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Title: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO+THREE ASSIGNMENT
Post by: mouser on September 06, 2006, 12:19 AM

GOE: THE GREAT DONATIONCODER.COM 2006
GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT
- WEEK II + III -


DAVID ALLEN'S "GETTING THINGS DONE" (GTD)


The deadline for this assignment is September 23.

1. Introduction to the Getting Organized Experiment (GOE)
In the First Week (https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=5034.0) of the Getting Organized Experiment we started you off very gently with a basic overview of our plan for the three month experiment, and a simple assignment to secure some basic supplies and arrange a dedicated work area in your home free from distraction.

If you will recall, the objective of this three month project is to take a whirlwind tour of various Time Management systems and techniques, and find out which techniques work best for each of us.  We start with the belief that there is no one single best system that for all people - but rather that different people respond best to different strategies.

It is your job, should you choose to participate in this experiment, to ensure that at the end of the 3 month period, you have formulated a system of habits and techniques that works for you, and transforms you into a more relaxed and more efficient person.

By the end of this experiment, you *will* have a working system in place, either by adopting one of the existing frameworks completely, or by creating your own hybrid set of strategies based on what you learn from existing systems.  That is the commitment we want you to make to yourself.  There is no room for excuses about "this system is a gimmick and it didn't work for me!" - because if it doesn't work it's YOUR responsibility to invent a system that does.

By sharing our ideas and experiences, we hope to be able to learn from each other and come up with some novel principles of our own.  But remember that your success in this experiment probably has less to do with the particulars of any system than it does with your willingness to commit to the discipline of following some regiment of planning and working.


2. Week Two Assignment: Learn the Getting Things Done (GTD) System
David Allen's Book "Getting Things Done, The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Things-Done-Stress-Free-Productivity/dp/0142000280)" (2001), has developed something of a cult status among time management and efficiency fanatics.

Your assignment for Week Two of the experiment is as follows:

• Learn the Getting Things Done (GTD) System.
• Experiment with GTD.
• Decide which aspects of it seem useful to you.
• Think about which aspects of GTD do not suit you well.
• Think about what's missing from GTD that you still need.

---

3. A Short Course on GTD
There are plenty of good sites on the web devoted to GTD that you can learn from without reading the original GTD book, or David Allen's follow-up book "Ready for Anything" (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0670032506), so I'm not going to attempt to present a comprehensive explanation of the every nuance of the system.

However, I will try to discuss what I personally think are the most significant and unique ideas that make up the core of the GTD philosophy.

From my view, there are really only two major concepts at the heart of GTD:

• 1. The critical importance of getting things out of your mind and organized externally.
• 2. Formulating concrete "actionable" next steps for each task as early as possible.

So let's take a look at these two concepts in more depth:

a) The critical importance of getting things out of your mind and organized externally.
This is the idea that to me has the strongest intuitive appeal. Our brains are never fully at rest - they are constantly churning through the unfinished tasks that pre-occupy our minds.  Many of us walk around in a kind of anarchistic state with a hundred different ideas and obligations vying for contention.  This is essentially wasted mental effort - it's energy spent by your subconscious trying to interrupt you and remind you not to forget about one responsibility or another.

The solution to eliminating the stress and distraction of this background subsconscious effort is to have a system for moving these tasks out of your mind and into some external storage medium.  While this may seem like common sense, one novel consequence of this interpretation of the problem is the critical importance of having an external system which is absolutely complete, up-to-date, and frequently reviewed.

This is such an important insight that it bears repeating.  Many of us keep track of project ideas and todo lists in some notebook or notetaking program, but do we regularly review these lists?  If not, then the exercise is fruitless because your subconscious will not be able to let go of "managing" these ideas and trying to remember them and remind you of them.

Only by having a formal mechanism for offloading tasks and ideas and getting into the habit of regularly reviewing these notes (on a weekly basis for example), will you be able to relax and trust in the knowledge that you no longer have to "remember" what you have to do, because you know that it's written down somewhere where and doesn't have to be kept in mind in your subconsciousness.  The idea is to keep your mind nimble and non-preoccupied with anything but the current task you are working on, confident that there is nothing you are forgetting or could forget.

b) Formulating concrete "actionable" next steps for each task as early as possible.
While I am completely sold on the first principle of GTD, I find the second principle a bit less compelling, though I acknowledge its usefullness.  The idea of the second principle is that we can become much more efficient if we simply try to figure out the next concrete action that can be applied to any task, as early as possible, and as explicitly as possible.

In practice, this means that whenever you process an incoming new item, or update the description of a task or project for your external file/list, you want to be asking yourself: "What is the next *action* I can take to advance this project/task".  You would apply this to everything that passes through your hands, and use the answer to that question to guide how you respond to new tasks and how you file these tasks in your organizational system.

