A near-empty ink bottle is a lovely accomplishment. You’re nearly complete. You definitely didn’t waste your money on that colored liquid — I tell myself — because you used and/or shared it all. So close. But getting that final fill into a pen can prove challenging.

So: what are my options for getting that final milliliter of ink into a pen?

There are three levers to pull to influence how enjoyably a fountain pen writes. Three physical aspects of the tool that we can change. One is the nib we write with. Another is the ink in the pen. And third is the paper we write on. The triad.

Migration assistance and recall are the primary goals of task management. Make sure I remember what I need to do. Ensure I revisit tasks that take place across multiple days. And move tasks that still need love and attention to future checklists.

My system relies on a simple combination of two symbols: a reticle and an x. A four line filter to capture important tasks when over days and weeks.

My favorite and most useful organizational systems are simple. The simpler the better. Staying organized is a means, not a destination. My pathway out of the woods.

The heart of my organizational system tracks three kinds of information. What needs to be done. When each needs to be done. And how far along each task is. And I do it all with three lines.

Well, three lines in a box.