activity journalling / task management - strategies and tools?
Started by jimspoon
on 10/4/2010
jimspoon
10/4/2010 7:16 am
I keep a detailed journal of my activities. I wonder if any of you do the same? I have found it to be a very useful habit. I can't tell you how many times I've needed to remember something, and then gone back and found the information in my daily journal. Without my journal, my life becomes one big confused blur.
Now the trick is to find the best way to tie in my journalling with task management. Practically everything I do is in some way related to some project or task I'm working on. Ideally, every journal entry would get filed under the project and task and subtask to which it relates. That way, I could easily review my hierarchy of project / tasks / subtasks, and see the related chronology of activities. On any task, I could readily see what I had already done, where I left off, and where I needed to pick up again.
I need the ability to make my journal entries in one big chronological list, and then to be able to go back later and categorize each action to the appropriate project / task / subtask. Ideally - there would be some intelligence in the program, so that it would monitor what I'm typing, and figure out the related projects / tasks and let me confirm them. (I know, that's asking a lot.)
I've been using Ecco for my journalling, but haven't yet been doing much in the way of categorizing the journal entries. (For me a major problem with Ecco are the limits on the number of items. With my heavy journalling, I am very rapidly hitting the item number limits and getting error messages.) I've experimented a bit with InfoQube, but haven't been able to find the time to work on learning it.
So, I am just curious regarding what you all might be doing in the way of recording your activities, and tracking your status and progress on your various projects, and what strategies and software tools you are using for that.
Jim
Now the trick is to find the best way to tie in my journalling with task management. Practically everything I do is in some way related to some project or task I'm working on. Ideally, every journal entry would get filed under the project and task and subtask to which it relates. That way, I could easily review my hierarchy of project / tasks / subtasks, and see the related chronology of activities. On any task, I could readily see what I had already done, where I left off, and where I needed to pick up again.
I need the ability to make my journal entries in one big chronological list, and then to be able to go back later and categorize each action to the appropriate project / task / subtask. Ideally - there would be some intelligence in the program, so that it would monitor what I'm typing, and figure out the related projects / tasks and let me confirm them. (I know, that's asking a lot.)
I've been using Ecco for my journalling, but haven't yet been doing much in the way of categorizing the journal entries. (For me a major problem with Ecco are the limits on the number of items. With my heavy journalling, I am very rapidly hitting the item number limits and getting error messages.) I've experimented a bit with InfoQube, but haven't been able to find the time to work on learning it.
So, I am just curious regarding what you all might be doing in the way of recording your activities, and tracking your status and progress on your various projects, and what strategies and software tools you are using for that.
Jim
Stephen Zeoli
10/4/2010 1:32 pm
Jim,
This sounds likes something you could do very easily with Zoot (easily, that is, once you become familiar with how Zoot works). The new version is getting close to being released, I think. Truthfully, I haven't used it much as it is enough different from the current version that I haven't wanted to invest the time figuring it out -- I'm waiting until the help documentation is ready. But even the current version could easily do what you're describing.
Steve
This sounds likes something you could do very easily with Zoot (easily, that is, once you become familiar with how Zoot works). The new version is getting close to being released, I think. Truthfully, I haven't used it much as it is enough different from the current version that I haven't wanted to invest the time figuring it out -- I'm waiting until the help documentation is ready. But even the current version could easily do what you're describing.
Steve
Chris Thompson
10/4/2010 11:25 pm
Provided you don't need calendaring (i.e. task deadlines integrated with a calendar), OneNote might suit your needs fairly well. You use icons/tags to identify action items in diary entries, and file diary pages under appropriate projects in OneNote's binder metaphor. If you need calendaring, OneNote is more questionable, since you have to sync with a separate program (Outlook). Some may view this as a plus. It's worth a try.
I think the best solution for what you're looking to do is Org Mode (http://orgmode.org There is a bit of a learning curve to it, but it has an excellent manual and it's certainly less perplexing than InfoQube. It's a text-based outliner that does integrated project management, calendaring, filing and refiling, and a lot more. Give the manual a read before diving in.
Tinderbox is a nice solution here too (especially with the new timeline view), but it's Mac-only.
-- Chris
I think the best solution for what you're looking to do is Org Mode (http://orgmode.org There is a bit of a learning curve to it, but it has an excellent manual and it's certainly less perplexing than InfoQube. It's a text-based outliner that does integrated project management, calendaring, filing and refiling, and a lot more. Give the manual a read before diving in.
Tinderbox is a nice solution here too (especially with the new timeline view), but it's Mac-only.
