question for those using paper

nunodonato

nunodonato

0
Hi everyone,

A quick question for those of you who use moleskines or other similar paper notebook "devices" to manage (part of) your gtd system:
How do you collect stuff and then clear it from the "device"?

Do you leave some blank sheets in the beginning to be used as inbox?
If yes, what do you do after the sheets get full? Do you tear them apart or keep writing in the next ones? If not, doesnt it look full and more confusing after some time with so many notes jotted down?

Thanks!
 
paper

Hi

My partner uses a paper system - she uses a loose leaf system (filofax) so that she can add and remove pages. It also means that she can pull out old pages and ditch them without ruining the binding or making the thing messy. She keeps a few pages at the beginning to grab information thru the day, replenishes them as and when.

Moleskines are incredibly cool, but im not sure they would be flexible enough to use as a GTD system, or at least not the way I work, which is also a little messy.
 
My "Super PDA"

nunodonato;78885 said:
Hi everyone,

A quick question for those of you who use moleskines or other similar paper notebook "devices" to manage (part of) your gtd system:
How do you collect stuff and then clear it from the "device"?

Do you leave some blank sheets in the beginning to be used as inbox?
If yes, what do you do after the sheets get full? Do you tear them apart or keep writing in the next ones? If not, doesnt it look full and more confusing after some time with so many notes jotted down?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

The pictures attached are self explanatory, and still: I do not use a moleskine, I think it is a waste to tear off the pages of a beautifully made piece. Instead, I took a cardboard, cut it to measure according the cards I use, folded it and wrapped it. The inside is divided into the sections I need: INBOX, NEXT ACTIONS, HABITS, CONTACTS, REFERENCES and CLEAN (clean cards).

By using cards, the questions you ask are already solved.

The cards are approx 12x8.5 cms (4.7x3.4 inches), the PDA goes easily in a pocket.

Attached files
 
I like your Super PDA!

Marcelo;78891 said:
The pictures attached are self explanatory, and still: I do not use a moleskine, I think it is a waste to tear off the pages of a beautifully made piece. Instead, I took a cardboard, cut it to measure according the cards I use, folded it and wrapped it. The inside is divided into the sections I need: INBOX, NEXT ACTIONS, HABITS, CONTACTS, REFERENCES and CLEAN (clean cards).

By using cards, the questions you ask are already solved.

The cards are approx 12x8.5 cms (4.7x3.4 inches), the PDA goes easily in a pocket.
Click to expand...

I like your Super PDA, because I like simple solutions focused on the real goal (the GTD implementation).
 
nunodonato;78885 said:
Hi everyone,

A quick question for those of you who use moleskines or other similar paper notebook "devices" to manage (part of) your gtd system:
How do you collect stuff and then clear it from the "device"?

Do you leave some blank sheets in the beginning to be used as inbox?
If yes, what do you do after the sheets get full? Do you tear them apart or keep writing in the next ones? If not, doesnt it look full and more confusing after some time with so many notes jotted down?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I currently use a large Moleskine notebook, but I've never divided it by sections as many others do. I don't like the possibility of not allocating enough or too many pages in a section. Instead, I start at the front and work toward the back chronologically. With the exception of my calendar, tickler, and reference files, the notebook is my entire system.

I take notes on the next available blank space in the book. If I switch topics in the middle of a page, I will draw a horizontal line before starting a new topic. After I've processed a page, I'll give it a page number. If it's information I'll want to refer to later, I make a note of the topic and page in the back of the book as an index. I know that the pages without numbers still need to be processed.

I don't "clear" or purge" my notes, as I've found that the 3% of the time I actually need something I would have otherwise tossed is well worth hanging onto it. It might not be indexed in the back, but I have the record nonetheless.
 
My NA lists are in the notebook. Actions get their own page, and once I've filled a page, I continue the lists on the next blank page in the book. To help me find things, pages with incomplete actions are marked with a green post-it flag.

The result is that my actions are spread among several pages of the book, but I know that an action page contains actions only, not reference or unprocessed info. The benefit of keeping the list pages in chronological order with everything else in the book, however, allows me to see which actions are stale, what was going on when I decided add an action to the list, and how my projects have changed since that time.

However, with the introduction of the 18-month Moleskine planners (week on one side, notes on the other), I'm considering moving my system to one of these. Actions would go on the page facing the calendar, date-sensitive info would go on the calendar itself, and projects/someday lists would go on the 12 or so pages in the rear. I'd need to carry a separate notebook for my inbox and reference, but there might be a benefit to keeping my actions and calendar together.
 
I use the David Allen tri-folder note taker wallet - just tear off the page and throw it in your in-basket. I also use junior legal pads. I suggest you listen to the Collection Tool podcast from the David Allen Company.
 
My System

I use a Time/System loose leaf notebook (A5 Business) to organize my action lists.

I collect on a lot of different paper based mediums though - plain printer paper, Time/System lined paper in the Databank section labeled "Notes & IN" and a David Allen Co. Notetaker wallet.

Once captured the pages go into a physical IN tray or in the case of Time/System the Databank.

As I process, clarify then organize into Time/System (onto Activities Checklists by context) the original page often is just crossed off and tossed.

In some cases I'll capture an idea on a single page if I sense it's going to be its own project or something I need to define better (e.g. define the successful outcome or answer "what is it?").

Works for me!

Mark

Time/System: http://www.timesystem.us/
 
Paper and capture

I capture on something outside of my planner (which is a 5x8 Moleskine).

The Moleskine does not have provisions for Capture. I Capture into my UCT, which are 3x5 cards in a small leather Note Jotter-type case. I have used other capture tools, but none has worked as well.

This allows my planner to only contain the results of my thinking, not the raw data. Raw data is for my Inbox.

JohnV474
 
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