Tags: , , | Categories: Productivity tips and tricks, MS Outlook Posted by ProductivityScience on 7/21/2008 1:50 AM | Comments (12)

I hate writing on paper - especially making paper todolists. I do not like to stick that little yellow sheets of paper on my workplace because it is not as helps to remember to do something as distracts my attention. Also it so easy to lost that important task list with notes written on paper that sometimes it prevents do get into work at all. And frankly I love trees.

There is very simple way not to jam mind with tasks and do not use paper at all - just use Outlook e-mail software from MS Office and synchronize notes on the Outlook with notes on the smartphone (my personal recommendation is a QWERTY-smartphone with Symbian OS from Nokia like E61, E71, E90 or any Windows-mobile smartphone with touchscreen).

I take my smartphone everywhere and have a rule: do not write anything on paper if I can write it on the smartphone. If I am working with my laptop I use standard synchronization software to synchronize notes on the smartphone with notes on the laptop (the last one is much convenient to review and edit lists). I can use both of them to make corrections on the TO-DO list, remove completed or add new tasks.

This way is simple and convenient, do not requires any additional software or web service. If you do not have MS Office suite you can use any other software to maintain task list on a PC.

Of course, if you want to get paper version of your TO-DO list you can simply print it. But always remember about trees...

Comments

Ricardo Bueno
Ricardo Bueno United States on 7/22/2008 9:45 AM I'm sorry to disappoint but I tend to prefer my written To Do List's. I used to use Outlook a lot but now, not so much. Call me old-fashioned I guess but my written to do list's seem to work best for me; that includes my daily planner.
ProductivityScience
ProductivityScience United States on 7/22/2008 10:18 AM Hi, Ricardo!

You are first commenter at my site, thank you! Smile

Of course, I do not want to call anybody old-fashioned. The point is that people are so different that one way is good for oneself and useful for others.
If you are completely satisfied with your habits maybe it is good not to change anything.

But sometimes we even do not realize which benefits we could achieve trying to improve our habits.

As for me personally, I even can not imagine how that rule 'try not to use paper' improved my life - I do not afraid to forget anything important written on paper, I never do not forget to take with me buying list while going to the shop and so on.

Thank you, anyway!
Ricardo Bueno
Ricardo Bueno United States on 7/22/2008 10:22 AM My pleasure!

I guess it's as they say, "to each their own." Right? Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to purposefully waste paper (I recycle). It's just what works for me Smile

Read you later...
Arran North
Arran North United Kingdom on 8/19/2008 1:00 PM Hello!

I totally concur, and I in a way extend the to do list in outlook by linking it to notebooks within onenote. I am a business management student and it is a very research intensive course; so its a great way to a. list what needs to be done and when by, b. provide a great level of detail, and finally c. gather all of the necessary material to complete the task.

Also mix the todo's in with my calendar to create a clear structure. Then its sync'd with my blackberry and keeps my life as a student running fairly smoothly ;)

Great site and keep it up!

Regs.
Arran North
ProductivityScience
ProductivityScience on 8/19/2008 3:14 PM Thank you, Arran!

I hope to see you here often ;)
busbyseotest
busbyseotest United States on 12/16/2008 11:18 PM nice, simple and clearly information. thanks
London Tours
London Tours United Kingdom on 1/8/2009 4:04 AM I agree QWERTY works really well for me and I would recommend it. Nice post, thanks.
John
John United States on 1/15/2009 10:46 AM I agree with you. The world is changing, It's always a gadget to make our lives easier Smile
Busby SEO Test
Busby SEO Test United States on 1/19/2009 5:04 PM The easy way to write a list with a smart way. the world is changing and we need to use the technology in our life.
Devon Cottages
Devon Cottages United Kingdom on 1/29/2009 2:17 AM Yep QWERTY is cool. Nice post - thanks.
Free Credit Score
Free Credit Score United States on 2/8/2009 10:28 PM Syncing your outlook with all mobile devices has got to be one of the greatest IT improvements of its time. Save time and money and its convienent.
Citizen Calibre
Citizen Calibre United States on 2/12/2009 1:38 AM I'm sorry to disappoint but I tend to prefer my written To Do List's. I used to use Outlook a lot but now, not so much. Call me old-fashioned I guess but my written to do list's seem to work best for me; that includes my daily planner.