Do you ever write notes on your hand? Shopping lists, phone numbers, todos?

It seems like an inefficient way of remembering important things, but in the absence of another system, it is better than nothing. Certainly it brings a whole new meaning to the term PDA - Personal 'Digital' Assistant

But it occurred to me today, that the humble hand does in fact encompass many of the qualities of a good organization system. What does the hand have to teach us?

1 - It's always available. This allows us to jot down an idea the moment it occurs to us. A good system needs to be able to capture any information quickly and easily. The hand is good in this respect. It's always 'handy'.

2 - It is difficult to lose, barring unexpected amputation. Fans of David Allen's book Getting Things Done (GTD), will know the importance of having a 'trusted system'. That is, a system that you can rely on to keep the information and give it back to you when you need it. Unlike a PDA, the human hand is unlikely to get stolen or misplaced.

3 - It can grab your attention. Because it's attached, you will see your hand and be reminded multiple times. This extends the trustworthiness of the system. You can trust that anything written on it will come to your attention sooner or later.

On the other...hand:

It is of limited capacity, even if you do have big hands. The GTD philosophy emphasises complete capture. All of the little reminders in your life should be in one system and out of your head. Only complete capture is effective for reducing stress.

It is short term, unless you use permanent marker, or stop washing. Reminders relevant to next week will have worn off by next week.

But most importantly, your hand isn't context sensitive. It will remind you to 'buy milk' all day, even while you're not near any kind of milk outlet. You'll get used to the note, and fail to notice it when there is an opportunity to act.