-- Chris
Lucas
10/4/2010 11:51 pm
Chris Thompson wrote:
I think the best solution for what you're looking to do is Org Mode
(http://orgmode.org There is a bit of a learning curve to it, but it has an excellent
manual and it's certainly less perplexing than InfoQube.
Interesting... I'm currently finding InfoQube more approachable than Org-mode. I suppose we all brings different backgrounds, software experiences, tastes, etc. Certainly I think InfoQube, Tinderbox, and Org-mode are all worth checking out, not to mention ConnectedText and others I'm sure.
Lucas
Alexander Deliyannis
9/17/2011 8:56 pm
These days I'm consolidating my software setup; I find that several programs have become redundant and can be uninstalled, while in other respects I am missing some specific functionality to complement my workflow. Within the latter context, I am looking for some good journaling software and, going through the archives, found this thread, as well as this one http://www.outlinersoftware.com/topics/viewt/612/
Jim's description is actually quite representative of my own needs, though I would prefer something more easy to get going with than Org-Mode. So, rather than begin a new thread, I just post my interest here, in case there is any additional suggestion from some happy journaling software user...
(Almost) unrelated to the above, I am quite intrigued by Progoff's Intensive Journal method, mentioned by Daly here http://www.outlinersoftware.com/archives/viewt/2259 (goodness, that was almost seven years ago!) so if someone has used software to implement it, I'd be interested to hear more.
Jim's description is actually quite representative of my own needs, though I would prefer something more easy to get going with than Org-Mode. So, rather than begin a new thread, I just post my interest here, in case there is any additional suggestion from some happy journaling software user...
(Almost) unrelated to the above, I am quite intrigued by Progoff's Intensive Journal method, mentioned by Daly here http://www.outlinersoftware.com/archives/viewt/2259 (goodness, that was almost seven years ago!) so if someone has used software to implement it, I'd be interested to hear more.
Alexander Deliyannis
9/18/2011 10:44 pm
P.S. I'm currently trying out the following: I created a Yammer account where I post short status updates of my work; I have set Yammer up to mail me a daily digest with all my postings. Let's see how this works out.
John
9/19/2011 2:32 pm
I do keep a journal of all my activities:- on for work, one for personal, one for a particular topic etc
I am using MyLifeOrganized which is a task outliner, with categories etc. However I can use it as a text outliner also.
If I don't want these Text outlines to appear tasks, I categorize the To-Dos with TASK. I use the filter
to exclude Text outlines when I want to see only To-Dos
http://mylifeorganized.net/
There are other alternatives, but I prefer MLO because it has an Android version
If you have used Ecco, you will like the flexibility of MLO. You add multiple categories to any outline, move, cut & paste them, use saved filters etc
John
jimspoon wrote:
I am using MyLifeOrganized which is a task outliner, with categories etc. However I can use it as a text outliner also.
If I don't want these Text outlines to appear tasks, I categorize the To-Dos with TASK. I use the filter
to exclude Text outlines when I want to see only To-Dos
http://mylifeorganized.net/
There are other alternatives, but I prefer MLO because it has an Android version
If you have used Ecco, you will like the flexibility of MLO. You add multiple categories to any outline, move, cut & paste them, use saved filters etc
John
jimspoon wrote:
I keep a detailed journal of my activities. I wonder if any of you do the same? I have
found it to be a very useful habit. I can't tell you how many times I've needed to
remember something, and then gone back and found the information in my daily journal.
Without my journal, my life becomes one big confused blur.
Now the trick is to find
the best way to tie in my journalling with task management. Practically everything I
do is in some way related to some project or task I'm working on. Ideally, every journal
entry would get filed under the project and task and subtask to which it relates. That
way, I could easily review my hierarchy of project / tasks / subtasks, and see the
related chronology of activities. On any task, I could readily see what I had already
done, where I left off, and where I needed to pick up again.
I need the ability to make
my journal entries in one big chronological list, and then to be able to go back later
and categorize each action to the appropriate project / task / subtask. Ideally -
there would be some intelligence in the program, so that it would monitor what I'm
typing, and figure out the related projects / tasks and let me confirm them. (I know,
that's asking a lot.)
I've been using Ecco for my journalling, but haven't yet been
doing much in the way of categorizing the journal entries. (For me a major problem with
Ecco are the limits on the number of items. With my heavy journalling, I am very rapidly
hitting the item number limits and getting error messages.) I've experimented a bit
with InfoQube, but haven't been able to find the time to work on learning it.
