A
Arjuna
Guest
I'm on the verge of GTD-day and was wondering if anyone can point me to a concise summary of the steps involved in implementing the GTD system.
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
A
Arjuna
Guest
Yeah - I've read the book - I still feel unclear about how to proceed.
Defining in-boxes sound like a good place to start - thanks.
Defining in-boxes sound like a good place to start - thanks.
areas of responsbility and focus
You might make a brief outline of areas of responsbility and focus, not detailed just the highlights. Then, as a result of processing you can develop this better and just get rid of things that don't pertain to them. then start yoor project list with desired outcomes briefly described, just from your "head". That way, as you process, you won't be spending so much time defining projects.
You might make a brief outline of areas of responsbility and focus, not detailed just the highlights. Then, as a result of processing you can develop this better and just get rid of things that don't pertain to them. then start yoor project list with desired outcomes briefly described, just from your "head". That way, as you process, you won't be spending so much time defining projects.
TesTeq
0
Top-down and bottom-up.
Do not be afraid that you've forgotten to write down something during this intitial RAM dump. You can always update your lists. As a professional GTDer you will always have your Ubiquitous Capture Tool (NoteTaker wallet, paper notebook, voice recorder or PDA) with you. As soon as you remember something or think about a new idea - write it down using your UCT, and then process the notes according to the GTD workflow diagram.
It is a top-down approach to psychic RAM dump. You briefly define your areas of responsibility (work, home, family, health etc.) and try to identify any problems, challenges, ideas and dreams within these areas. Then you should spend some time on "what else" brainstorming (bottom-up approach).Jamie Elis said:
Do not be afraid that you've forgotten to write down something during this intitial RAM dump. You can always update your lists. As a professional GTDer you will always have your Ubiquitous Capture Tool (NoteTaker wallet, paper notebook, voice recorder or PDA) with you. As soon as you remember something or think about a new idea - write it down using your UCT, and then process the notes according to the GTD workflow diagram.
Also note that you can have multiple capture tools, as long as they all funnel into an inbox that you regularly process.
For example, I usually use my celphone/PDA as my ubiquitous capture tool, but in my work environment there are places where I'm not allowed to take a celphone. So I have a small deck of index cards that I take when I go in there. Every day or so, I check the cards and add anything written on the cards to my system.
For example, I usually use my celphone/PDA as my ubiquitous capture tool, but in my work environment there are places where I'm not allowed to take a celphone. So I have a small deck of index cards that I take when I go in there. Every day or so, I check the cards and add anything written on the cards to my system.
A
Arjuna
Guest
Great stuff guys.
Writing down my areas of responsibility with desired outcomes is a great suggestion! I have started this now. Not having to do this on 'GTD-day' will free up my brain to focus on the structure (as opposed to the content) that I'm about to create.
As for a UCT, I looked around and was drawn to the Hipster PDA. So I made one and used it for the first time at a meeting today (found it a bit fiddly). I keep it with my phone which I am already in the habit of taking with me. I'll try the HPDA for a while - however the sheer simplicity of the 5x3 card method is also appealing...
Thanks for the pointers.
Writing down my areas of responsibility with desired outcomes is a great suggestion! I have started this now. Not having to do this on 'GTD-day' will free up my brain to focus on the structure (as opposed to the content) that I'm about to create.
As for a UCT, I looked around and was drawn to the Hipster PDA. So I made one and used it for the first time at a meeting today (found it a bit fiddly). I keep it with my phone which I am already in the habit of taking with me. I'll try the HPDA for a while - however the sheer simplicity of the 5x3 card method is also appealing...
Thanks for the pointers.
S
sonia_simone
Guest
One great thing for me about GTD is that I don't care what the capture method is (back of cocktail napkin is fine), as I can just throw it in my In Box and it will get processed & acted on. I bought a wallet that holds 3x5 cards, and that is handy, but around the office I often just scribble on scratch paper and drop it in.
