WRONG! To be productive you need to download 19 apps, wake up at 5am, bullet journal, regular journal, time-block every aspect of your life down to when to use the bathroom, and pay $600 for a YT productivity guru course 😅
At the end of the day, I put stickers on my to do list to motivate me. It feels really nice to flip through previous days and seeing cute stickers all around it. It makes me feel like that day ended in a fun note
Great reminder of the art of simplicity. I have loved doing to do lists since a young teenager and it gave such a satisfaction to cross items over. Then I entered into bujo jungle: I thought my previous system was sooooo primitive and outdated. Only to discover I spent more time in the bujo boxes and 1000 ways to mark the box (not to mention all the different coloured pens….) that I didn’t get anything done😅. So back to starting point it is😊
For my money, Alan Lakein's 1973 book, "How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life", is far and away the best book on the subject, and all you need. David Allen's book, and indeed every book written after Lakein's, is in my view, an unnecessary restatement or overcomplication. The to-do list is central to it. To be fair, "Getting Things Done" is a clarification of some aspects of Lakein, but if you read the latter carefully, it really is all in there.
100% yes, to everything. I've tried all kinds of digital tools, and nothing works as well as pen and paper -and you point out so well as to why that is. The fancy bullets in bullet journaling were exactly what you mentioned too: getting in the way of the simplicity. Always great content, thank you!
Thanks for watching! Longer term tasks just go at the bottom of my current list, that way they’re literally low priority for now, but every few days when I re write my to do list they get considered, and as they become more pressing, they go to the top of the list!
I am constantly doing To Do lists. Then updating or re-writing these lists to the point they become overwhelming for me. I also set tasks that arent completed for that day or week which ultimately leads to feelings of failure and disappointment. Im currently trying a small list of 5 critical tasks/goals that are SMART. I feel a sense of accomplishment in achieving these goals rather than having 20 generic tasks that keep rolling over. Thanks for the video!
Thanks for sharing. A rough rule that I use is that if I'm copying a task from one to do list to the next, more than 3-5 times, it's obviously not that important so I can just ignore it!
Lukas: I've watched this video at least three times now, but I've only just noticed your using a Parker Vector. I've tended to dismiss these pens, and I wonder if you'd comment on its writing performance.
Thanks for watching (multiple times)! Good eye. It's a pen I have from my secondary school days. Pretty sure it was quite cheap, I don't tend to use it much because it has quite a broad nib, but sometime I feel like a straightforward, simple fountain pen and it fills that role really well. It's a good quality, basic pen in my opinion.
This reminds me of a quote that is attributed to Albert Einstein: "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler." As others have said, Bullet Journaling doesn't work. It's too complicated. You need a notebook and an writing implement. Then you can actually engage your brain and get stuff done!
The problem with striking through tasks instead of checking a checkmark is if you have a notebook with tasks and notes, then having notes mixed with tasks will be confusing about what is an undone task versus a simple note. In anyways, a great video again fill with good advices.
Nope that's the extent of it, I'll just keep refreshing the to do list in the notebook as I go along. Sometimes it spills over a couple of pages. I do keep my work to-do list in the work notebook though.
@@BlankFirstPage Ah, so you have a book for different life areas such as personal, work, and household for example and each one of those books has a contextual to do list?
I tend to have a master list that I will rewrite/update/migrate every month for long term things.. hoping I’ve crossed off a lot.. sometimes a lot is still there lol but at least it’s somewhere!
I am glad to know that i am not the only one with multiple notebooks and notepads with countless 'to do list' 🤪also has anyone kept or has a vocabulary notepad?
Not sure about the green pad, but it's just an old cutting mat, art stores usually have some version of it, as do haberdasheries. The cork pad is an Ikea 'Susig' mat 45x65cm
I make to-do lists in my daily carry pocket notebook for the most part. And then if it’s something specific that I’m about to go do, like shop for groceries, I will transfer that list to a stand alone piece of paper or a post it or something like that
Like you, I have come to prefer simply scratching items off the list rather than filling in checkboxes, using special notation etc.. While it may not look as neat or pretty I find it much more practical when it comes to actually getting things done.
I usually find To Do Lists helpful when I have days off work. I want to maximize my time when on holiday. The To Do List for work is built into computer software used on my office PC i.e. appointments, meetings or e-learning.
oh, he**, this is awesome too! I knew I was missing something in my simple/basic system! It always seemed like I had so much more to do then I kept track of and that I did so much more. Now I know where it was - still in my head, coming and going at the most inopportune times! It works because it's simple and straightforward! Many thanks!
