GTD Newbie

[MRomanow]

So here is my abbreviatyed story:

My life was out of control and I didn't know where to turn. I read the GTD book in spurts (I have not read it from beginning to end but I got what I thought was the basics). I started working on getting things simplified for me and it is beginning to work (for the most part).

Here is my dilemma. I work on numerous projects. I keep the information in various folders that I keep in my pendafile folders drawer. The folders are @Waiting, @Next Action, @Projects. Very simple. But my @Waiting file is getting huge and I feel like I have to go through each of them every single day. So I feel like I am getting somethings under control but I am overwhelmed by my pile of work.

Any suggestions? Should I start over and read the GTD book from beginning to end? Is the GTD add-in for Outlook worh it (I used the demo and it didn't seem worth the $$). What about managing my notes and emails related to projects? I would appreciate any advice from someone else that struggled in the beginning but got things under control. Thx!

 

[Brent]

Welcome to the forum!

First off, it's perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed when you start using GTD. Any new system will feel strange at different points.

How long is it taking you to get through your @Waiting list? Is there any way you can consolidate items so you can review it more quickly?

Have you tried keeping @Waiting, @Next Action, and @Project as paper or digital lists, not hanging file folders?

 

[kewms]

What is in the @waiting file? If a report that isn't due for a month is in with a phone call that you're expecting tomorrow, no wonder you're overwhelmed! Especially for longer term items, you might find a tickler file helpful instead.

Katherine

 

[mcogilvie]

So here is my abbreviatyed story:
Here is my dilemma. I work on numerous projects. I keep the information in various folders that I keep in my pendafile folders drawer. The folders are @Waiting, @Next Action, @Projects. Very simple. But my @Waiting file is getting huge and I feel like I have to go through each of them every single day. So I feel like I am getting somethings under control but I am overwhelmed by my pile of work.

Any suggestions? Should I start over and read the GTD book from beginning to end? Is the GTD add-in for Outlook worh it (I used the demo and it didn't seem worth the $$). What about managing my notes and emails related to projects? I would appreciate any advice from someone else that struggled in the beginning but got things under control. Thx!

Only a few people find that using folders for contexts is a good permanent system. Most people use some form of paper planner, a computer program, a pda, or some combination of these. If you have Outlook and are comfortable with it, I would start using it. The $10 white paper (actually a pdf) on setting up Outlook is very clear and practical. If you have a large volume of items where you are waiting on someone else (NOT waiting for you to do them!), then you probably want to use a computer to manage next actions.

As for notes, emails, and other project-related information, there are many options. How do you do your work? How much volume do you have? Is it primarily paper or digital? Are you retaining too much data? Too little? Are you filing easily? Are you more mobile or more deskbound? Are you a technophile or technophobe? Does company policy put constraints on your use of technology?

 

[Diane]

Yes!

Yes, you need to read the whole book. It will make a lot of the things you are struggling with, more clear.