C
CosmoGTD
Guest
I use post-it notes in my wallet, about 10-20 of them fit perfectly. I buy stacks of them at the dollar store.
For a pen, I buy those little half-pens they sell, and I take the refill OUT of the pen, and I put this tiny refill in my wallet beside the post-it. Its about the size of 2 toothpics, so I don't know its even there. Its never leaked, and I have had no problems at all.
I buy this type of stuff at the dollar store, so it literally costs pennies.
I use this all the time. People need to make a note, I will lend them a post-it.
For my notes, I write them in, and then put them in my Inbox when I get home. I have used this hundreds of times. I am out with someone, and they say something, and I write it down, and they are always surprised to get an email about it.
The UCT is a great idea, and this is the one I always have with me, and its very discrete, and doesn't cost $189.00, it costs about 5 cents.
Its failsafe, and flawless.
Its even better than a Palm for random stuff out in the field.
For a pen, I buy those little half-pens they sell, and I take the refill OUT of the pen, and I put this tiny refill in my wallet beside the post-it. Its about the size of 2 toothpics, so I don't know its even there. Its never leaked, and I have had no problems at all.
I buy this type of stuff at the dollar store, so it literally costs pennies.
I use this all the time. People need to make a note, I will lend them a post-it.
For my notes, I write them in, and then put them in my Inbox when I get home. I have used this hundreds of times. I am out with someone, and they say something, and I write it down, and they are always surprised to get an email about it.
The UCT is a great idea, and this is the one I always have with me, and its very discrete, and doesn't cost $189.00, it costs about 5 cents.
Its failsafe, and flawless.
Its even better than a Palm for random stuff out in the field.
The Post-It UCT
CosmoGTD, great Post-It post. I love the idea of implementing GTD without expensive "must-have" accessories that aren't really necessary.
I too have carried Post-It notes around from time to time, but I get stuck on a silly basic problem: what to do with a note I have written on? Where do I stick it? In another part of my wallet, where it will get mixed up with credit cards and $bills? In my pocket, where it will get wadded up in the laundry and become illegible? What do you do?
CosmoGTD, great Post-It post. I love the idea of implementing GTD without expensive "must-have" accessories that aren't really necessary.
I too have carried Post-It notes around from time to time, but I get stuck on a silly basic problem: what to do with a note I have written on? Where do I stick it? In another part of my wallet, where it will get mixed up with credit cards and $bills? In my pocket, where it will get wadded up in the laundry and become illegible? What do you do?
C
CosmoGTD
Guest
My post-its are also 3"x3".
They fit perfectly in the type of wallet that I have, which is a type of vertical wallet, but still fits in my back pocket.
I just leave the post-its right where they are. I have tucked them into the bottom credit-card slot on the left side. I put a couple of post-its into the slot, and leave about 10-15 of them on the outside of the slot, so its just a little note-pad. Once the top page is full, I write behind it by lifting the page up. I just leave them all there.
As a matter of fact, I usually leave the top one blank, and write on the ones underneath it, as when I open my wallet I don't want strangers looking at my notes to myself!
On the rare occasion I get too many notes, I put the finished ones right with my money, and then they go into the Inbox.
I also put all my receipts into the back billfold of my wallet, and these get emptied often as well.
I would never put the notes in my pocket, or wherever. They stay right where they are, like a little note-pad. And when its full, I throw the entire post-it notepad into the Inbox, and grab another 15 post-it sheets in a little pad.
I often will write more than one note on one post-it, like a little list. (I know, I break all the GTD rules, shame on me!)
If I were really anal I would take a photo of it, and upload it!
It is very cool though.
I tried about 9 pens, and they all did not work. They were too bulky, and one wrecked my wallet by tearing it up.
Now that I use this tiny half-size refill as a pen, I have no problems.
And its not a pen that costs $36.00 with refills that only can be bought on Neptune.
I can buy these things 5 for a buck anywhere.
Its sounds stupid, but its nice to know I am literally never without a pen and paper.