So, I am
just curious regarding what you all might be doing in the way of recording your
activities, and tracking your status and progress on your various projects, and what
strategies and software tools you are using for that.
Jim
Stephen Zeoli
9/19/2011 7:04 pm
I don't want to beat a dead horse (don't want to beat a live one either), but an interesting option in the journaling department is Debrief. Perhaps you've already checked it out and dismissed it... I can't blame you if you did. But if you've only given it a quick look, it may be worth trialing again, especially if you don't need to sync with a mobile device. I wrote about Debrief on my blog, highlighting some of its interesting and not-common features, as well as some of its issues:
-- http://welcometosherwood.wordpress.com/2011/04/25/a-brief-look-at-debrief/
Steve Z.
-- http://welcometosherwood.wordpress.com/2011/04/25/a-brief-look-at-debrief/
Steve Z.
Alexander Deliyannis
9/19/2011 7:31 pm
Stephen Zeoli wrote:
Not at all; I found it in the original journaling threads and wondered how come I had never tried it, as I've heard it mentioned a few times before.
You'll actually find a comment/question of mine waiting to be moderated at your Sherwood blog :-) I might as well repeat it here, as it might be of interest to others as well: the one thing I was unable to tell about Debrief (without installing it, which I would prefer not to do at this time) is whether its folders are of the 'an item can only go into one folder' kind or they work as tags/categories, i.e. an item can belong to several. This is quite an important issue, as my activities are often linked to more than one projects etc.
Perhaps you?ve already checked it out and dismissed it?
Not at all; I found it in the original journaling threads and wondered how come I had never tried it, as I've heard it mentioned a few times before.
You'll actually find a comment/question of mine waiting to be moderated at your Sherwood blog :-) I might as well repeat it here, as it might be of interest to others as well: the one thing I was unable to tell about Debrief (without installing it, which I would prefer not to do at this time) is whether its folders are of the 'an item can only go into one folder' kind or they work as tags/categories, i.e. an item can belong to several. This is quite an important issue, as my activities are often linked to more than one projects etc.
Stephen Zeoli
9/19/2011 8:08 pm
Hi, Alexander,
It doesn't appear that a note can be included in multiple subject folders. However, you can "tag" notes with the index function. You can give each note multiple index tags. Then select the index topic and see all the notes associated with that topic. It isn't elegant, but it seems to be pretty functional. Here's a screen capture of the Index function:
-- http://dl.dropbox.com/u/155244/Debrief%20index%20feature.jpg
Steve Z.
It doesn't appear that a note can be included in multiple subject folders. However, you can "tag" notes with the index function. You can give each note multiple index tags. Then select the index topic and see all the notes associated with that topic. It isn't elegant, but it seems to be pretty functional. Here's a screen capture of the Index function:
-- http://dl.dropbox.com/u/155244/Debrief%20index%20feature.jpg
Steve Z.
Alexander Deliyannis
9/21/2011 7:40 pm
Impressive; the tag index is actually hierarchical. Considering that the program's development dates back to 2007, this looks like considerable forward-thinking. Quite the opposite can be said for Debrief's ability to get information in and out; even its 'export' simply outputs folders and notes in its own proprietary format.
The ability to 'debrief' parts of a note to new notes in separate folders makes Debrief excellent for activity journaling; I just wish there was a (simple) way to maintain the original whole.
The ability to 'debrief' parts of a note to new notes in separate folders makes Debrief excellent for activity journaling; I just wish there was a (simple) way to maintain the original whole.
Stephen Zeoli
9/21/2011 8:32 pm
Debrief is one of those applications that shines brightly in some areas and is just infuriating in others. (I also like how I can press one button to shrink Debrief down to one small window that can be referenced while working with other applications, or in which you can take notes while reading other material.) If there were indications beyond vague promises from the developer that it would continue to be improved and refined, that might make me more confident.
Steve Z.
Steve Z.
Stephen Zeoli
9/21/2011 8:45 pm
Alexander, I just check and you can export any note as an RTF file -- though it isn't immediately obvious how to do so. If you're trialing Debrief, try the toolbar button that has a little green, right-pointing arrow next to a single "sheet" of paper.
Steve Z.
Steve Z.
Alexander Deliyannis
9/22/2011 7:59 am
Thanks; this is useful.
I think I'm quite spoilt into expecting all Windows applications to provide multiple access to commands, i.e. via the drop-down menu, in-context via right-click, toolbar icons for most common actions and, finally, keyboard shortcuts. Debrief is one of those applications where each of these interfaces is used for quite different actions, which contributes to the learning curve.
