LB and DateBk Calendar
Hi,
I am new here and new to LB - only use it since 4 days (...the whole day - very excited :-)
I have been using many different PIMs for many years since Windows CE first came out. This program is truly genius! I can see how it is going to change my everyday life and overall balance.
My question is regarding DateBk and it's ToDos/Tasks.
As far as I can see DateBk is useless to LB users as far as ToDos are concerned.
I mean, correct me if I am wrong, but in DateBk the task show always as a long list, and even if I use the Cats to divide the tasks into smaller groups I will not be able to update the Cats to automatically fit my LB-outline sections, not to mention showing a well prioritizes LB-Place-sensitive list of ToDos.
I bought DateBk, but frankly cannot see how could it be useful if one is using the principles LB.
(I just want to make sure I am not missing something)
Thank you!
Gavriel.
LB and Datebk Calendar
Gavriel,
A little late on the uptake here, but maybe you'll be back to check for replies...
First, I assume you're talking about Pimlico Datebook. Yes, you can use both Datebook and LB and apply Lifebalance principles for your to do lists. In fact, that is the primary way I use LB. I usually keep appointments exclusively in DateBk unless things are really getting out of hand time management-wise.
In DateBk you can set up different categories for the To Dos and Appointments; they don't have to have matching categories, so that in itself may help Datebook work better for you with LifeBalance. Also, if you have a recent version of Datebook, in addition to unique categories that you can create specifically for tasks, as opposed to matching to the categories you use for appointments, you can set the priority and urgency of each task. Then you can set a sort order that you like for those tasks.
That said, for the sake of simplicity for myself, I now maintain matching Appointment and To Do categories in Datebook, so if I do decide I need to import my appointments into LB, there is less tweaking to do.
With LifeBalance, you can import your tasks from DateBk and use the DateBk categories as the top level tasks if you want. So, for instance, I have a To Do category in DateBk called, Thrive (health), that can be imported into LB as a top level goal, along with whatever tasks I've set in DateBk in the category of Thrive. It is actually very helpful, because instead of Thrive, or Enjoy, or Manage, (some of my other DateBk categories) being merely categories, they become goals that can be balanced in LB. Some of that useage is a matter of changing perspective, i.e. categories v.s. goals.
It is true that LB and DateBk are rather different, and I tend to use LB more in a therapeutic mode and DateBk more in a day to day mode, because of these differences. But, I am absolutely certain that there are power users out there who use both programs more concurrently and seamlessly than I do. You can use both programs in ways that make them more alike and less different, which is what I try to do. Also, the import and export between both applications works impressively well, if you pay attention to your settings.
My dream PIM application would be a fusion of LifeBalance and Datebook with a desktop PIM app that synchs it all perfectly. But my own solution to use both together is not very complicated and doesn't take much time. It is more a matter of shifting perspective on how to organize, label and prioritize your time.
I hope this makes some sort of sense in terms of your need to update your DateBk categories to fit the LB outline format.
Msfixit