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James Fallows on GTD apps

Submitted by Merlin on May 2, 2008 - 9:20am.

Bright side #5: interesting GTD software, including for Mac

The Atlantic writer (and recent Mac convert) James Fallows covers three apps that have caught his attention, including OmniFocus, ThinkingRock, and MonkeyWiki. Fallows says:

The GTD Way mainly involves habits of mind and action, but it also places a lot of emphasis on having the right tools, gizmos, and gimmicks to support those habits. Over the years I’ve used a variety of software to set up GTD-based systems on my computer.

And, if you’re in a real “grab the shovel” mood, don’t miss his link to a metric buttload of GTD apps.

As ever, though, friends, just remember: GTD’s power is in what it does to your approach and to your thinking; it’s not about magic beans and doo-dahs. Never allow yourself to obsess over tools to the exclusion of actually completing tasks. This is about action.

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Tools ARE the way

Submitted by isaacszy on May 6, 2008 - 11:44pm.

I don’t know, Merlin. I’m firmly committed to the concept that if I just have enough binders, labelers, files, GTD apps, Webapps, lists, and index cards, I will be able to GTD my way out of the work on my desk without actually doing it.

I’m really not looking to start getting all boring and just doing work. I want to evaluate and test out OmniFocus and Kinkless and Nozbe and RTM and count up whether my @Mac or my @Computer context has the most next actions. That is a great way to fill the time between new episodes of the GTD and 43folders podcasts. I am about to start becoming really productive. I can feel it. It’s palpable.