GTDAgenda: Manage Your Time

by Brenda on April 25, 2009

If you’re like me, and most people with ADHD, you have trouble managing your time.

I used to be addicted to planners. I was always looking for the perfect one, thinking that once I found it, I would be magically on time and remember to do everything I was supposed to. Do I have to tell you that I never found it?

Most of you know that I use my iPod Touch to keep track of just about everything. The one thing it didn’t do for me, however, was prioritize my time.

I can put an appointment into it, or even a to do list, but what I was missing (and what I think we all struggle with) was a way to work towards my goals one step at a time. Knowing what you have to do is one thing, but doing the most important ones first, or remembering to do things based on where you are (at the computer, running errands) is much more valuable.

A few weeks ago, the man who designed and developed GTDAgenda contacted me. He generously offered to let me try his product for free, in exchange for my opinion.

I have to tell you two things:

1. It has made me far more productive than I think I have ever been.
2. I don’t use it nearly as much as I should.

It took me a while to understand the ideas behind GTDAgenda, which is based on David Allen’s Getting Things Done program. I wasn’t familiar with the program, and because I’m such a perfectionist, I wanted to do it right the first time, so I went out and got the book.

I think that GTDAgenda could replace anything and everything you’re using now to stay on top of time management. It even has a mobile version, which means that I can access it with my iPod - highly important to me.

When you log in, you see a screen with a menu on top:

Goals are self explanatory; things you want to accomplish. For instance, one of my goals is to Make Money and another is titled Housekeeping.

Projects are the things that will move you towards your goals. Under Make Money, one of my projects is titled Med Free with ADD - a new program I’m working on. Under Housekeeping, one of my projects is Dinner, because I tend to buy food without any real idea of what I’m going to make with it. This helps me figure that out ahead of time.

Tasks are the things that make up a project. Under Med Free with ADD is a task called PDF, which means once I finish everything I need to put it into PDF format. Under Dinner, I list what I’m making that week for dinner.

Next actions are the things you are going to do next. This is what keeps you steadily working towards your goals and making real progress.

There is another section called Contexts, which I really like:

The other day, I was about to leave the house to run some errands, and I happened to remember this, so I checked under Errands and got a reminder about some things I needed. I also use this feature when I’m at the computer and don’t know what to do next.

GTDAgenda also has Checklists, Schedules, Contacts and a Calendar, and for $4.45 a month, it can’t be beat! Check it out for yourself.

{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

Margo April 25, 2009 at 7:56 pm

I will check this out Brenda. I am totally calendar challenged. I’ve tried everything, most recently Google’s calendar. I’m afraid what I actually need is a personal assistant who will be with me from dusk until dawn, but there’s always hope. Right?

Brenda April 26, 2009 at 5:28 pm

Absolutely! So far, this is working for me, but you know, I think as ADDers, we get bored with things now and then and need a change. I think what’s newest and shiniest often gets our attention.

Robor April 27, 2009 at 12:27 am

Hi, Everything dynamic and very positively! :)
Have a nice day

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