Everybody seems to be doing more with less. More work with people, more deadlines with less time, more productivity with less help. Folks at church, in business, and even families are having to figure out how to get things done quicker and easier so they can spend time on other things.
Image: Anusorn P nachol / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Here are 6 ways I get things done in my work day & home life:
GTD – A few years ago, I was introduced to the book “Getting Things Done” by David Allen. It really helped me think about how I think. It sounds crazy to read a book about organization, but it really helped. The biggest principle I’ve taken away is the importance of getting things out of my head and tracking to-do items in a trusted system. PRICE about $10.
GMail / Google Docs / GCal – These are simply the best at email, sharing documents, and calendaring because it all happens online and syncs in the cloud. I’ve got access to my email from my computer, phone, or any other device. My calendar is always up-to-date so I’m always able to check my availability. The Google tools work well because they all communicate with each other too. Price FREE.
Evernote – This is best reference tool because everything is searchable, everything can be tagged, and it allows you to upload pretty much any type of file or document. This is my one-stop source for all reference material that I want to hang on to. Price FREE.
Omnifocus – Keeping track of projects and deadlines has traditionally been something I just keep in my head, but after reading GTD, I’ve tried out a few different software solutions. Omnifocus is my current (and favorite) solution for this because of the level of detail it allows you to add to a project, it has an iPhone app for capturing to-do’s anywhere, and a nifty feature is the “start on” date in addition to the “due” date. Unfortunately it is only available for Mac computers and devices. Price $100 for Mac & iPhone version. NOTE: Prior to using Omnifocus, I worked in Remember the Milk which is web-based and free! RTM is a super solution that allows you to keep up with lots of lists.
Quiet Space – Not every solution for getting things done is a piece of software. My best times of productivity have been getting away for 2 hours while the baby naps on Sunday afternoons and cranking out work projects, home projects, or just reading at the local Panera. Too many times, the quiet space in our lives is filled with TV, facebook, or just running around … but carving out a couple of hours in the course of a week has really helped me stay on top of my workload. Price FREE!
Jeremy Echols leads our camp team and always challenges us to add new tools to our toolbox whether in leadership or tech skills. JE has written before about Tech Tools You Can Use in #Kidmin. Connect with JE on twitter & comment on our Facebook page to share how you get things done.