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I just started doing this two weeks ago, and I can't emphasize enough how much this has changed my life. Keep in mind, this is going from absolutely zero organ

I just started doing this two weeks ago, and I can't emphasize enough how much this has changed my life. Keep in mind, this is going from absolutely zero organization to at least a basic system, so if you're already a structural person, YMMV. I use Workflowy for this, and it's nearly perfect for the job. If you've been thinking of doing something like this, I recommend you try this out. It's extremely fast and I feel like it has greatly improved my life. My workflowy layout looks like this: Goals - Weekly - Monthly - Yearly Todo - Today - Tomorrow - etc Backlog - These are proposals for things to fold into my todo list. They include current projects, things I want to learn, hobbies I want to start, etc. Roadblocked / not ready - Items that cannot be accomplished yet due to another person or event Projects - This is a repository for notes about my current projects. I use workflowy's @ and # tags for this, and link specific labels to items / groups in my Todo list. (This is one of the cool things about Workflowy) Ideas for applications - I have a large repository of ideas I've had. These range from half-baked "in the shower" ideas, to fully flushed out business models with market research, presentation text, etc. - This is a very subtle but extremely useful way to record your thoughts. There's almost no friction between typing "ctrl + t, w, return, @ideas" any time I'm using a web browser with a keyboard. Random thoughts - Other things I'm thinking

lefnire 14y ago
Glad I'm not the only one to use Workflowy for that. It's perfect for the job! My lists are much deeper, and categorized within life goals. So I have a top-level item called "Move to Europe" with nested TODOs representing all that needs to get done for that to happen. The deepest item in that list is my current contract project's tasks. Seems unrelated, but I'm not moving to Europe until I finish my current project. From time to time navigating up and down my lists, I "accidentally" stumble upon the whole point of all this - moving to Europe. It's a wonderful workflow, and keeps me in tune with what matters in my goals. Seriously, I may be overselling - but Workflowy has changed my life :) After that, I use my own https://habitrpg.com https://habitrpg.com to keep me on task with my Workflowy.
- mtgx 14y ago
  HabitRPG may be exactly what I was looking for. Do you know any other likes that, or is that the best you know of?
  - lefnire 14y ago
    I made that site because I couldn't find anything quite like it. Since making it though, I've found Beeminder, which is pretty flipping cool. Additionally, there's EpicWin - but that's only an iPhone app, no website or Android. I'm biased :) (PS, there are few Android equivalents out there, but meh).
    - mtgx 14y ago
      There's something wrong in Chrome with the login button. It works on Firefox, but it stays disabled in Chrome. I think I had the same problem when I registered too, and I have to use Firefox. And could you add Google sign-in integration, too?
      - dreeves 14y ago
        Uh oh, are you referring to Beeminder here? PS: Thanks so much to lefnire of http://HabitRPG.com http://HabitRPG.com for the kind words!
kyro 14y ago
The Things iOS app is great for this. Yeah, it's pricey, but I really like the organizational features it offers, particularly the ability to separate completable projects from general life areas. For instance, I've got lists for all of my design projects, then lists for Family, Relationship, Personal, which aren't goals that are necessarily achievable, but areas that need to be worked on, nonetheless. Mac app is $50... so I'm sticking with the iOS app for now.
- simonw 14y ago
  The Mac app is pretty great, especially if you are already using the iPhone app - the two sync up perfectly (in almost real time) and the mac app has keyboard shortcuts for instantly adding new tasks.
jessep 14y ago
That's cool! I like that structure. Maybe we'll write a blog post about this. (I make WorkFlowy).
- natural219 14y ago
  First of all, nice job with Workflowy! It's really changed the way I organize my life. If you're interested in my organization system, there are lots of other cool things I do that I didn't delve into here. I'd love to chat with you about some of the more interesting ways I use it. Actually, one of my "ideas for applications" is a replacement / extension for Workflowy -- I think the core metaphor is very powerful for frictionless organization, and I'm excited to see where you guys take the concept. If you want to talk about any of this stuff, please shoot me an email. My address is ckjohnson aaa outlook daught com.
  - vincvinc 14y ago
    If there's any blogpost or the like that comes out of this, be sure to share! I just started using workflowy because of all the positive opinions on HN - but can't dig out some of the functionality you mention in your post yet.

lefnire 14y ago

Glad I'm not the only one to use Workflowy for that. It's perfect for the job! My lists are much deeper, and categorized within life goals. So I have a top-level item called "Move to Europe" with nested TODOs representing all that needs to get done for that to happen. The deepest item in that list is my current contract project's tasks. Seems unrelated, but I'm not moving to Europe until I finish my current project. From time to time navigating up and down my lists, I "accidentally" stumble upon the whole point of all this - moving to Europe. It's a wonderful workflow, and keeps me in tune with what matters in my goals. Seriously, I may be overselling - but Workflowy has changed my life :) After that, I use my own https://habitrpg.com https://habitrpg.com to keep me on task with my Workflowy.

mtgx 14y ago
HabitRPG may be exactly what I was looking for. Do you know any other likes that, or is that the best you know of?
- lefnire 14y ago
  I made that site because I couldn't find anything quite like it. Since making it though, I've found Beeminder, which is pretty flipping cool. Additionally, there's EpicWin - but that's only an iPhone app, no website or Android. I'm biased :) (PS, there are few Android equivalents out there, but meh).
  - mtgx 14y ago
    There's something wrong in Chrome with the login button. It works on Firefox, but it stays disabled in Chrome. I think I had the same problem when I registered too, and I have to use Firefox. And could you add Google sign-in integration, too?
    - dreeves 14y ago
      Uh oh, are you referring to Beeminder here? PS: Thanks so much to lefnire of http://HabitRPG.com http://HabitRPG.com for the kind words!

kyro 14y ago

The Things iOS app is great for this. Yeah, it's pricey, but I really like the organizational features it offers, particularly the ability to separate completable projects from general life areas. For instance, I've got lists for all of my design projects, then lists for Family, Relationship, Personal, which aren't goals that are necessarily achievable, but areas that need to be worked on, nonetheless. Mac app is $50... so I'm sticking with the iOS app for now.

simonw 14y ago
The Mac app is pretty great, especially if you are already using the iPhone app - the two sync up perfectly (in almost real time) and the mac app has keyboard shortcuts for instantly adding new tasks.

jessep 14y ago

That's cool! I like that structure. Maybe we'll write a blog post about this. (I make WorkFlowy).

natural219 14y ago
First of all, nice job with Workflowy! It's really changed the way I organize my life. If you're interested in my organization system, there are lots of other cool things I do that I didn't delve into here. I'd love to chat with you about some of the more interesting ways I use it. Actually, one of my "ideas for applications" is a replacement / extension for Workflowy -- I think the core metaphor is very powerful for frictionless organization, and I'm excited to see where you guys take the concept. If you want to talk about any of this stuff, please shoot me an email. My address is ckjohnson aaa outlook daught com.
- vincvinc 14y ago
  If there's any blogpost or the like that comes out of this, be sure to share! I just started using workflowy because of all the positive opinions on HN - but can't dig out some of the functionality you mention in your post yet.