A couple of days before I wrote about a hipsterPDA on the GTD Block post comic and some people may ask what is a HPDA?. Well, the answer is this:
A HipsterPDA is a paper based system emulating a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and is fully customizable (because… you know, it is made from paper). We usually use 3×5 index cards available on any amazon clipped togheter with a binder clip.
Just a bunch of paper and a clip
It might look that way, but a HPDA is a powerful tool. The nerd/geek community is going wild with the HPDAs! you can write on them, you can switch cards, you can trow them away, they don’t break if they fall on the floor, etc. There are some interesting setups out there you can do with little effort like the one you saw above (that is mine). I used to use that calendar but now I’m using
the one that came with my Mac Mini (ICal) because my line of work requires being in front of the computer 90% of my time. But
I added some tabs to it so I can quickly browse trough my notes and to-do lists. I also have some motivational quotes noted down at the end like my favorite from Jed Barlet of the WestWing tv Show:
They will hit you hard… remember all your victories.
Altrough I’m online all the time, I still use my HPDA to keep my head clean, writing down every thing I need to do or every thought I don’t want to forget. It’s a really smart low-fi gadget you can do with only 4 dollars or less (amazing!)
What can you do with it?
Well, you can do pretty much anything you can do with a small notepad, but more. Because every single index card its only attached by the Binder Clip you can move things back and forward, you can switch positions, you can mix, you can even take one and trow it away without compromising the integrity of all the others. So you can be flexible with HPDA! this are some of the things you can do with it:
- Write down your troughs. No “runes” to learn with the HPDA to write, just your own handwrite.
- Maintain your check lists with you, your to-do lists, your GTD setup
- Have a handy piece of paper with you all the time
- Have a calendar, fully customizable
- Simple and beautiful
The D*I*Y guys did some amazing FREE printable templates for the HipsterPDA with:
- A cover, including an “if lost, please return to” form
- Getting Things Done Quick Reference Card, including a flow chart, a weekly review list, and a list of “Stuff” (TM, patent pending)
- Yearly calendars for 2005 and 2006
- Three variations on the monthly calendar, both horizontal and vertical
- A weekly calendar
- Notes templates in lined and grid versions
- Basic Project and Checklist templates
And a lot of other interesting stuff you can print yourself in your home/office printer at HPDA Printable templates.
Just take a look at the graphics and you will be in-loved. This is a great way to be more productive; because you know… if you write it down, you got it!
Cheers,
Javier Cabrera
This is something very hip but I don’t think this would be something for me.
Here is how I do it:
I take 3 small papers and put them in my wallet + something to write with.
I write something down if something jump to my mind that I think I will forget before I get home.
When I’m home I type everything down in my spreadsheet (for money management), my to-do-list, cantact list and project management documents.