I have evolved my on the go to do lists in the same way. The visual and mental satisfaction of the scribbling a whole line out .. 100%. I wish my brain would be ok with the minimal box coloring in or true bujo key of a tick.. but now try and save this for my other journaling/memory keeping I want to look back on and be like “naw that’s nice!” Loving your videos. Very relatable to how I ‘plan’ right now 😊
Thanks for watching! Also any time I make a box, the corners never connect in the right way so I end up trying to connect them better and adjust the lines, ending up with an incredibly boldly outlined box!
Great video....I started an ultra simple bujo type of pocket notebook (using a field Notes after watching your video)...and basically it's a monthly to do list and a daily to do list that goes on to the next day 😋
Yet again - the notion that we need to take another look at analog - I like it! I have never been able to stick with a digital planner/to do list though I have wasted lots of time looking for the perfect one. I geneally end up with a Franklin Covey two page a day planner, but don't stick to it faithfully. When I had a lined A5 notebook where I had to put appointments, tasks, running notes I was pretty consistent. But if I was out walking or someplace I didn't have my back pack I didn't have the notebook. I have been thinkinking about these things for a while when I saw your excellent video just now, and it really became clear to me: my best method was carrying a Moleskine ruled reporter notebook in my hip pocket, in which I wrote each day's appointments, tasks, and running notes. At home I can keep a more reflective journal. I recently decided to set up a Zettelkasten note-taking/note-making system, and after weighing the pros and cons of analog vs digital decided on an analog system. Thanks for your timely video with its practical and simple (not simplistic!) approach - I have subscribed to your channel.
Thank you for watching and subscribing! Reporter notebooks are an excellent type of notebook to carry around. Wow, nicely done on diving into zettelkasten. I am not quite disciplined enough to go with that system. I’ve read a lot about it, but I can’t tear myself away from my field notes collection!
I think I got this tip from an struthless video. Create two to do lists. One that is easy and achievable and one with the hard but more 'optional' goal. By always finishing the easy list you'll start feeling like you already accomplished something and will continue to work on the 'optional' goals to keep that streak going. On top of that it helps with showing what task you avoid over and over but I guess that's just a feature of an analog list. Also: folding the piece of paper into eights and not quarters makes it a lot easier to fill the page and might help some people to not get overwhelmed. Have a nice day. :)
Great video! I have been struggling so hard to stay on top of all the systems that hold my tasks. I don’t have time for that. This is the perfect solution in simplicity.
Great video. I have been folding A4 sheets down for notetaking in the field since 1998. They are sections that can be sewn into a textblock and then case bound for archiving.
I'm a bit skeptical about putting everything on one list. What if priorities change? What if something doesn't need to be done until 6 months from now?
For really long term things, I’ll create to do lists that live on their own page, then they get transferred from one edc to the next until they’re due. For priority changes, I just let the organic process do it’s thing where items fall off the list as I transfer to a new page. The main thing for me is to allow the list to be a flexible thing, rewriting it many times helps this process.
Not finished the video yet, but I like the idea of breaking "To Do" items into the steps to complete that task. I put "To Do" lists into my pocket notebooks all the time, but I will definitely be tryying this method as a completionist.
I love journaling on paper but todo lists on paper have never worked for me. My phone is always on me but if I write my list on paper, and forget it somewhere, I'm screwed.
My only question is - I mix my personal journal with to do list (bullet journal style) so I don't like crossing tasks out for two reasons 1) it makes the journal look a lot more "disposable" and one time use-ish so it doesn't look nice when flipping through it and 2) I like to look back as part of the journal to see what I've worked on etc. and when things are crossed out I cant see what it was and reference back to it.. I'm assuming you use a separate journal for reflecting but curious to hear your thoughts.
Yeah I agree if you want to maintain the good looks of a list, crossing out is not the way to go! Personally I like the aesthetic of a well used notebook, scratched and crossed out, when I’m looking back into one. So it’s not a great concern for my use. I use just the field notes for my personal use, note taking, journaling etc. I have a different work notebook just so that I can keep work and home separate, but I don’t have a normally have a separate journal for personal use. If I’m working on a project or studying something new, I might start a new notebook just for that if I know it’s going to be enough to fill a whole notebook with.
@@BlankFirstPage Thanks! Also curious - did you ever try the Smythson Panama? I really wanted to but didnt bec they dont have graph or dot.. only lines.. What would you recommend thats high quality leather but similar size to field notes and has the dot or grid?
If a zombie apocalypse happened, I wouldn’t be worried about my phone becoming obsolete; I’d be worried about running out of pen and paper.