I even take my wallet into the shower with me, and when I go swimming.
They fit perfectly in the type of wallet that I have, which is a type of vertical wallet, but still fits in my back pocket.
I just leave the post-its right where they are. I have tucked them into the bottom credit-card slot on the left side. I put a couple of post-its into the slot, and leave about 10-15 of them on the outside of the slot, so its just a little note-pad. Once the top page is full, I write behind it by lifting the page up. I just leave them all there.
As a matter of fact, I usually leave the top one blank, and write on the ones underneath it, as when I open my wallet I don't want strangers looking at my notes to myself!
On the rare occasion I get too many notes, I put the finished ones right with my money, and then they go into the Inbox.
I also put all my receipts into the back billfold of my wallet, and these get emptied often as well.
I would never put the notes in my pocket, or wherever. They stay right where they are, like a little note-pad. And when its full, I throw the entire post-it notepad into the Inbox, and grab another 15 post-it sheets in a little pad.
I often will write more than one note on one post-it, like a little list. (I know, I break all the GTD rules, shame on me!)
If I were really anal I would take a photo of it, and upload it!
It is very cool though.
I tried about 9 pens, and they all did not work. They were too bulky, and one wrecked my wallet by tearing it up.
Now that I use this tiny half-size refill as a pen, I have no problems.
And its not a pen that costs $36.00 with refills that only can be bought on Neptune.
I can buy these things 5 for a buck anywhere.
Its sounds stupid, but its nice to know I am literally never without a pen and paper.
I even take my wallet into the shower with me, and when I go swimming.
A
Arjuna
Guest
Things are coming along nicely - thanks for all the suggestions and pointers above. (the post-its in the wallet is the current UCT)
I have a new dilemma - I work form home and am finding it difficult to get my head round the contexts for the NA's.
When I'm sitting at my desk, I'm @home, @computer, @calls (as well as contributing to @agendas)
This means that for me there is no practical difference between these 3 main contexts - effectively making them all the same.
Do I just keep them and fire through the calls (say) when I'm in 'phone mode' making a firm distinction between 'home' and 'work' - only doing the home stuff when I'm not working on my business?
Do I refine them further (@email, @learning, @research...)?
Any suggestions?
I have a new dilemma - I work form home and am finding it difficult to get my head round the contexts for the NA's.
When I'm sitting at my desk, I'm @home, @computer, @calls (as well as contributing to @agendas)
This means that for me there is no practical difference between these 3 main contexts - effectively making them all the same.
Do I just keep them and fire through the calls (say) when I'm in 'phone mode' making a firm distinction between 'home' and 'work' - only doing the home stuff when I'm not working on my business?
Do I refine them further (@email, @learning, @research...)?
Any suggestions?
I also work at home, and have kept most of the contexts. For me, contexts define how much concentration I need, as well as the physical resources needed. For example, I can often blast through a long list of phone calls in 30-60 minutes or so, but I need at least an hour to do any serious reading or writing.
My advice would be to play with it and see what works for you.
Katherine
My advice would be to play with it and see what works for you.
Katherine
C
CosmoGTD
Guest
The contexts work well out of a home office or studio.
In a sense, you create the context, and put yourself into a @call mode, or whatever.
By the way, I was joking about taking my wallet into the shower, in my post above!
In a sense, you create the context, and put yourself into a @call mode, or whatever.
By the way, I was joking about taking my wallet into the shower, in my post above!
K
kenzi
Guest
It's funny reading all your solutions to noting stuff down. Growing up my dad always had his little spiral bound notebook in his shirt pocket and we would kid him about it. We used to all get these spiral bound notebooks for gifts, and roll our eyes. I didn't know that my dad was onto the original hispster PDA. I should call him and tell him how cool he has become! I guess it worked for him because he managed to make a pretty good living on a low salary, send us to college, start a non-profit environmental group etc. etc. and he's still filling those notebooks. I should turn him onto GTD so that he has something to do with all that info in the notebooks.