Tips for getting started?
- Thread starter leebo
- Start date
Barb
0
One idea
The David Allen Co. has an Implementation Guide that is super helpful, I think. It will take you step-by-step through exactly what you need to do. No other resource does it quite like this and it's very inexpensive.
If your budget allows, consider purchasing the "GTD Live" cds. It's a recorded version of a live seminar.
Like you, I implemented GTD from just the book soon after it first came out. I bought a CD set similar to GTD Live and THAT is when it really clicked for me.
Best of luck!
The David Allen Co. has an Implementation Guide that is super helpful, I think. It will take you step-by-step through exactly what you need to do. No other resource does it quite like this and it's very inexpensive.
If your budget allows, consider purchasing the "GTD Live" cds. It's a recorded version of a live seminar.
Like you, I implemented GTD from just the book soon after it first came out. I bought a CD set similar to GTD Live and THAT is when it really clicked for me.
Best of luck!
Here's how I got started, pretty much: I got a (paper) notebook for GTD and started carrying it around with me everywhere. It can have, for example, one page for "next actions -- at home", other pages for actions in other contexts, maybe some pages for particular projects, etc. Also a calendar to carry around with you.
Whenever you happen to think of something you need to do, you can either write
it immediately on the appropriate "next actions" page, or else write it on a
general-purpose "capturing" page, to be processed later. You can keep "capturing"
pages in a few places, such as beside your bed.
You can schedule a "weekly planning" on your calendar, and when that time comes,
then collect all your "capturing" pages and process them; make a simple list of
projects (what do you want to get done in the next week or so?), and maybe some
lists of actions towards some of the projects.
I got into GTD gradually. Over a number of weeks, my GTD notebook gradually
contained larger proportions of all my planning stuff. I continued whatever systems
I was using before unless or until I didn't need them any more. Some of my
previous systems, such as a calendar I carry in my pocket, became part of my
GTD system.
I used little bits of time here and there, such as while riding a bus, to write things
in my GTD notebook.
If you try to make it too big, all-encompassing and perfect, you might never start.
You can start small, as I did. David Allen suggests taking a whole weekend and
re-organizing all your stuff. That may work better for people hiring him as a
consultant but may not be necessary for people working from his book.
Whenever you happen to think of something you need to do, you can either write
it immediately on the appropriate "next actions" page, or else write it on a
general-purpose "capturing" page, to be processed later. You can keep "capturing"
pages in a few places, such as beside your bed.
You can schedule a "weekly planning" on your calendar, and when that time comes,
then collect all your "capturing" pages and process them; make a simple list of
projects (what do you want to get done in the next week or so?), and maybe some
lists of actions towards some of the projects.
I got into GTD gradually. Over a number of weeks, my GTD notebook gradually
contained larger proportions of all my planning stuff. I continued whatever systems
I was using before unless or until I didn't need them any more. Some of my
previous systems, such as a calendar I carry in my pocket, became part of my
GTD system.
I used little bits of time here and there, such as while riding a bus, to write things
in my GTD notebook.
If you try to make it too big, all-encompassing and perfect, you might never start.
You can start small, as I did. David Allen suggests taking a whole weekend and
re-organizing all your stuff. That may work better for people hiring him as a
consultant but may not be necessary for people working from his book.
To start, I suggest getting things out of your head. Even if you don't have the perfect system (no one does!), just get things onto a list so your mind can relax. Here's a 2-minute podcast that may inspire you.
http://www.davidco.com/audio/DavidAllen-GettingStarted.mp3
http://www.davidco.com/audio/DavidAllen-GettingStarted.mp3
A slightly different medium for sweeping your mind
For me - when i do a mindsweep - I sit at a desk with a sheet of A3 paper rather than small individual pieces of paper. not entirely sure why I prefer this (I did try doing the individual paper route) - I suppose the main reason is that it seems like a huge waste of paper!
