BlackBerry maker Research in Motion has given prototypes of their new BlackBerry 10 to developers this week.  The new model is slated to be released for consumers by the end of the year. This week’s alpha gives developers a head start on apps.  The jury is still out on productivity improvements.

Will you be an early adopter of the new BlackBerry?  How do you decide among BlackBerry, iPhone, Android, or … a Windows Phone?

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This thought-provoking Harvard Business Review blog post is sure to stir up conversation, in person or by smartphone.

Is Your Smartphone Making You Less Productive?

2:09 PM Friday April 6, 2012
by Ndubuisi Ekekwe

Mobile devices have exacerbated an always-on work culture where employees work anytime, anywhere. They’ve contributed to the blurred distinction between when you’re “on the clock” and when you’re not. Service industry professionals are especially tethered to these devices. There’s an assumption that using smart devices boosts productivity, since they allow us to work constantly. But, we’re also jeopardizing long-term productivity by eliminating predictable time off that ensures balance in our lives. Is the obsession of regularly checking email really helping anyone’s bottom line? Are the unrealistic expectations these devices facilitate not setting staff up for burnout?

You can read the full post here.

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Wouldn’t it be cool if your GTD system could read your mind? It would automagically prioritize your action lists according to your context, time available, energy level, and what most has your attention in that moment.

Meet the iBrain. According to the developer, NeuroVigil, “The iBrain™ is a miniature electronics box attached to a light and flexible elastic head harness and electrodes that can effortlessly be applied to the head during sleep.” So far it’s just for tracking brain activity at night. But who knows? Maybe soon a miniaturized version will be the hardware that signals your leading-edge GTD software to help you make trusted choices throughout the day.

(The video is streaming from YouTube, so it may take a moment to load.)

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Organize, by far, is one of the most talked about parts of GTD.  And why not? It’s all about cool gear!  With GTD, choosing your tools is up to you and there’s incredible freedom in that.  David Allen is not telling you what tools to use, but how to use your tools.  So let’s dive in to look at what’s helpful to know about this phase.

WHAT TO ORGANIZE:

Organizing identifies the various placeholders or “buckets” where actions and support material are stored that you’ve processed. David Allen has also described organizing as simply “things are stored based on what they mean to you.”  The four primary action lists are:

• Projects
• Next Actions (with optional subcategories by context such as Calls, Computer, Office, Home, Errands, Agendas (people and meetings) and Anywhere)
• Waiting For
• Calendar (for time-specific actions, day-specific actions, and day-specific information only)

Organizing also includes setting up your workspace, a reference system for non-actionable information, and incubation systems (Someday Maybe and Tickler Systems) for possible later actions.

[Read more →]

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This is a Community Contribution from Mike Vardy

I’m a fan of gadgets. I love shiny new objects that promise to deliver bigger, stronger and faster results. The problem with a lot of these shiny new objects is that there is a learning curve for most (if not all) of them and even when the knowledge is set firmly in place, they are only part of the equation. It’s the other part that often lets us down. That other part is us.

We often get bogged down in the details, mired in a slew of hidden tasks that pile up in our electronic folders and leave us with our heads spinning. And as a bit of a technophile myself, I’ve had it happen to me on several occasions. When this happens, I turn over my trusted system to a device that I can trust with its implementation: paper.

Paper is a powerful device in its own right.  It is simple in both design and execution. You write something down, and [Read more →]

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“What tools should I use for GTD?” That question usually comes up early when someone begins implementing GTD. And in our tech-focused world, they usually mean, “Which software is the best?” But it’s also important to ask which tools will help us stay physically motivated.

An obvious but rarely noticed tool may be my key to ultimate productivity.

At David Allen Company, we consider many things when setting up a workspace. I recently reconstructed my workspace in a way that has stepped up my energy and focus to a whole new level. I made this improvement by switching to a stand-up desk. This is an amazing tool that has helped me to be more productive and ergonomically correct; a win for my company and for me.

The benefits of a stand up desk have really surprised me. [Read more →]

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For many people, a mobile list manager is a requirement for implementing GTD.  To support productivity on the go, the lists must be accessible in real-time, showing your projects, as well as your actions sorted by context.  There are plenty of third-party task applications for mobile devices that help to some degree with list management.  The BlackBerry is a very popular choice among GTDers looking for a device with a built-in task app.  In fact, David Allen Company has a Setup Guide specifically written so you can dial the  BlackBerry in according to GTD best practices.  If you’re considering a mobile device, this review at Notes on Productivity describes the functionality of the task app in the BlackBerry Torch.  How do you think the BlackBerry stacks up for managing your lists the GTD way?

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We’d love to know how many of you are using or plan to use Outlook for Mac.  Please vote:

This is helpful for us in our long-term planning for GTD Setup Guides.

Thanks!

David Allen Company Education Team

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The GTD Workflow Map is now available in a small folded version.  The map set includes the coaching DVD with David Allen.  The map is in full color, offering a concise visual representation of the GTD models.  The map folds down so that the set is more compact, which lowers shipping costs — to anywhere in the world!  This set makes an ideal gift for yourself, or for someone you know who could use a portable GTD reference.

GTD® WORKFLOW MAP SET – SMALL FOLDED VERSION

The GTD Workflow Map is a stunning visual learning tool for understanding how David Allen’s models for control & perspective come together. Set includes: one small folded color Workflow Map and a DVD with David coaching you through the Map. This folded version of the Map is idea for international customers looking for more cost effective shipping options.

Order your Workflow Map Set today.

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This great idea comes from Matt, a GTD enthusiast who has lots of great ideas.

I have some of my best ideas in the shower.  I don’t know if it’s the hot water or the lack of distractions, but things pop into my head and I know that I’ll need to take action on them.  But when I’m halfway through a shower, I only have two choices: try to remember it, or get out and write it down.  Neither really works well. One results in a wet floor, and the other means I spend the rest of my shower anxiously trying not to forget.

Of course, the GTD answer would be to write it down. But pen and paper don’t survive long in the shower.  Fortunately, I remembered that when I’m scuba diving I sometimes carry a small writing slate to more easily communicate underwater.  I grabbed my slate and put it in the shower.

Now, I write down anything that comes to mind when I’m showering.  After I’m dressed for the day, I can grab the slate and add any action items to my queue.

You can get a dive slate from your local dive shop, or from an online store.

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