Remember you mind is a pattern matching machine. There is no switch to turn it off. In fact, the further out of your routine you get the more active can become. In order to take full advantage of it, you need to be able to capture it’s output no matter where you are.
I find my brain really likes to process information while in the shower, while driving in the car, while enjoying the great outdoors and while reading. These are all places where I don’t often have access to my computer or my legal pad. I have learned to adapt because I understand how important ubiquitous capture is to being effective. A few ways I have adapted are:
- I have Things installed on my iPhone/iPad to allow capture when I am mobile.
- I have a voice recorder installed on my iPhone so I can capture while driving or am not in a position to use Things.
- I have learned to write on the steamed glass in the shower to brainstorm especially when I need to calculate numbers or spatially arrange ideas or concepts.
- I carry pens in the car along with a scratch pad in case my digital collection devices are dead.
Your capture tool(s) need to be available where ever you go. Think of them like you do your keys, wallet, watch or glasses. You should know where they are at all times for easy retrieval. Certainly your ideas are more valuable than any of these things and should be equally as ready for use.
Capture something good, somewhere out of your norm this week. Share it here!
More from Derek Neighbors
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- Make a Mark on Your Customers
- Getting Things Done: Area of Focus vs Project
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- Is Your Moleskin Keeping You From Getting Things Done?
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driving: iPhone recorder app… though I’m not great at converting on those after the fact
I’ve tried many methods of writing in the shower, from the steam to waterbased crayons with not much luck. I’ve heard that the best solution is a scuba diver tablet (Cameron Moll uses this method).
Driving is the hardest, though the voice recorder is also what I’ve used. “One day” I’d like to install a mini digital recorder on the dashboard or somewhere easy to reach, for nice one-click recording. Ideas are worthless when you’re asphalt art.
Can’t forget about the ubiquitous napkin.
I have a small moleskin that I carry, which has a little pocket too – for stuffing napkins and biz cards into. Obviously, this doesn’t cut it in the shower.
I use the open-source GTD app Shuffle on my Android, and it’s the best GTD app I’ve ever used. I haven’t found a good way to sync Shuffle with a web-based interface, but I generally find syncing to be more hassle than it’s worth.
But hands down, my best data capture device is the GTD wallet. Sometimes I’m walking to the train and have an idea, and I can scribble something on the pad with the retractable pad without breaking stride. Way better imo than stopping and futzing with a touchscreen.
http://bit.ly/bSSYwB
retractable *pen* and pad