Stephen Zeoli wrote:
I think I'm quite spoilt into expecting all Windows applications to provide multiple access to commands, i.e. via the drop-down menu, in-context via right-click, toolbar icons for most common actions and, finally, keyboard shortcuts. Debrief is one of those applications where each of these interfaces is used for quite different actions, which contributes to the learning curve.
Stephen Zeoli wrote:
Alexander, I just check and you can export any note as an RTF file -- though it isn't
immediately obvious how to do so. If you're trialing Debrief, try the toolbar button
that has a little green, right-pointing arrow next to a single "sheet" of
paper.
Alexander Deliyannis
9/22/2011 10:20 am
I have to say that the conbination of status updates and daily reporting is the closest I've ever got to keeping a journal. It's only been a few days, but it is very convenient, so I expect it to be a viable solution. Yammer accepts in-message tags, which can be a good way of filtering what I did for a particular project.
For filing, I got my mail account to send the daily report to Evernote.
Alexander Deliyannis wrote:
For filing, I got my mail account to send the daily report to Evernote.
Alexander Deliyannis wrote:
P.S. I'm currently trying out the following: I created a Yammer account where I post
short status updates of my work; I have set Yammer up to mail me a daily digest with all my
postings. Let's see how this works out.
Foolness
9/22/2011 3:26 pm
Alexander Deliyannis
9/22/2011 10:07 pm
Thanks Foolness, very interesting.
For my work however, Yammer is difficult to replace by desktop programs like the ones suggested; the reason being that one of its most useful tools is the portable version for Android, which I can use from almost everywhere.
For my work however, Yammer is difficult to replace by desktop programs like the ones suggested; the reason being that one of its most useful tools is the portable version for Android, which I can use from almost everywhere.
Alexander Deliyannis
11/1/2011 10:36 pm
Well, somebody would eventually make a product for this, no?
http://idonethis.com/
From the website:
"Every day we?ll email you to ask, ?What?d you get done today?? Just reply to our email to make an entry.
Inch by inch, anything?s a cinch.
We?ll keep a calendar for you of what you got done. Look to your streak from yesterday to motivate you today."
http://idonethis.com/
From the website:
"Every day we?ll email you to ask, ?What?d you get done today?? Just reply to our email to make an entry.
Inch by inch, anything?s a cinch.
We?ll keep a calendar for you of what you got done. Look to your streak from yesterday to motivate you today."
garry burks
11/14/2011 10:16 am
Looking at your requirement, the Microsoft 2010 Project Management software can be a real benefit for you. It would keep track of your journal entries, categorize and even cross-check the progress. Its features make it a comprehensive task management software you can go for.
Visit http://www.microsoft.com/project/en/us/default.aspx for more information.
jimspoon wrote:
Visit http://www.microsoft.com/project/en/us/default.aspx for more information.
jimspoon wrote:
Now the trick is to find
the best way to tie in my journalling with task management. Practically everything I
do is in some way related to some project or task I'm working on. Ideally, every journal
entry would get filed under the project and task and subtask to which it relates. That
way, I could easily review my hierarchy of project / tasks / subtasks, and see the
related chronology of activities.
Daly de Gagne
11/14/2011 3:49 pm
Alexander, I haven't seen a dedicated Intensive Journal software app, though am sure it is probably out there someplace - :)
However, the different dividers one finds in the hard copy Intensive Journal can be top level headings in programs such as MyInfo, UltraRecall, Noteliner, or The Journal 5. All of these programs allow for an outline approach, and have tagging.
Daly
Alexander Deliyannis wrote:
However, the different dividers one finds in the hard copy Intensive Journal can be top level headings in programs such as MyInfo, UltraRecall, Noteliner, or The Journal 5. All of these programs allow for an outline approach, and have tagging.
Daly
Alexander Deliyannis wrote:
These days I'm consolidating my software setup; I find that several programs have
become redundant and can be uninstalled, while in other respects I am missing some
specific functionality to complement my workflow. Within the latter context, I am
looking for some good journaling software and, going through the archives, found
this thread, as well as this one
http://www.outlinersoftware.com/topics/viewt/612/
Jim's description is
actually quite representative of my own needs, though I would prefer something more
easy to get going with than Org-Mode. So, rather than begin a new thread, I just post my
interest here, in case there is any additional suggestion from some happy journaling
software user...
