As I was browsing around looking for some tips and tricks on implementing Getting Things Done in a mobile way, I stumbled on a number of articles devoted to low-tech GTD solutions. Perhaps in a frustration with the current set of GTD tools at the time or their low portability, many people came up with stripped down versions of a GTD system using simple items like notepads and PostIts, and adapted them to work in their day-to-day lives.
One such way of implementing a mini-GTD system is the series of Moleskine GTD hacks. The idea is fairly straightforward - use a standard Moleskine notepad and dedicate various sub-sections from it to tasks, projects, etc. There a several posts on 43folders dedicated to Moleskine hacks as well as a very stripped-down version of GTD called Hipster PDA that uses just some 3 x 5 file cards and a clip.
Jerry Brito also describes an ingenious way to make a notebook more GTD-friendly by adding write-on tabs, which in my mind is almost a necessity as notebooks tend to be somewhat awkward when it comes to looking things up. My personal favorite though was the student Moleskine hack that took the Moleskine and adapted it to the student lifestyle, which indirectly brought back some fond memories (I wish I was that organized in school!).
Many of these solutions are fairly cheap and easy to set up, with the total cost varying from about $20 to $40 (Moleskines are reportedly expensive in some parts of the world). And although each touts the simplicity of the model, many followers admit to needing a PDA for other aspects of GTD, like appointments and contact information (Palm PDAs were en vogue back when these ideas first came out).
As I was reading this I realized how glad I am that we now have all these sophisticated BlackBerry models like the Bold, the Curve and the 8800 series, not to mention the Storm. Implementing GTD on BlackBerry is now not only so much easier and hassle-free but lets you have a truly mobile productivity platform that is always there when you need it.
Getting things done with a BlackBerry using a tool like Viira is not only effective but is also elegant and lightweight. For one, you don’t have to carry a somewhat bulky Moleskine everywhere you go (would you bring a Moleskine to a cocktail party?).
I am the kind of person that forgets his umbrella in a cab or restaurant on rainy day, so not leaving a Moleskine behind would be a bit of a challenge for me to say the least. But after years of cell phone and later BlackBerry use my brain seems to have learned to never leave my BlackBerry out of reach or unaccounted for. There is no leaving my ‘berry behind, no Sir!
Looking things up by Project and by Context from a notepad can be somewhat challenging and it can get downright tricky as the number of projects and contexts grows. In fact, David Allen mentions in Getting Things Done that it is not uncommon to have 30 to 100 projects. And a Moleskine clearly falls short of keeping track of appointments, contacts, let alone day tasks.
Last but not least, I like to have a trusted GTD implementation on which I can rely no matter where I may be. Maybe it’s just me, but when I am at a social event like a party, a wedding or just dinner with friends and someone mentions an interesting book or a web site I would think twice before whipping out a Moleskine to jot it down (assuming I even brought it with me in the first place). With my BlackBerry, I can quickly open Viira and file the new task idea or jot down the tickler item within seconds.
In short, GTD with BlackBerry and Viira is an intuitive and natural fit that, thanks to the amazing technological advances in the last few years it is now within the reach of many productivity enthusiasts. And I am truly excited about the new and upcoming BlackBerry devices, their power and their elegance, and the new era of mobile productivity that they are ushering in.
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