreadsheet or a PowerPoint presentation, but you don't have these programs on your computer. Two options: Get the OpenOffice suite on your computer -- free and easy to use. Or, get an account with ThinkFree, where you can make these docs online. (I've had some problems with ThinkFree, some recent changes have made it less intuitive, and I couldn't access a spreadsheet. In all fairness, the support people got right back to me, but I've been too busy to follow up on the problem. My bad.)

I would really hesitate to use Google Documents and Spreadsheets (accessed through your gmail/google account) -- it looks really sweet...open docs right from your Gmail account, but then once you change them, you have to download them to the computer you're on, then email them. You'd think, being so closely tied to your email account, that you'd be able to email the docs directly (What if you're on a computer where you don't want/can't download?) -- but no, they want you to invite your people to sign up to a Google account to be able to share the documents.

At the moment, I'm partially using Zoho Projects for one of my jobs. I say 'partially' because I'm working with people who don't function like I do, all online, so they're not using it with me (and I can't make 'em. Boo hoo!). But it has a nice feature where I can upload files with no fuss.

Fifth
The Internet is always there, but the providers fail. I'm not always in front of a computer, so yes, there is one dimension still needed: the paper standby. I still use my daybook, the Polestar Business Calendar, to keep track of appointments and on-the-go notes...with help from the ubiquitous post-its.

Does all this obsess you as well? What are your solutions? I wanna know.

Lori

Tools and Tasks

I've been in a bit of a frenzy lately, not actually doing anything mind you, more preparing to do.

You see, now that it's February, my life is going into overdrive. I've been cruising along in the slow lane for the past two months, watching the world move around me. It's now my turn.

The cat problem is continuing. The black cat is still peeing in corners, despite the Dettol and mothballs -- two things she's supposed to hate. As of today, she's on an anti-anxiety drug which will not only soothe her inner beast, but cure another potential medical issue we suspect she has. Cross your fingers.

So, my house smells like a grandmother's blanket box, just in time for my full moon, Friday night, Groundhog Day birthday hen party tomorrow night. Yup, 'tis my birthday.

Metro is busy himself, every Thursday, Friday & Saturday for the month -- in a local production of Barefoot in the Park. (Which is why I'm having a hen party, 'cause he won't be around.)

And, I've got work starting. Two projects starting next week -- coordinating a study tour from Japan arriving at Okanagan College in March, and yes, helping out with the 5th Annual Penticton Children's Festival. I got the gig!

Plus, it's time for me to ramp up the Farmers' Market for the new season. Marketing plans, vendor applications, the AGM.

So, the point of this post, is that I've been doing my research. Online planning software, productivity aids, and the like. I seem to have joined the Web2.0 revolution. The plan being that I will have the tools at my disposal to ensure that I don't miss anything, that I've streamlined my daily work.

Yeah. Right. I'm just playing with a whole bunch of new toys. Here, check them out:

• 27signals stuff -- Basecamp for projects, Backpackit for notes & lists & what-have-you, Writeboards for collaborative writing
• Zoho tools -- the whole list of productivity tools, plus their online project software
• Gubb.net to do lists
• Joe's Goals -- a fun little game you play with yourself to help you create new habits
• plus, I've changed my browser home page to Netvibes.com, the better to start my life off right every morning

Wish me luck, and an end to procrastination.

Lori