No, no. Me and my notebooks would be safe in my zombie proof bunker, silly.
Haha😂😂😂
Good information. Thank you
Thanks for watching!
WRONG! To be productive you need to download 19 apps, wake up at 5am, bullet journal, regular journal, time-block every aspect of your life down to when to use the bathroom, and pay $600 for a YT productivity guru course 😅
Haha! Clearly my advice is useless as it is free!
@@BlankFirstPage 😉
At the end of the day, I put stickers on my to do list to motivate me. It feels really nice to flip through previous days and seeing cute stickers all around it. It makes me feel like that day ended in a fun note
Great reminder of the art of simplicity. I have loved doing to do lists since a young teenager and it gave such a satisfaction to cross items over. Then I entered into bujo jungle: I thought my previous system was sooooo primitive and outdated. Only to discover I spent more time in the bujo boxes and 1000 ways to mark the box (not to mention all the different coloured pens….) that I didn’t get anything done😅. So back to starting point it is😊
You have lived my fear haha! Simplicity rules!
So.... most womens clothes dont have suitable pockets, so we are already at a disadvantage. Otherwise useful
For my money, Alan Lakein's 1973 book, "How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life", is far and away the best book on the subject, and all you need. David Allen's book, and indeed every book written after Lakein's, is in my view, an unnecessary restatement or overcomplication. The to-do list is central to it. To be fair, "Getting Things Done" is a clarification of some aspects of Lakein, but if you read the latter carefully, it really is all in there.
Thanks for the tip - I didn't know about Alan Lakein, but I have read David Allen's book. I'll check it out!
You touched on everything I've been thinking about lately
Thanks for watching!
100% yes, to everything. I've tried all kinds of digital tools, and nothing works as well as pen and paper -and you point out so well as to why that is. The fancy bullets in bullet journaling were exactly what you mentioned too: getting in the way of the simplicity. Always great content, thank you!
I agree that Bullet Journaling is overly complicated. I am simplifying everything down to simple notes in a Field Notes book.
Thank you!
@@7775Kevin 100%
@@7775Kevin it was first designed to keep things simple until all those decorative enthusiasts making it unnecessarily complex.
Great video! The tip on specificity with the mechanic example is excellent, this is an issue a lot of people have with any kind of to do planning.
Thank you for watching!
Really enjoyed this video. What is your workflow to keep track of tasks due longer term (ie three weeks from now”. Many thx!
Thanks for watching! Longer term tasks just go at the bottom of my current list, that way they’re literally low priority for now, but every few days when I re write my to do list they get considered, and as they become more pressing, they go to the top of the list!
I am constantly doing To Do lists. Then updating or re-writing these lists to the point they become overwhelming for me. I also set tasks that arent completed for that day or week which ultimately leads to feelings of failure and disappointment. Im currently trying a small list of 5 critical tasks/goals that are SMART. I feel a sense of accomplishment in achieving these goals rather than having 20 generic tasks that keep rolling over. Thanks for the video!
Thanks for sharing. A rough rule that I use is that if I'm copying a task from one to do list to the next, more than 3-5 times, it's obviously not that important so I can just ignore it!
You didn't mention which pen you carry in your pocket!
Usually its a Kaweco Liliput Mini ballpoint. But at some point all my pens have had a go in the pocket!
Lukas: I've watched this video at least three times now, but I've only just noticed your using a Parker Vector. I've tended to dismiss these pens, and I wonder if you'd comment on its writing performance.
Thanks for watching (multiple times)! Good eye. It's a pen I have from my secondary school days. Pretty sure it was quite cheap, I don't tend to use it much because it has quite a broad nib, but sometime I feel like a straightforward, simple fountain pen and it fills that role really well. It's a good quality, basic pen in my opinion.
@@BlankFirstPage Cheers.
This reminds me of a quote that is attributed to Albert Einstein: "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler."
As others have said, Bullet Journaling doesn't work. It's too complicated. You need a notebook and an writing implement. Then you can actually engage your brain and get stuff done!
That is one of my all time favourite quotes!
I'm with you , write it down and when it's done strike it off , I carry a blue and a red biro for this - I ✍ in blue and strike off in red
Nice, I like the use of the red to strike it off, that way you can see instantly what you've got. Thanks for watching!
The problem with striking through tasks instead of checking a checkmark is if you have a notebook with tasks and notes, then having notes mixed with tasks will be confusing about what is an undone task versus a simple note. In anyways, a great video again fill with good advices.
Thank you for watching!
I agree, I live by to-do lists. Simple and to the point!
Your to do list seemed quite small. Do you have a larger list, perhaps by areas of life, you are keeping and pulling from for your daily list making?
