Home » Featured

Geek Girl Shuns Gadgets, Adopts Todoodlist Instead

2 January 2009 853 views 7 Comments

You’d think, given what I do for a living and how much time I spend out here online, that I’d have an iPhone or a Blackberry to keep track of myself and stay constantly connected.

Uhh….no.

I don’t text on my cell phone, or surf the web. In fact, if you have the nerve to text my phone, I will delete it without reading it and I tell that to everyone who gets my number. I gave up Instant Messengers about 3 years ago and haven’t missed them a bit. I use electronic devices when they solve a problem for me or make my life simpler somehow. Case in point: my DVR. God bless that little mammy-jammy. If not for it, I would never watch any TV.

While I’m fairly immune to cell phones, PDAs and the like, I will admit to being lured into at least trying the latest, greatest online app, but few make the cut and keep my attention for long. Mostly because they’re all a near fit, not a great fit for me and how I work. Trust me, the Internet is riddled with accounts I’ve set up for this tool or that and then abandoned – the great exception being my Google Calendars. But for project management and productivity planning, I keep reverting back to paper.

Paper systems have their issues, though: I can’t prioritize and categorize on paper like I can on the computer. And I’m the first to admit, with my ADD brain – I need the ability to prioritize and categorize! (Please don’t ask me how many hundreds of dollars I’ve wasted on Palm Pilots, Franklin Planners and DayRunners, only to revert back to a $.70 spiral notebook from WalMart time and time again. It’s shameful, and makes me sick.) But on paper, I can do things my way, which is the biggest issue I have with 99.9% of the electronic/online apps out there, Google Calendars being the only exception.

get-todoodlistThen, I happened upon Todoodlist. $14 bucks and an hour later, my biggest bitch about my paper system has been resolved – totally.

Think those 4 bullet points over there are empty promises? Think again. Todoodlist is the missing ingredient I needed for my personal paper system that allows me to truly shun the lure of online apps and gadgets once and for all.

Now, those of you paying attention may think I’m totally contradicting myself, given my stated abhorrence for printing things out. (See Eco-Safe in my sidebar, or the end of any post.) Let me say again: I use electronic devices when they solve a problem for me or make my life simpler somehow. When I went without electricity for 9 days and without Internet service for 19 days during the Ice Storm of December of 2007, you can bet your sweet bippy I was lovin’ my $.70 WalMart spiral notebook in a fashion bordering on the ridiculous. If I ever have to endure such madness again, I will now be even more prepared and productive.

So, go on – check out Todoodlist – I dare ya. Who knew to-do lists could be so much fun?!


If you enjoyed this post, be sure to subscribe to the feed (full posts) or (summary posts) in your feed reader or get full posts or summary posts via email. There are freebies waiting for you, whichever way you subscribe!

Related posts:

  1. Todoodlist Winner! The Guilt-Free Mom

Trackback URL for this post:

http://www.vassistantservices.com/geek-girl-shuns-gadgets-adopts-todoodlist/trackback/

7 Comments »

  • Tracy said:

    I am with you on this one, I do so much better on paper. What I like best is I can carry it all over with me and continue to write as I go, adding last minute thoughts and what not. This looks like a wonderful tool I will have to check it out, thanks!

    # 3 January 2009 at 10:10 am
  • Jason said:

    As an ever-present lurking geek, I’m always up for the next gadget, concept, or tool. I know all the sites. I’ve read the “assigned textbooks.” I’ve even purchased a few apps and such. I’m on the verge of doing it again. And this time, daddy shouldn’t even think he has the money.

    And while I also end up with writing things down, it feels less than adequate. Is having FIVE paper “inboxes” really the way to roll? I’m guessing, “Not so much.” There are tons of other problems, too.

    I think what continues to trip me up (besides some *cough* attentional issues) is that, as I finish up my doctorate (pre-doc internship and dissertation left…oh, on top of two moves, two boys under 3, an attentionally-challenged wife), there feels like just too much on my plate. How can paper keep up?

    Maybe I’ll splurge for todoodlist. Maybe I’ll just set my alarm to “earthquake” and get up a bit earlier each day. Maybe I’ll pound caffeine at 9pm when the boys are sleep and actually type words that will end up in my proposal.

    For now, I’ll just looked stunned.

    Jason´s last blog post..Getting Things Done As If It Really Matters

    # 3 January 2009 at 9:45 pm
  • Suzanne (author) said:

    Tracy – Day 2 and I’m still LOVIN’ Todoodlist! I’m amazed that I’ve found something I can actually keep track of my crazy self with! Definitely check it out! I think you’ll like it (’cuz you’re a little crazy, like me, ya know… :) )

    # 3 January 2009 at 9:54 pm
  • Suzanne (author) said:

    Jason – I totally feel you on this one! Having enough for 3 people on my plate, 3 kids 6 years apart in age going 3 different directions at all times, and a (holy smokes!) fast-growing business here – I set my alarm for “earthquake” each morning, pound caffeine during all waking hours AND stay up half the night to get those few precious hours of peace and quiet in this house. Then, I found Todoodlist. It’s making a difference – it really is. So, amazingly, I’m joining you just looking stunned. :)

    # 3 January 2009 at 9:59 pm
  • Jason said:

    Best of luck to you, Suzanne. I actually tend to stay away from caffeine, but as a momentum builder, maybe I’ll give it a whirl!

    Quick question regarding the ebook: I’ve read on other productivity/online marketing type sites that it’ll help their “online life” and whatnot. Is there a fairly strong tech-bent to it? While it’s a fantasy world and something I’m beginning to slowly learn, I won’t be making my living from my laptop and traveling any time soon.

    Thanks!
    Jason

    Jason´s last blog post..Getting Things Done As If It Really Matters

    # 4 January 2009 at 1:36 pm
  • Suzanne (author) said:

    Jason – that’s the beauty of Todoodlist – it’s TOTALLY non-technical! That, in itself, is refreshing. Yet the amazing thing is, it works better for me than all those other things I’ve tried before. I think it’s because all those other systems wanted to bring order out of the chaos that is me, but Todoodlist actually works with my chaos. No more trying to pound this square peg into the round productivity hole! Yay!

    # 4 January 2009 at 11:43 pm
  • markez linda said:

    Your blog rocks dude!

    # 10 March 2009 at 12:07 am