8 Tools That Ensure You’ll Never Lose An Idea

Article from blog.liferemix.net by Glen Stansberry of LifeDev

There are plenty of tools for people wanting to improve their productivity. Planners, lists, calendars… all these tools are awesome helpers for getting stuff done.

However, many people overlook one very important aspect of productivity: The Capture. It doesn’t matter how well a list of todo’s is organized if the list isn’t complete. How fast you can complete tasks doesn’t really matter if some fall through the cracks and never get done. Ideas don’t matter if they’re never recorded. The capture of these ideas and tasks is all-too crucial when it comes to becoming more efficient.

It’s been my experience that good ideas never come at a convenient time. Never. In the shower, on the way to the store, mowing the lawn. These are when ideas really happen.

We’re going to look at 8 tools that help ensure our important ideas and tasks are recorded properly, and never forgotten.

1. iGTD with Quicksilver (mac only). I recently converted from the dark side from a PC to a Mac, and quickly found there is a wide selection of GTD-style task management software available. iGTD quickly became my central hub of productivity, thanks tointegration with an equally-impressive piece of Mac goodness, Quicksilver.

In a nutshell, I can use these two pieces of software to effortlessly and quickly add ideas as I’m working on the computer. I just hit a keyboard command, type my idea/todo into quicksilver, save, and all the sudden I’m back to whatever I was working on.

The integration of Quicksilver into iGTD really deserves a whole post dedicated to the topic, so I’ll point you to the excellent guide on using iGTD with Quicksilver at 43Folders.

[image error]2. Freemind. Mind mapping is a great way to have a visual layout for your ideas. You can retrace your steps and thought processes with mind maps, and can make visual connections that allow for great amounts of detail. Plus, it’s a great way to get those creative juices flowing and think “outside the box”. This helps with preserving the entire idea, from start to finish.

Freemind is mind mapping software that is free and open to most computer platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux) and works pretty darn well. If you’re looking for a web-based mind mapper, check out Bubbl.us.

3. Water-proof paper for shower ideas. Showers are great (but not very convenient) times for having ideas. If you’re serious about jotting something down, keep a wax pencilhandy to mark on your tile. If you want to get a little more fancy, buy a waterproof notebook to scribble in while you’re bathing.

4. Jott. On the go and nowhere to put your idea? Try Jott. Jott is a phone service that allows you to “jott” down ideas via voicemail, which the service transcribes into email, and delivers to your inbox. This can be a lifesaver when you’re moving around or don’t have any paper handy.

5. Cheap voice recorder. While this may not be as elegant and streamlined as Jott, it can still be a lifesaver. Any recorder will do, but the digital recorders are very handy.

6. Backpack. Backpack is an incredible web-based collection system that allows you to easily capture your thoughts or todo’s from any computer with internet access. Set up notes, reminders, and todos, plus collaborate with other people.