My System: Capture

The most important thing I've learned from my reading of Getting Things Done is the idea of ubiquitous capture, or writing everything down as it comes at you. You could use a PDA for this, but I prefer a modified hPDA, a Franklin-Covey note-taker which I got for $15 at an office supply store:

Inside are my id and cards, cash, blank 3x5 index cards and my indestructible Fisher Space Pen:

I like this pen for everyday capture because, unlike other pens I've tried, it doesn't break and leak in my pants pocket or try to stab me. About $16.

I also throw things into my cool Ikea in-trays:



I have one at work and one at home. About $8 each.

Other things are stickies and Jott and Gmail with labels and filters. And don't forget the usefulness of your cameraphone. I actually carry a camera with me most of the time, but this recommendation goes with cameraphones as well. I use it to capture pictures of things I might want to buy, the signs on the front of businesses that show hours of operation, things like that.