• 18 Comments
  • July 26th 2007

When it comes to organization, does paper beat computer?

Seinfeld

I’ve used Google Calendar, off and on, Ta-da lists, off and on, and every other organization app, off and on.

The problem: they’re easy to forget. I’d use it faithfully for a few days, then be away from my computer one day and completely forget to use it the next. Like most things in life, productivity and organization can resemble a rollercoaster.

So I think it may be time for a little old-school practice. Thanks to both Jerry Seinfeld and Lifehacker, I’m giving the ginormous calendar on the wall approach a try. Here’s how Seinfeld said it works:

He told me to get a big wall calendar that has a whole year on one page and hang it on a prominent wall. The next step was to get a big red magic marker.

He said for each day that I do my task of writing, I get to put a big red X over that day. “After a few days you’ll have a chain. Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. You’ll like seeing that chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job next is to not break the chain.”

“Don’t break the chain.” He said again for emphasis.

Being that I have a few large projects and goals on my plate, I’ll use a different colour marker to mark of a portion of each day off for each project. Plastering this calendar inches away from my desk should help a bit too. So we’ll see how this goes.

Based on my experience, writing a task on paper and tossing it out when it’s done, or putting an X on the calendar, is much easier to stick to than receiving SMS messages or e-mail notifications when it SHOULD be done.

What do you use?

  • http://inthegym.net tanya

    I still use a yearly diary *gasp* and my cellphone calendar - and gcal which is more of a backup. The cellphone calendar is great because it can alarm for appt. reminders and sync to an electronic calendar. The diary is the best method for me - because I can write stuff down wherever I am, plus make notes, write extraneous info that may or may not be impt and easily flip through to find something.

  • http://inthegym.net tanya

    I still use a yearly diary *gasp* and my cellphone calendar - and gcal which is more of a backup. The cellphone calendar is great because it can alarm for appt. reminders and sync to an electronic calendar. The diary is the best method for me - because I can write stuff down wherever I am, plus make notes, write extraneous info that may or may not be impt and easily flip through to find something.

  • http://www.skanwar.com Satish

    For me, with regards to calendars and task management, I stick to the trusty desktop application approach. The problem is that, more often than not, I have *my* laptop versus any available computer with Internet… and I like to be able to manage them where I receive my e-mails (i.e. my Outlook 2007).

    I’ve given some of the online apps a try, but with little success. I do use a to-do list and notepad on my Netvibes startpage to manage quick reminders from anywhere back to me when I open my browser on my laptop as well. That fills in any gaps.

    My question for you: which wall calendar did you buy and from where?

  • http://www.skanwar.com Satish

    For me, with regards to calendars and task management, I stick to the trusty desktop application approach. The problem is that, more often than not, I have *my* laptop versus any available computer with Internet… and I like to be able to manage them where I receive my e-mails (i.e. my Outlook 2007).

    I’ve given some of the online apps a try, but with little success. I do use a to-do list and notepad on my Netvibes startpage to manage quick reminders from anywhere back to me when I open my browser on my laptop as well. That fills in any gaps.

    My question for you: which wall calendar did you buy and from where?

  • http://www.younggogetter.com Eric

    The cell phone calendar is my best approach so far and that’s only because it’s the one device I am NEVER without. I tried a PDA, but they are too bulky to take everywhere. I tried my iPod syncing with iCal, but I just don’t have it with me all the time (and the alarm is too quiet). My cell phone has a full QWERTY so it’s easy to add appointments.

    The one problem is that LG doesn’t integrate well with Mac’s and iSync so I can’t sync iCal to my En-V phone. If I could, my life would be complete.

  • http://www.younggogetter.com Eric

    The cell phone calendar is my best approach so far and that’s only because it’s the one device I am NEVER without. I tried a PDA, but they are too bulky to take everywhere. I tried my iPod syncing with iCal, but I just don’t have it with me all the time (and the alarm is too quiet). My cell phone has a full QWERTY so it’s easy to add appointments.

    The one problem is that LG doesn’t integrate well with Mac’s and iSync so I can’t sync iCal to my En-V phone. If I could, my life would be complete.

  • http://www.younggogetter.com Travis

    Satish,
    I’m going to try and pick something like this up later today or tomorrow:

    Annual Reversible Planner

  • http://www.younggogetter.com Travis

    Satish,
    I’m going to try and pick something like this up later today or tomorrow:

    Annual Reversible Planner

  • http://investoid.com jdoc

    I use a smartphone (HTC TyTn), and I wouldn’t go back to any other way. It syncs with Outlook and Google Calendar, although the latter requires me to do it manually. I’ll never go back to a regular cell phone (or at least one without a qwerty keyboard).

    I find anything paper based doesn’t stick with me, since it’s not on me at all times. With the smartphone, I can jog down quick notes, write up appointments, and send out quick messages to people.

  • http://investoid.com jdoc

    I use a smartphone (HTC TyTn), and I wouldn’t go back to any other way. It syncs with Outlook and Google Calendar, although the latter requires me to do it manually. I’ll never go back to a regular cell phone (or at least one without a qwerty keyboard).

    I find anything paper based doesn’t stick with me, since it’s not on me at all times. With the smartphone, I can jog down quick notes, write up appointments, and send out quick messages to people.

  • http://www.younggogetter.com Travis

    Just noticed that exact annual calendar poster thingy on my client’s wall, across from the kitchen. Luckily, they haven’t used it since 2002.

    Saved me a trip to Staples and $20. Yipee!

  • http://www.younggogetter.com Travis

    Just noticed that exact annual calendar poster thingy on my client’s wall, across from the kitchen. Luckily, they haven’t used it since 2002.

    Saved me a trip to Staples and $20. Yipee!

  • http://www.blackrockideas.com Aaron

    Pesonally I like writing things down on paper and crossing them off or throwing them out.

    If I don’t write it down I forget.

    However, recently I’ve been using my gmail account as a to do list. I write an email telling me what I need to do and then save it as a draft. Then I start completing the tasks and just delete the draft as it’s done. It works for me because I have my email open 24/7

  • http://www.blackrockideas.com Aaron

    Pesonally I like writing things down on paper and crossing them off or throwing them out.

    If I don’t write it down I forget.

    However, recently I’ve been using my gmail account as a to do list. I write an email telling me what I need to do and then save it as a draft. Then I start completing the tasks and just delete the draft as it’s done. It works for me because I have my email open 24/7

  • http://www.skanwar.com Satish

    Alright Travis you sold me. It looks pretty similar to a U of T one I scooped up a few years ago, I’ll dust that off and give it a go… wonder where I have markers though… hmm.

  • http://www.skanwar.com Satish

    Alright Travis you sold me. It looks pretty similar to a U of T one I scooped up a few years ago, I’ll dust that off and give it a go… wonder where I have markers though… hmm.

  • http://www.explodethenet.com Noah

    I still prefer a paper pocket calendar!

  • http://www.explodethenet.com Noah

    I still prefer a paper pocket calendar!