When you need a piece of information, is it at your fingertips? Or are you constantly chasing your info like papers in the wind? 当你需要一则信息时,它就在你手头吗?或者你总是像追逐飘在风中的纸片一般寻找你要的信息? It is important to capture those finer details now, so that you will have them later. What information are you not capturing that you will need in the future? 现在就掌握精确的信息,这很重要,这样你以后就能用得上。哪些信息是你以后需要但却是你没掌握的呢? Information Everywhere 信息无处不在 In these days of instant answers and online resources, you can’t seem to find that one piece of information you need. The Internet is a great resource. And Wikipedia provides us instant access to info that previously would have required a research project. 在这样有即时回复和在线资源的时代,你似乎找不到你需要的那一则信息。互联网是一个巨大的资源,维基百科即时提供给我们信息,这些信息在之前需要通过研究才能得到。 However, neither will help you figure out when your next doctor’s appointment is… or tell you the cell phone number of the contact you worked with last year. 然而,它们既不能帮你找到下一次你和医生的预约时间在什么时候,也不能告诉你去年一起工作的同事的电话号码。 In these days of Wikipedia and Google, the hardest information to find …can be your own. So, when is that appointment that you were looking for? What is the phone number you needed? Or, maybe the question is, "Where is the scrap of paper that you wrote it down on?" What Information Are You Missing? 在有维基百科和谷歌的时代,最难找到的信息是有关你自己的。 那么,你寻找的那次预约在什么时候? 你需要的电话号码是多少? 或者,换这样的问题:你刚刚用来写东西的那张便签放哪儿了?你缺了哪些信息? None of these should be difficult… if you are capturing the important information in your life. Otherwise, each of these could be a full-blown research project and take quite a bit of your time to locate. The important part is capturing the information now, so that you have it when you need it. 如果你掌握了你生活中的重要信息,所有这些都不会是难题。否则的话,其中任何一条都足以让你绞尽脑汁,也将花费你大量时间去找到答案。重要的是现在就掌握这些信息,这样当你需要它时,你就用的上了。 Here are 10 Pieces of Information That You’ll Regret Not Capturing: 这里有10类信息,如果你不掌握,你就要后悔。 1. Appointments 预约 Do you write appointments down on scraps of paper or business cards? Don’t take those appointment cards from the doctor’s office and the like. Instead, put them directly into your calendar. (You always have your phone with you, right?) 你把预约时间写在便签纸上或是名片上了吗?不要从医生办公室等之类的地方拿预约卡。把它们直接写进你的日程表里。(你总是会带着你的手机,对吧?) 2. Big Ideas 奇思妙想 When you get that million dollar idea, make sure you capture it. How many great ideas have you forgotten until someone else acted on it? Have a notebook for those fleeting moments of inspiration. A paper notebook works great or an app like Drafts works wonders on your phone. 当你有了那个价值百万的主意时,你一定要抓住它!有多少伟大的想法是被你遗忘了,直到有人将它们在现实中演绎后才想起来?为那些一闪而过的灵感准备一个笔记本。一本纸质笔记本就很棒,或者像Drafts这样的应用程序就能在手机上发挥出奇妙作用。 3. Phone Numbers 电话号码 Always capture phone numbers, especially cell phone numbers. This action only takes a few taps on your phone. You never know when you will need that number again. Even better, you will know who is calling your when they are in your address book. People are surprised when they call me after extended timeframes and I greet them by name. 永远要记住电话号码,尤其是手机号。你只要按几个手机键就好了。你永远不会知道在将来你是不是还会再需要这个号码。这样做更大的好处是,号码存进了手机通讯录,你就能知道是谁在给你打电话。在时隔很久以后他们打我电话时,我能在电话的问候中报出他们的名字,他们将会感到吃惊。 4. Addresses 地址 Even in the age of the Internet, it can be hard to get personal addresses. When someone sends you a note or card, always capture the return mailing address. You never know when you might want to return the gesture in the future. 即使是身处互联网时代,要得到私人住址也是一件困难的事。当某人寄给你一张明信片,永远要留下回信的邮寄地址。你不会知道在将来什么时候你可能想要回寄他们。 5. Reference Info 参考信息 Capture those random reference pieces of information so that you have them when you least expect it. For example, the size of air filter that your home takes, or the special lightbulb that a device requires. 掌握那些随手可得的参考消息,这样万一要用上的时候,你就有信息可以使用了。比如说,你家要装的空气过滤器的尺寸大小,或是某一设备需要的特殊灯泡。 6. Notes 便条 The number one tool missing from most people’s time management system is a single place to keep notes. Avoid the Post-Its and back-of-the-napkin scribbles. Whether meeting notes or personal, keep them organized and in one place. You’ll know exactly where to look when you need them. 大多数人的时间管理系统里缺失了最重要的一样工具:一处单独保存便条的地方。最好不要使用便利贴,也不要在纸的背面涂鸦。不管是会议记录还是个人便签,保持有序并存放在一个地方。当你需要的时候,你就知道去哪儿找了。 7. Todos 待办事项 Do you fail to complete tasks because you forget about them? Capture todos as soon as they arise. Let your task list remember them, so you don’t have to. Of course, ensure you look at your list often. 你因为忘了而没有完成任务?一有这样的事,就把它们写在待办事项里。让你的任务列表来记它们,这样你就不需要记了。当然,保证你能常常看到它们。 8. Receipts 票据 Can you produce the receipt for the last major purchase you made? You never know when you might need a receipt again. There are many great apps and services that will help you capture your receipts. Of course, a simple method tosnap a picture with your phone and file it. 你能出示上一次大采购的票据吗?你不会知道什么时候你还需要这张票据。有许多很好的应用程序可以帮你记录票据。当然,一种简单的方法是用手机截图然后存档。 9. Personal Info 个人信息 Get a secure app and save important personal info. You never know when you will need credit card numbers, health data, passwords, or insurance info. When an emergency does happen, you’ll have on less thing to worry about. 安装一款安全可靠的应用程序保存重要的个人信息。你不会知道什么时候你需要信用卡账号、医疗信息、密码、以及保险信息。当出现突发情况,你就没那么多要担忧的事了。 10. Solutions 解决方法 Do you find yourself addressing the same issues repeatedly? Make sure you capture those solutions so that you do not have to spend time solving the same problem twice. 有没有发现自己都在反复地找同样的东西?你一定要掌握这些方法,这样你就不用花时间第二次解决同样的问题了。 Make a list of the information that you find yourself searching for often. Instead of letting those pieces of data slip by, ensure that you have a method to capture each type. The next time you need a piece of info, it will be right at your fingertips. 对这些你经常要找的信息做个列表。不让这些信息就这样溜走,你要有一种掌握每类信息的方法。下次当你需要一条信息时,它就刚好在你手边了。