(Almost) unrelated to the above, I am quite intrigued by
Progoff's Intensive Journal method, mentioned by Daly here
http://www.outlinersoftware.com/archives/viewt/2259 (goodness, that was
almost seven years ago!) so if someone has used software to implement it, I'd be
interested to hear more.
Dr Andus
11/14/2011 4:21 pm
Alexander Deliyannis wrote:
Well, somebody would eventually make a product for this, no?Has anyone here tried this? There is very little info on the website itself, which makes me a bit uneasy about handing over all my personal info to three guys with a website.
http://idonethis.com/
MadaboutDana
11/14/2011 10:11 pm
Actually, sounds like you might enjoy Red Notebook (which has progressed vastly since I last took a look at it, about 18 months ago). You'll find it on http://rednotebook.sourceforge.net/
'S not available on Android, as far as I know, but it is cross-platform!
Cheers,
Bill
'S not available on Android, as far as I know, but it is cross-platform!
Cheers,
Bill
Alexander Deliyannis
11/15/2011 7:08 am
Dr Andus wrote:
>http://idonethis.com/
>
Has anyone here tried this? There is very
little info on the website itself, which makes me a bit uneasy about handing over all my
personal info to three guys with a website.
This is an issue with many 'original' cloud services. Personally, I now mostly go for (a) big guys like Google, (b) services that have been around for some time, (c) services that allow me to copy my data locally. A prerequisite is that they allow me to do something I wouldn't be able to do otherwise.
I wouldn't say that Idonethis.com qualifies for that last prerequisite. The service can be broken down to (a) the daily reminder and (b) messages to yourself accessible via the date. I'm sure that these can be provided otherwise.
I just pointed out Idonethis.com because it looked as if they had been watching this forum :-) Then again, ideas are 'in the air'.
Daly de Gagne
11/15/2011 2:42 pm
I suspect the messages to oneself can be easily set up without using an outside program, and with saving to Google or Dropbox. I also am leary of all the various cloud services because I know, given past experience, at least some of the players are going to be cutting corners, and that one day someone will disappear, and their cloud will go with them. Not that I'm cynical...but....
Daly
Alexander Deliyannis wrote:
Daly
Alexander Deliyannis wrote:
Dr Andus wrote:
>>http://idonethis.com/
>>
>Has anyone here tried this? There
is very
>little info on the website itself, which makes me a bit uneasy about handing
over all my
>personal info to three guys with a website.
This is an issue with many
'original' cloud services. Personally, I now mostly go for (a) big guys like Google,
(b) services that have been around for some time, (c) services that allow me to copy my
data locally. A prerequisite is that they allow me to do something I wouldn't be able to
do otherwise.
I wouldn't say that Idonethis.com qualifies for that last
prerequisite. The service can be broken down to (a) the daily reminder and (b)
messages to yourself accessible via the date. I'm sure that these can be provided
otherwise.
I just pointed out Idonethis.com because it looked as if they had been
watching this forum :-) Then again, ideas are 'in the air'.
Dr Andus
7/3/2012 1:45 am
Dr Andus wrote:
Although I was skeptical about this service initially, I gave it a try because I couldn't be bothered to set up something similar by myself. I have to say it works like a charm. Every night a receive an email to a dedicated email address I had specially set up for IDoneThis, and then while in bed, I record the main things that I got done or had happened during the day, using my iPad. I've been using it for many months now without skipping a single day. I have never been this disciplined with my journal writing in my whole life.
My concern about confidentiality hasn't gone away, but I managed to suppress it in exchange for the convenience and the disciplining effect.
They allow you to download all your data in a single text file, and a copy of each day's record also gets saved in the Sent email folder, so as long as there is electricity and the internet, the data should be safe (from losing it at least).
Alexander Deliyannis wrote:
>Well, somebody would eventually make a product for
this, no?
>
>http://idonethis.com/
>
Has anyone here tried this? There is very
little info on the website itself, which makes me a bit uneasy about handing over all my
personal info to three guys with a website.
Although I was skeptical about this service initially, I gave it a try because I couldn't be bothered to set up something similar by myself. I have to say it works like a charm. Every night a receive an email to a dedicated email address I had specially set up for IDoneThis, and then while in bed, I record the main things that I got done or had happened during the day, using my iPad. I've been using it for many months now without skipping a single day. I have never been this disciplined with my journal writing in my whole life.
My concern about confidentiality hasn't gone away, but I managed to suppress it in exchange for the convenience and the disciplining effect.
They allow you to download all your data in a single text file, and a copy of each day's record also gets saved in the Sent email folder, so as long as there is electricity and the internet, the data should be safe (from losing it at least).