When I started the blog in 2006, productivity was the buzzword, fueled by the discovery of a little known book called Getting Things Done. But over time, I stopped writing about  lists and getting things done, and started applying that “productive” mindset to finances, health, decluttering one’s home, etc. Was I still writing about productivity or was this lifehacking?

Lifestyle design seems to be a popular term nowadays too, after it got popularized by Tim Ferriss and his 4-Hour Work Week. However,  judging by the replies I got to this question on Twitter, the old school term of personal development still seems pretty popular as a catch-all term. While that makes sense I think it has too much baggage. It reminds me too much of affirmations, positive thinking and the whole self-help stereotype, but that’s just me (or course, lifestyle design has it’s own baggage – “epic shit”, ebooks, constant traveling…).

What term do you prefer, and why? Maybe it’s one I’ve not already mentioned. Share your thoughts in the comments below. As ever I look forward to all of your opinions!

On a related point, I’d also be interested on your views on how you think people should actually learn GTD. I see a lot of people on Twitter struggling along, trying to apply it and use it day-to-day with mixed success. Hopefully your suggestions could help develop a few ideas on best practises for learning how to be productive. As ever, I look forward to your comments!

The only time I tried using any app to get organized was years ago with Thinking Rock, back when I was still a productivity freshman and still unsure what tools worked best for me. However that lasted all of an hour when I realized I’d wasted all that time tinkering with it rather than actually using it.

Recently I started using a couple of apps to track my finances and it’s not actually been that bad. I spent a couple of hours looking for something that suited my needs but since then it’s been straightforward. So, now I’m once again tempted to try some GTD apps again to see what the fuss is all about and that’s where I need your help. For all those hifi people out there, what apps do you use or prefer, and why? And for all you lofi brothers and sisters, feel free to try and persuade me not to jump to the dark side! Look forward to the discussion.

To me, it’s not a simple answer, but it’s certainly worth thinking about (and I look forward to reading your own responses on this). Below I’ve included a quote from the book by Philip Pullman (author of the His Dark Materials trilogy) that I think nicely sums up my general thinking on the subject:

“If I ask myself, what is the thing that gives me a sense of wellbeing, my first answer would have to be a good day’s work. If I have done my thousand words, my three pages, and it’s gone well, then nothing else matters – I’m satisfied. If I’ve done it, and it’s gone badly, well, I can correct it tomorow, it’s there. If I combine that with a little bit of exercise, a little bit of play [...] and if my family is well and happy, and I have something nice to eat – that would be a good day for me.”

On the surface, it seems pretty simple. Create limits, learn to say no, manage your time better, etc. But, if you listen to people like David Allen and Tim Ferriss, they have vastly opposing ideas on the issue. Tim talks about work/life separation, where there is a clear boundary between business and pleasure. Meanwhile, David says that it shouldn’t even be an issue. When you’re in the zone and you’ve got a mind like water, the boundary between work and play seizes to exist.

It’s this difference of opinion that gave me the idea to ask this question. I’m sure there are many other takes on work/life balance out there but what are yours? How do you create that balance in your life? Look forward to reading your comments, don’t forget you can join in the discussion on Twitter!

• Music
  As a connoisseur of the heavier genres in the artform of music, I must confess it’s not exactly suitable when I need to focus. Even if it doesn’t feel this way, your brain is processing those lyrics and melodies regardless of whether you’re paying attention or not.
• A messy desk
  Hmm, that book looks like an interesting read. I really should deal with that pile of paperwork. I think my plant needs watering. I wonder what my desk will look like if I put the letter tray over there…
• Browser tabs
  The good old browser tab is invaluable. I open every link in a new tab. If I think of something to do while I’m browsing I’ll open another tab for it. It’s not unusual to have several tabs open at one time. It’s great for multi-tasking, but not so good when I need to focus on what I’m doing.

Of course that’s just me. What about you? What breaks your focus when you’re trying to get things done? And most importantly, how have you tried to resolve it? As ever, I look forward to your feedback!

For me personally, it’s difficult to say where GTD principles begin and end in my own setup nowadays. Next actions are definitely one of the big things I’ve taken away, but contexts? Gone. Horizons of focus? No thanks. I simply use my weekly planner as my hard landscape and print out a new one each week as part of my regular review. On top of that I take principles from The Four Hour Work Week (80/20 rule, Parkinson’s law, etc.) to keep how much I do to a minimum.

But what about you, the Organize IT reader? Whether you started out with GTD, Do It Tomorrow or something else entirely, how have you tweaked the principles to suit your needs? What features have you kept or scrapped? I’d love to read your experiences. Please retweet this so we can get more responses!

One of the biggest issues I have had with productivity apps is their lack of customizability. If you want something to handle your to-do lists but not your calendar, you’re probably going to be stuck with one anyway. This got me thinking about creating a template of features to help these app designers tailor their software to be more useful for an efficiency-hungry audience. To get started please share your own experiences of the hi-fi approach. What apps do you use? What features do they have? Do they work for you? What would you like to change about them? Heck, why not describe what your ideal productivity app would be? Thanks in advance for your comments.

Now, admittedly a few dozen folders and other stationary items isn’t going to really hurt the  bank balance, but with the economy the way it is right now it does raise an interesting question. Is GTD (and getting organized in general) expensive? Consider the cost of  any productivity software, the cost of books and CD’s and all the workshops/seminars you might want to attend, and the expense can build up. If you are a big GTD follower do you indulge in the full product range David Allen has to offer? I look forward to reading your thoughts on this. If you’ve ever tried other approaches like 7 Habits or T4HWW, how do they compare price wise?

One other odd little quirk of mine is that if I have a lot of time on my hands I actually become less efficient. On a workday, I’m typically on top form, working my way through what I need to do with this blog, my writing and around the home despite the lack of time. However, when it comes to the weekend and I have all day to myself, I suppose the pressure to make the most of it actually gets in the way.

These are some of my productivity hurdles, now it’s over to you guys. What are your hurdles? What causes you to grind to a halt? When you need to get things done, what makes it all twice as hard? I look foward to reading your responses!