I was deeply, deeply skeptical, but then I read a lot
of blogs and comments from people with whom I clearly
identified who said it was fantastic and absolutely
worked for them.
"Getting Things Done" - the personalised version.
I read the summaries, then some snippets, then a "Zen"
version, and thought - actually, this could work for me.
I started some of the techniques and kept track of time
spent, and lo - time was saved.
I bought the book. Despite the very high "Ginger Factor"
in places it communicates well, albeit slowly.
Now I have a GTD system running, and am putting my life
into it. It gives me my goals, it lets me review and
prioritise my projects and activities, it has delivered
my life from worrying about whether I've done things, or
whether I've forgotten something.
It helps me set goals, and it helps me see how to achieve
them.
More importantly, it helps me keep things in perspective
and do what really matters.
I'll write a longer reply later and put it on my web site. For now, as a quick response:
I started with a filing system. I've always had trouble knowing whether to file the car insurance under "Car" or "insurance". My filing system is now undifferentiated. Every item gets a (mostly) unique number, usually YYYMMDD where the date is vaguely relevant. Then I put in a file a line for that item, starting with the ID, and then loads of keywords - anything relevant. Now I can find anything I want quickly by grepping that file.
* Update - that file is now on my home wiki so my wife can also put entries on it and search (using F3).
* Thought - the keywords turn the single mass into implicit "files", each item belonging to as many "files" as it has keywords, and each keyword giving a different "file".
* I do still have a separate filing system for things that have an obvious designation, and are frequently referenced or searched - like CC and bank statements.
Then I implemented the 43 folders idea, and put into that things like bills that needed paying, statements to check, etc.
Thirdly came the single "In box", and everything went into that. From there I try to apply the processing that GTD defines, although I still have some trouble. But now most things have destinations: Bin, Filing, Folders, "Other".
"Other" consists of two places at the moment. One is "Projects to Create" the other is "Read and File/bin". The "Projects to Create" folder is what I yet need to define and make more rigorous.
Next, I have a collection of lists in my PDA: On-line, Off-line, Email, House, Phone, Work, Today. On these go classic "To-Do" style notes. I don't adhere too rigorously to the "Next Action" mantra, but I do keep it in mind, and my work-style is mutating towards it. Thinking about it is helping, even though I haven't implemented it in its full glory.
Finally, ideas, results of on-line browsing, results from work, etc, all get a separate piece of A6 paper (scrap A4 cut into four) and put in the "In box", and so the cycle begins again.
The hardest part is forcing myself to use the lists as my guide, but the rewards from doing so are reinforcing the action. I am starting to get things done, and I can see that one or two of my projects are being turned into items on my lists, that become actions that happen, which progress the projects. My work-flow is mutating towards GTD, although it may settle on something different that suits me better.
I ought to write this up, but I've been reluctant to create yet another GTD zealot/derivative page.
This actually matches pretty closely what I started with. My system has evolved a little further, and it seems I deal with more paper, but this is a better summary than I otherwise might write.
These are linked to and form a crucial part of it:
"Getting Things Done" - the personalised version.
I read the summaries, then some snippets, then a "Zen" version, and thought - actually, this could work for me. I started some of the techniques and kept track of time spent, and lo - time was saved.
I bought the book. Despite the very high "Ginger Factor" in places it communicates well, albeit slowly.
Now I have a GTD system running, and am putting my life into it. It gives me my goals, it lets me review and prioritise my projects and activities, it has delivered my life from worrying about whether I've done things, or whether I've forgotten something.
It helps me set goals, and it helps me see how to achieve them.
More importantly, it helps me keep things in perspective and do what really matters.
YMMV, but it works for me.