Hi @hans
Thank you for your very detailed post. I understand your system and I find it very clever.
I also have a long use of unix and Linux systems and the purely textual approach is part of the philosophy. So I was in the same approach.
I will try to describe what made me change but before that the biggest lesson is that there is no single approach but choices of appropriation of methods.
My first observation was that I was too much in the constant accumulation of knowledge about productivity methods and tools. Consequences I wasted a lot of time consuming, analyzing, adapting and rebooting my personal system.
Second observation, I accumulated tasks, notes, bookmarks, books, files… which in the end were not useful to me, took me time to organize and maintain and came to drown the essential things (yes, I have been adhered to minimalism for more than 15 years)
Third observation the tendency to become more complex. As soon as we have a particular case, a repetitive task I tend to want to classify and automate what takes more time and mental load.
So I started from these observations to set myself rules.
- Use JD index to reference files and notes (see my post here)
- Use the simplest tools possible and included in my basic environment (Apple notes, Finder, reminders…)
- Sell my soul to the Apple ecosystem (I won’t develop here🙃)
- Mercilessly delete all that is superfluous to keep only what is really valuable. Immediately or after a certain time (for example, I have an annual routine or I delete a full year of 6-year-old personal files)
- Define if a tool is a temporary storage or process storage tool.
It was on this last point that I lightened my use of JD.
For storage tools I use JD at different levels.
Classically AC.ID for filesystems (cloud, local or external drive, NAS…). Either at the AC level for other tools (Web browser, Apple Podcasts, ebook reader, Photos…)
Can you tell me that the email and the To-Do list can have the same approach? Yes, if I don’t systematically delete the elements
For emails I delete by default, if I have something to do with the email, either I do it right away if less than 2 minutes or I put it in a “in progress” directory until it is solved. Last option I want to keep this email, I place it in “archives”. The archives are processed every month, I delete messages more than three years old. And if at the end of the end I want to keep this message that is dear to me, I place it in my “to keep” directory.
Of course if the email has important information I put it in my notes to the right AC.ID.
For my todo list I use Olivier Bukerman’s approach with an open list in which I place all the tasks that go through my head. Every month I come back to them to delete them and organize them by AC sections.
I then have a list for all the routines that are recurring (routines of the week, month, quarter of the year, recurring maintenance, health tasks…) also classified by AC sections.
Then I have the closed list in which I put 2 to 3 objectives/projects or tasks maximum. This is what I make progress on a daily basis. I only focus on it.
For the small tasks of the programmed daily life either it is a programmed task or these in my calendar.
So every day I set the tasks of the “today” list and then I organize my time around the tasks of my closed list.
Precision, my closed list may have a project or a broad objective. The details of my plans with all the corresponding subtasks are stored in my notes in my JD Index.
Edit: precision #2 I use it in 2 distinct context, personal and professional. Don’t mix the two.
So I found that Olivier Bukerman’s book reasoned with my state of mind about what productivity and time management should be. Moreover, I notice that a movement is emerging about Slow productivity (C. Newport’s new book but didn’t read it).