I often find myself working on Project X, but then I get sidetracked by various incidents. For instance, I might resolve Incident 1, only to be pulled into Incident 2 right before falling asleep. When I try to return to Project X, there could be another incident that takes days to fix and before I know it, I'm two weeks behind. Most of these incidents aren't due to infrastructure failures, but rather issues caused by developers, like a database resize that we weren't informed about, or a password leak resulting in chaos. I'm looking for tips on how to effectively track all these tasks without making the process cumbersome. I know that if the system is too complex, I struggle to take notes, so I'm hoping for something quick and easy—Jira just doesn't work for me.
8 Answers
It’s all about experimenting with different methods until something clicks. I've tried various Kanban tools, but settled on Google Calendar tasks for organizing things these days, paired with Obsidian for my notes.
Here’s my method: get a lined pad and a comfy pen or pencil. Write down notes and make sure you date each page. Keep going until you fill the pad, and have a second one nearby so you don’t break your writing flow. Plus, you get a place to doodle!
I use a browser window for each project with tons of tabs open. It helps me easily remember what I was working on. If I need to, I’ll throw things onto a Notion page or my personal Jira board. And honestly, I've learned to wait until someone brings up an issue to fix it—most of the time, things resolve on their own without my involvement!
I rely on a single Google Doc for everything important. It’s super quick for jotting down thoughts as they come to me, and since it’s just for my eyes, I don’t stress about it being messy. It works perfectly for me!
A simple Todo list is key! I also use Obsidian for keeping my personal notes and to-dos, along with a brief status list for each project. With about ten projects on my plate, this system is essential for maintaining my sanity!
I keep a running log of everything—I even jot down action points from meetings. Those go into my todo list in OneNote. Each workday starts with the date, and I keep track month by month. This way, it’s easy to navigate between tasks. I also color-code emails in my inbox to streamline what I need to address.
I find writing everything down on paper works wonders for me. Studies indicate that handwritten notes help with memory recall more than typing. I suggest prioritizing your tasks like you're sprint planning—focus on the most crucial ones first and check them off as you complete them. I have ADHD, so context switching is tough for me, but this method really helps!
I prefer using tools like OneNote or Notion for an overview, plus I keep a small paper notepad handy for daily planning. This way, you can keep track of tasks that come up in meetings without losing sight of the bigger picture.

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