Having said that - I do like to make sure I fill in the A3 sheet, so it does push me to think deeper and wider about what's on my mind - if I can hit a full side of A3 (in little boxes or bubbles) then i consider it to be a successful mindsweep.
Of course - I then look at it and think "I'm never going to have time for all of this"...
I did one before Christmas, and one of my colleagues chuckled at the amount I had put down - before admitting she probably could fill in 2 sheets with everything she had going on.
Go with what works for you - but I can definitely plug the therapeutic effect of a mindsweep!
Oogiem;105072 said:
For me - when i do a mindsweep - I sit at a desk with a sheet of A3 paper rather than small individual pieces of paper. not entirely sure why I prefer this (I did try doing the individual paper route) - I suppose the main reason is that it seems like a huge waste of paper!
Having said that - I do like to make sure I fill in the A3 sheet, so it does push me to think deeper and wider about what's on my mind - if I can hit a full side of A3 (in little boxes or bubbles) then i consider it to be a successful mindsweep.
Of course - I then look at it and think "I'm never going to have time for all of this"...
I did one before Christmas, and one of my colleagues chuckled at the amount I had put down - before admitting she probably could fill in 2 sheets with everything she had going on.
Go with what works for you - but I can definitely plug the therapeutic effect of a mindsweep!
Oogiem
0
I suggest individual sheets of scrap paper because it's easier to organize them later. YOu can just stack them into their categories. That ability to easily categorize and organize the thoughts is critical to not feeling overwhelmed. It's a lot easier to say I have a one inch stack of stuff I have to do already this 3 inch stack must go into someday/maybe.
To avoid wasting paper you can use smaller sheets if you can write cleanly
I've actually done a mind sweep and used up an entire pad of the David Co.'s notetaker wallet paper.
To avoid wasting paper you can use smaller sheets if you can write cleanly
I've actually done a mind sweep and used up an entire pad of the David Co.'s notetaker wallet paper.
leebo;105058 said:
One tip I would offer is; if possible find a co-worker, friend, partner, who is also interested in, or into, GTD to connect with. I have found it beneficial to have someone to chat with occasionally as I tweak my system.
Having this board and all the talented people sharing is also a great resource.
Start with One Thing
Something you could try as an experiment - start with just one outcome you'd like to mark off as "done".
Start with a single sheet of paper and dump every idea, phrase, thought, etc. about this one single thing out of your mind and onto this page. Go for wild success of "complete". Do you have all the data required to move forward? Do you have all the questions or concerns noted? Make the big list on this single thing.
This page is now your Action Support.
Next, take a second page write the successful outcome of this one thing and label the page "Projects". When can you really mark this thing off as "done"?
Then, take a third page and write one (ONE) next physical, visible action to move the thing forward on a third page called "Next Actions" or use the name of a context - e.g. "Computer". Make sure it's the very next thing even if it's, "Open Google re: Project XYZ, search the web for ideas ..."
In my mind those three pieces of paper now constitute a GTD system.
The rest is adding item #2, #3, etc. Add a Someday/Maybe, Calendar, Reference files and a labeler as you go.
Something you could try as an experiment - start with just one outcome you'd like to mark off as "done".
Start with a single sheet of paper and dump every idea, phrase, thought, etc. about this one single thing out of your mind and onto this page. Go for wild success of "complete". Do you have all the data required to move forward? Do you have all the questions or concerns noted? Make the big list on this single thing.
This page is now your Action Support.
Next, take a second page write the successful outcome of this one thing and label the page "Projects". When can you really mark this thing off as "done"?
Then, take a third page and write one (ONE) next physical, visible action to move the thing forward on a third page called "Next Actions" or use the name of a context - e.g. "Computer". Make sure it's the very next thing even if it's, "Open Google re: Project XYZ, search the web for ideas ..."
In my mind those three pieces of paper now constitute a GTD system.
The rest is adding item #2, #3, etc. Add a Someday/Maybe, Calendar, Reference files and a labeler as you go.
