Clearing the decks/massive gathering with bankers boxes

[DeveloperMCT]

I was listening to a great audiobook that had to do with increasing the positive energies/vibrations in your life.

in getting things done fast, allen said (paraphrase of course) "everyhing around you is either attracting you or repulsing you psychologically".

This particular audio book recommended getting tons of bankers boxes to "clear out the clutter for clarity".

David talks about 1 to 6 hours to gather everything into an in basket for the initial time. I still haven't got it done (100%) and I've been trying for over a year now. The problem was/is my whole house is an in basket (as david commonly warns against). He also talks about putting all the "stuff" into one pile...but if you're whole house is stuff...the only logical, yet very unfeasible place to pile stuff at would be the yard. :???:

Anyhow, what this other audio book was recommending is going through everything that's laying around and do what david would call "scan for land mines". They recommend leaving all land mines where they are (actually knowing the gtd system, I would put them in a *REAL* in box) and put everything else in bankers boxes and using a digital recorder or index cards to catalog the contents of each sequentially numbered box.

This has made a huge breadthrough in my ability to implement gtd system. I don't have everything cleared away...only our master bedroom. It took me all night, and boy do I feel so much better. freed up energy!! ;-)

Today I'll have to do my office. ...wish me luck!

 

[DrJones1]

Clearing the decks/massive gathering with bankers boxes

I do wish you success. I am still in that initial collecting/processing mode and feel overwhelmed. I thought there would be a chunk of time during the holidays to do it 100%. Yes, I am delusional
Please post your progress. I think knowing about other's success in real-time may keep me motivated to find my desk below the strata of stuff! - WSJ

Today I'll have to do my office. ...wish me luck!

 

[mOses nOghbaudie]

Generally when i 'scan' i do it more in zones than broad sweeps. So, for example in my studio i decided first to tackle my desk/table. i cleared it then used that freed space to place books while reorganizing my bookshelves. After that i hit my closet.. etc.

Now, often i end up going back over areas repeatedly as things from one zone migrate to others, but it's easier to contain the piles.

Eventually the whole room is swept.

 

[Denver Dave]

I'm not sure what a bankers box is, but might be similar to my filefolder boxes - wide enough for letter size and a couple of feet deep. Seems to help me some to gather things up in them, but unless I place an obvious todo, I forget about them and never go through.

 

[cornell]

I love banker's boxes; great for *not* processing old files when starting GTD

This particular audio book recommended getting tons of bankers boxes to "clear out the clutter for clarity".

I love banker's boxes for intermediate help during the initial collection process, and for secondary (non-swivel) storage. When I implemented GTD, my biggest mistake was including the processing of all my old files, in addition to ones that were on my desk, around the house, etc. I definitely agree with Allen that one should focus on the current loose stuff, saving processing of old files for a separate (GTD) project. Because of this, it took me two months to get up to 100%! Good luck...

P.S. Details of my implementation are here, if you're interested.

 

[bmd]

bankers boxes

Another great tool is the sort of plastic shelving unit which snaps together, no tools, no nothing. The units are quite large - four or five shelves - and cost only about $20. They go up in two minutes, then you have a "containment" area as you're sorting. Makes more sense for 3-D, non-paper sorting, as in organizing a Christmas wrapping station.

They're great for basements and garages, where utility beats beauty, but even in living areas, it's possible to fashion curtain/blind-style coverings for what's inside.

My offering organizing advice on December 21 is, well, can't think of an analogy equal to the preposterousness. Good luck!

 

[alisa]

positive thinking always help

I was listening to a great audiobook that had to do with increasing the positive energies/vibrations in your life.

in getting things done fast, allen said (paraphrase of course) "everyhing around you is either attracting you or repulsing you psychologically".

Hi there!
I think it's very important the way YOU see the problem. Doesn't really matter if it's hard to deal with it, it is important that you don't start resoving that problem stressed by the ideea that you can't do it or that it will take you much time to resolv it. You just need to relax, listen some music maybe, take a walk (anything that it will make you be stressfree), not thinking that this it is going to take much time and you'll not have time to do something else. Just focus on the problem!! Be relaxed and sure that you will solve the problem. Now, if you are relaxed and enthusiastic to solve the problem go for it!
So, for me it's important the time when I start resolving the problem and the mentality I have for doing that thing.
And it is impossible if i have a positive thinking and if i put my mind with something not to get that thing done.
Good luck to all of you!
alisa