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[dustinmclaughlin]

I wasn't sure where I should post this, but here we go.

First of all, I read this article, and I feel almost exactly the same way. Anyways, because of certain happenings I am in a huge "productivity hole." I need some advice on how to pick myself up by my bootstraps and get some things done. So here is what is on my plate:

1. College just started. I just started college and I am not handling it as well as I want to. I need a system that helps me manage my collegiate life (research papers, homework, needed materials, appointments, etc.)

2. My job is in serious jeopardy. The owner of the company I work for is "optimizing his business" for big money. That means that hours are getting cut, and people are getting fired. I definitely am trying to find a new job.

3. My social life sucks. I am not the best at socializing. It doesn't help living in Alabama. Everyone is so completely different from me. Everyone's really religious or traditional and "set in their ways." So when I talk I apparently come off as a smart ass or offensive or just plain weird. I need to learn how to socialize better.

4. I am just straight up bored. I hate watching TV. My old computer really hinders my thirst for learning about them. There isn't anything to do where I live. I play a little Frisbee. Hang out with a couple of friends when they aren't busy (which is rare). I don't have anything that excites me. I'm hoping that this task of getting my life back on track and getting productive helps keep me busy and keeps my mind stimulated. I would really like to read some books as well, but I'm not sure which ones I should start out with. (I haven't read a book in a very long time)

5. I really want to improve myself as a person overall. I want to be a better individual and handle my situations better. I want to be able to handle being around people (my anxiety kicks in when I am around a lot of people because I know everyone has such a judgmental mind these days).

6. My health isn't what I want it to be. I want to make a plan to get more fit and eat better. I basically want to start taking better care of myself (attending my doctor appointments, saving up money for my eye and ear examine, etc.)

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I know what some people are going to think: This guy already knows what he needs to do, what's the problem? I'm not very good at managing things currently and I need some advice on how to manage these situations. This may not seem big to anyone else, but it is definitely huge to me. I need a plan to get me out of this big hole I dug myself.

[spoothed]

Well, you can't tackle it all at the same time.

Pick out which one is the most important to your short-term well being and work on that first.  Build good habits over the next month, and once you have mastered that task move on to the next one.  As you get better at implementing new habits, you'll be able to add more than one at the same time.

Start using your calendar, if you can, and schedule in the things like workouts and make sure you're actually committed to them.  Treat them like they are an urgent appointment, and make sure you're on time!

[dustinmclaughlin]

Well, you can't tackle it all at the same time.

Pick out which one is the most important to your short-term well being and work on that first.  Build good habits over the next month, and once you have mastered that task move on to the next one.  As you get better at implementing new habits, you'll be able to add more than one at the same time.

Start using your calendar, if you can, and schedule in the things like workouts and make sure you're actually committed to them.  Treat them like they are an urgent appointment, and make sure you're on time!

Are there any core, must-have tools for every GTD system that you need to build around? I am using a task manager and a calendar right now. Any other GTD staples?

[spoothed]

The only thing that has ever worked for me is Remember the Milk and Google Calendar in conjunction with one another.  The tagging/smartlist features of RTM make it the best organizational tool I've ever used. 

I couldn't quite figure it out at first, but then I read a great article:

http://blog.rememberthemilk.com/2008/05/guest-post-advanced-gtd-with-remember.html

I didn't end up setting mine up exactly how they did it here, but RTM has been invaluable since.  It really takes away all the drudgery of planning the stuff out...especially if you learn their keyboard shortcuts.

Good luck!

[dustinmclaughlin]

The only thing that has ever worked for me is Remember the Milk and Google Calendar in conjunction with one another.  The tagging/smartlist features of RTM make it the best organizational tool I've ever used. 

I couldn't quite figure it out at first, but then I read a great article:

http://blog.rememberthemilk.com/2008/05/guest-post-advanced-gtd-with-remember.html

I didn't end up setting mine up exactly how they did it here, but RTM has been invaluable since.  It really takes away all the drudgery of planning the stuff out...especially if you learn their keyboard shortcuts.

Good luck!

Thanks. I'm using RTM and 30Boxes currently. I've been thinking about giving Google Calendar a try, though.