Nope that's the extent of it, I'll just keep refreshing the to do list in the notebook as I go along. Sometimes it spills over a couple of pages. I do keep my work to-do list in the work notebook though.
@@BlankFirstPage Ah, so you have a book for different life areas such as personal, work, and household for example and each one of those books has a contextual to do list?
I tend to have a master list that I will rewrite/update/migrate every month for long term things.. hoping I’ve crossed off a lot.. sometimes a lot is still there lol but at least it’s somewhere!
I am glad to know that i am not the only one with multiple notebooks and notepads with countless 'to do list' 🤪also has anyone kept or has a vocabulary notepad?
I used to have a vocabulary notebook in secondary school, but that was a school-imposed notebook, never as fun.
Great Video!
Thanks for watching!
Where can the green (Jasart?) pad be purchased and what size is the a cork pad underneath ?
Not sure about the green pad, but it's just an old cutting mat, art stores usually have some version of it, as do haberdasheries. The cork pad is an Ikea 'Susig' mat 45x65cm
I make to-do lists in my daily carry pocket notebook for the most part. And then if it’s something specific that I’m about to go do, like shop for groceries, I will transfer that list to a stand alone piece of paper or a post it or something like that
Like you, I have come to prefer simply scratching items off the list rather than filling in checkboxes, using special notation etc.. While it may not look as neat or pretty I find it much more practical when it comes to actually getting things done.
Agreed! Function over form when it comes to getting things done!
Fantastic job addressing the questions I didn’t know I had. I’m 100% on board!
Awesome! Thanks for watching!
Yet again! Thank you.
Thank you for watching!
you are the best
Thank you for watching!
I usually find To Do Lists helpful when I have days off work. I want to maximize my time when on holiday. The To Do List for work is built into computer software used on my office PC i.e. appointments, meetings or e-learning.
Love this! Super helpful tips, I'm really excited to start making my to-do lists this way! haha!
Great! Thanks for watching!
Your channel is quickly becoming a favorite! Love the explanations and simplicity.
Thank you very much!
love your channel bro, great stuff!
Definitely fun and useful content
Thank you sir!
Implementing straight away - thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching!
What pen/refill are you writing with?
That's a Rotring Ballpoint
Nice work brother. Go analog. Augment with digital as needed.
Analog rules. Thanks for watching!
oh, he**, this is awesome too! I knew I was missing something in my simple/basic system! It always seemed like I had so much more to do then I kept track of and that I did so much more. Now I know where it was - still in my head, coming and going at the most inopportune times! It works because it's simple and straightforward! Many thanks!
Thank you for watching! Wishing you successful to-do-ing!
OMG are all those Field Notes behind you? I love how colorful they look! And all the same size!
They are indeed! Very satisfying :)
I have evolved my on the go to do lists in the same way. The visual and mental satisfaction of the scribbling a whole line out .. 100%. I wish my brain would be ok with the minimal box coloring in or true bujo key of a tick.. but now try and save this for my other journaling/memory keeping I want to look back on and be like “naw that’s nice!” Loving your videos. Very relatable to how I ‘plan’ right now 😊
Thanks for watching! Also any time I make a box, the corners never connect in the right way so I end up trying to connect them better and adjust the lines, ending up with an incredibly boldly outlined box!
Great Vid, And so true back to the basic and simplicity always seem to be the answer in life ✨
Keep it simple! Thanks for watching!
The fun.
Great video....I started an ultra simple bujo type of pocket notebook (using a field Notes after watching your video)...and basically it's a monthly to do list and a daily to do list that goes on to the next day 😋
You’ve described the most effective note taking technique! Hope you’re enjoying the field notes and thanks for watching!
Thank u! Well explained good points
Thanks for watching!
Yet again - the notion that we need to take another look at analog - I like it! I have never been able to stick with a digital planner/to do list though I have wasted lots of time looking for the perfect one. I geneally end up with a Franklin Covey two page a day planner, but don't stick to it faithfully.
When I had a lined A5 notebook where I had to put appointments, tasks, running notes I was pretty consistent. But if I was out walking or someplace I didn't have my back pack I didn't have the notebook. I have been thinkinking about these things for a while when I saw your excellent video just now, and it really became clear to me: my best method was carrying a Moleskine ruled reporter notebook in my hip pocket, in which I wrote each day's appointments, tasks, and running notes. At home I can keep a more reflective journal.
I recently decided to set up a Zettelkasten note-taking/note-making system, and after weighing the pros and cons of analog vs digital decided on an analog system.
