Amazing how times flies when you’re having fun!
So today I want to talk about capturing moments, defining tasks, and getting them into your action process. When tasks or opportunities present themselves you need a quick, easy way to define them and capture any associated details. After you have the task defined and the details you need to complete the task you’ll need to feed these into your action process to pursue when appropriate.
Quick and Easy
The key to be successful at this is to find a quick and easy method that you’ll actually use. Remember what works for me might not work for you. Figure out what works for you and run with it. You might use a notepad that you carry around in your pocket. Notes in Outlook, can be used just like real post-it notes. There are plenty of apps available for smart phones as well. Personally I use a couple of tools to capture and define tasks and I’ll share them with you.
My Tools
The first is Evernote. I’ve talked about this app before and I’m a huge fan. You can quickly generate a note with a “to do” box, add some details, and then save it. A short time later Evernote synchronizes and your “to do” item is on all your devices. One of the amazing features about Evernote is that you can search all your notes and find your “to do” items that aren’t completed. Evernote does a lot more but is excellent for maintaining your “to do” list. I have this app on my phone, my tablet, and all PCs that I use. It’s always there, always on and ready.
The second is my calendar. Whenever I have events that are date or time sensitive it goes into my calendar. I use Google Calendar for a lot of the same reasons I use Evernote. The interface is clean and it’s quick, easy, and synchronized on all my devices.
For me, the problem has always been putting a tool in my hands that not only makes sense but that is easy to use. Between these two tools, I can get everything into my action process. Don’t forget to add details when you’re maintaining and updating your list. If you need some information to get the task done, capture it along with the task. This includes grouping the tasks contextually as you define them so that when you’re ready to take them on you’ll have them in context.
Hopefully you’ll be able to find the right tools that will help you maintain your list. Just keep the following in mind – quick, easy, and keep things in context.