I am finding MLO the best tool so far to achieve work/life balance, although it does not really let me look back at the past.
Here is a relatively long and detailed description of how I actually use the software on a daily basis. http://groups.google.com/group/myLifeOrganized/browse_thread/thread/a3f50d1a6eaa28b/5f7fb53229dbd937?hl=en&lnk=gst&q=christo# In essence this boils down to 1. Capturing everything in one place and reviewing once a week (Getting Things Done) (set priorities, contexts, due dates, importance, but also delete and trim the list of things that are clearly not going to happen). For me this is about 45 minutes every week that pays off big time in not wasting productive time elsewhere. 2. Using contexts, filters and a few productivity tricks to look at the list from different angles and making sure my brain is aware of the most important tasks (Autofocus, 3 Most Important Tasks, GTD Weekly Review, Zones of Focus etc.). 3. Using the software prioritisation calculator to push important things to the top of the list (e.g. Birthdays have an overall higher priority than work projects) 4. Having a routine review of a few key categories (@Hardlandscape, @Tickler, @3MostImportantTasks) The key for my own brand of procrastination is to find a new time management fad every 4-6 weeks and try to do it in MLO. Currently the ability to autoformat tasks in MLO with a custom format is kind of neat to flag up the 3 most important tasks in any of the possible views (in my current daily routine I have to decide what these are first thing in the morning, before even opening email). At the end of the day MLO is just a very powerful tool (kind of like a ToDo toolbox on steriods - think Incredible Hulk). It is the discipline of using it in a structured way that gives the results. And the ability to forgive yourself if you have slipped, and delete those things in the list that seemed to be a good idea at the time. regards, Christo On Jun 9, 8:02 pm, scoobie <[email protected]> wrote: > Tim > > I think LB accept that the pie chart isn't scientific or that > accurate. I think the idea is to remind you to spread your activities > across the domains you should be working on. > > Can you expand a little on how you can implement this now in MLO? > Do you mean setting reminders to work different types of activities? > > thanks > > On 9 June, 01:52, Tim <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Having paid for LifeBalance 3 or 4 -no maybe 5 year ago (it hasn't > > changed since), and having tried to make it work for me x-different > > ways, I can attest the balance feature of LifeBalance is overrated, > > ultimately useless for someone who needs to prioritize first, and only > > second gain balance in areas of hobbies and other low priority > > 'tasks'. > > > But I know this gets philosophical. > > > Still, acknowledging the value balance, the aim to "Do some of > > everything once in a while / do the rounds in the different areas of > > my life/job" can be implemented simply and with much more control - > > more accurate control, more tangible control, more definable control- > > by using reoccuring tasks combined with other MLO features. (See the > > Fly Lady's Control Journal template for some examples.) > > > As for "Do some of everything in rotation so that I achieve weighted > > balance X" -also known as the "oh no, my pie-charts don't match" > > prioritization method, well, that's a nice idea that ends up being > > silly in actual practice. It takes a huge amount of micro-management > > to determine the value/contribution of each task -only to end up with > > statistics that are very vague and most likely incorrect. Getting > > things done (not the methodology, actually getting thinsg done) is > > tangible, has concrete benefits. Getting things done in all areas of > > your life is tangible, has concrete benefits. Being "balanced" in > > your life makes sense. But applying that principal at the task level > > does not. > > > And it totally screws up working by prioritization. > > > That said, some argue that prioritization is also a lost cause, that > > we're fooling ourselves. > > > On Jun 8, 12:32 pm, scoobie <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > One of the big differences between MLO and Life balance is the graphs, > > > pie charts feature in LB. > > > Its been much requested (by me) for MLO. > > > The best response I've seen is MLO will get statistics at some point > > > in the future. > > > > On 8 June, 14:50, Dirk <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Hi, > > > > > Currently looking at GTD tools, but as this is a new area for me, I > > > > have two questions and hope someone can assist: > > > > > 1/ Does anyone have insight whether LifeBalance features can be fully > > > > handled in MLO, and whether the same effective and efficient screens > > > > approach can be achieved through or is planned for future inclusion > > > > into MLO? > > > > > 2/ Re alternatives, anybody knows of a published shortlist of the best > > > > or most competitive package out of the + 100 GTD apps? > > > > > Many thanks in advance! > > > > > Dirk- Hide quoted text - > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MyLifeOrganized" group. 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