Thanks for your timely video with its practical and simple (not simplistic!) approach - I have subscribed to your channel.
Thank you for watching and subscribing!
Reporter notebooks are an excellent type of notebook to carry around.
Wow, nicely done on diving into zettelkasten. I am not quite disciplined enough to go with that system. I’ve read a lot about it, but I can’t tear myself away from my field notes collection!
Thanks for this. I am working to simplify my life and your ideas are helpful and practical. I enjoy your channel and I thank you for your work.
Thank you for watching!
I think I got this tip from an struthless video. Create two to do lists. One that is easy and achievable and one with the hard but more 'optional' goal. By always finishing the easy list you'll start feeling like you already accomplished something and will continue to work on the 'optional' goals to keep that streak going.
On top of that it helps with showing what task you avoid over and over but I guess that's just a feature of an analog list. Also: folding the piece of paper into eights and not quarters makes it a lot easier to fill the page and might help some people to not get overwhelmed.
Have a nice day. :)
I like your channel so much, it reflects may way of thinking and confirms me that I'm not insane in relying on analog writing.
Thanks for watching! Analog is the best.
Great video! I have been struggling so hard to stay on top of all the systems that hold my tasks. I don’t have time for that. This is the perfect solution in simplicity.
Thank you Sir, glad the video was useful!
Thanks for the reminder. Somehow I often forget the simple things in life.
Simple is best. Thanks for watching!
I like your Techniques on the To do Lists (GSD = Get Sh!t Done)
The simple stuff works!
There is a lot of truth in this simple practice. Thank you for the video.
Thank you for watching!
Great video. I have been folding A4 sheets down for notetaking in the field since 1998. They are sections that can be sewn into a textblock and then case bound for archiving.
I like the idea of binding and archiving after the fact. Must end up with quite a nice, textured book.
@@BlankFirstPage I have not tried it yet but I might, to see how textured/spongey the text block will end up.
I'm a bit skeptical about putting everything on one list. What if priorities change? What if something doesn't need to be done until 6 months from now?
For really long term things, I’ll create to do lists that live on their own page, then they get transferred from one edc to the next until they’re due.
For priority changes, I just let the organic process do it’s thing where items fall off the list as I transfer to a new page.
The main thing for me is to allow the list to be a flexible thing, rewriting it many times helps this process.
@@BlankFirstPage Nice, thanks
Not finished the video yet, but I like the idea of breaking "To Do" items into the steps to complete that task. I put "To Do" lists into my pocket notebooks all the time, but I will definitely be tryying this method as a completionist.
Pocket notebooks are made for to do lists!
@@BlankFirstPage so true!!
I love journaling on paper but todo lists on paper have never worked for me. My phone is always on me but if I write my list on paper, and forget it somewhere, I'm screwed.
Fair point! I'm more likely to forget my phone than I am my notebook!
The key for a good "To Do" list is to develop a habit of keeping your notebook with you at all times and using that notebook for the "To Do" list
Take a picture every morning/evening?
I love the nitty gritty of this. I never thought to scratching out completely. That's a great tip.
Thanks for watching!
Specificity is the most helpful tip, thank you!
Thanks for watching!
"Promo sm"
My only question is - I mix my personal journal with to do list (bullet journal style) so I don't like crossing tasks out for two reasons 1) it makes the journal look a lot more "disposable" and one time use-ish so it doesn't look nice when flipping through it and 2) I like to look back as part of the journal to see what I've worked on etc. and when things are crossed out I cant see what it was and reference back to it.. I'm assuming you use a separate journal for reflecting but curious to hear your thoughts.
Yeah I agree if you want to maintain the good looks of a list, crossing out is not the way to go! Personally I like the aesthetic of a well used notebook, scratched and crossed out, when I’m looking back into one. So it’s not a great concern for my use.
I use just the field notes for my personal use, note taking, journaling etc. I have a different work notebook just so that I can keep work and home separate, but I don’t have a normally have a separate journal for personal use. If I’m working on a project or studying something new, I might start a new notebook just for that if I know it’s going to be enough to fill a whole notebook with.
@@BlankFirstPage Thanks! Also curious - did you ever try the Smythson Panama? I really wanted to but didnt bec they dont have graph or dot.. only lines..
What would you recommend thats high quality leather but similar size to field notes and has the dot or grid?
Why can’t you read a letter or word with a single small line on it? Please visit a doctor, this is not normal.
@@cheerpoasting YOU are not normal. Seek help immediately.
Is that green pen a fountain at 6:40 mark? Or what brand is it?
Yep it’s a Parker 25 Fountain Pen. I’ve got a review video about it!