In answering that question, David Allen also recommends a "2 minute rule" - when you encounter a new item (for example you receive an email), you immediately ask yourself "what is the next action i need to perform to process this item?".  If the action can be performed in under 2 minutes (delete the email, send a rapid response, etc.), then do it right away.  Otherwise, file it away for later processing in a way that will guarantee you come back to it and review it in a reasonable period of time.  GTD says you should move that email OUT of your inbox, where it has not been categorized and marked with a next action, into some special folder related to the action to be performed with it.  For example you might create a secial folder for all email that requires you to perform some common action (like reply with a price quote).

By always focusing on identifying actionable steps associated with a process, the idea is that you transform an amorphous task which would require concentration and effort to work on, into something that is immediately available for processing when the opportunity arises to do some action.  For example, rather than simply making a note that you need to "plan your vacation", you would attempt to identify some concrete actions you could take on that project, like "pick up travel brochures at the corner travel agent."  By taking the time to identify that actionable step, you can now do work on this item almost subconsciously the next time you head out to the corner shop (one trick Allen advocates is organizing actionable lists by task or locale, to make it easier to find tasks that are actionable in any given context).

My only problem with this second principle is that it seems to me that so many of the tasks and projects I work on are not easily amenable to identifying a simple "next actionable step", and involve much more complicated multi-dimensional problem solving simply to discover reasonable paths of subsequent work.  There is a real risk of taking counterproductive steps if one is always insisting on taking concrete steps before one knows which direction you want to travel in.


4. Organizing Your Stuff in GTD
There are some specifics of GTD that may be more or less appropriate to different people, depending on the nature of your work.  In general, GTD is very big on the idea of using manilla file folders and full sizes sheets of paper to store each idea/task on a separate page.  GTD suggests the use of a "tickler" container which contains 43 separate folders designed to hold information arranged by date (think of it like a calendar in folder form where you can store multiple pages inside each day and month box).  One of the more popular time management websites (www.43folders.com) got its name from this idea.  Personally I find the idea of a tickler container of questionable value, but it may be useful to those who have a high number of time-sensitive deadlined tasks.  It does seem to me like a very high maintenance thing for casual use.

GTD recommends keeping separate folders for Projects, and for collecting items that you don't plan on working on immediately but want to review later.  While GTD advocates for the use of full sheets of paper, I have personally found that using 3x5" index cards is much more practical.  They are easier to organize, manipulate, rearrange, and store.

Remember that the process of Regular Reviews, where you go back over all of your projects, your action lists, your calendar, etc., is absolutely critical to the success of the system.  If you fail to perform regular reviews or failt to keep your records complete and up-to-date with EVERY task, deadline, and project, then the entire system breaks down because your subconscious will insist on resuming the role of nagging distractor, trying to juggle in memory all the items that might be missing, and interrupting your productivity at inopportune times in an attempt to ensure that these non-documented items are not "forgotten."


5. The GTD Processing Diagram
The diagram below (from www.diyplanner.com) shows an outline of the basic GTD processing cycle.  New items/tasks are always immediately classified as actionable or not (garbage or reference material).  If they are actionable, you ask if it can be done in less than 2 minutes and do it immediately if so.  If it can't be done in two minutes you file it away for later review, either in a Project file for multistep projects, or in a Calendar if it has a specific deadline, or in a file for tasks that should be done when opportunity arises.  Additional lists (folders) can be used to keep track of items which have been delegated to someone, and thus the action now consists of Waiting for someone else to do something.  Depending on the size of your lists you may want to break them down into subfolders for better organization.

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6. How is GTD Different Than Other Techniques?
There are a few aspects of GTD that are unusual and somewhat controversial:

• GTD eschews the notion of detailed prioritizing - the approach is much more one of opportunism.  It emphasizes having actionable next steps for all items, and being agile enough to operate on any task when the opportunity arises. This is also one of the weaknesses of GTD, in that it provides very little guidance on choosing WHAT to work on and WHEN, mostly leaving it up to you to choose intuitively [Allen suggests a few different loose guidelines to choosing what actions to work on and when, but this is one of the areas that other time management systems, which we will be visiting in upcoming weeks, place much more emphasis on].
• GTD eschews the notion of daily todo lists - Allen argues that they just don't work well.  The basic argument is that they become messy half completed catch-all collections without proper context, which are impossible to maintain.  Instead he advocates for the use of action lists and calendars.  The calendar is to be treated as a sacred resource for hard deadlines, while action lists contain items that can be immediately acted upon as single-step operations, not tied to a specific day or time, and which can survive prolonged periods as independent items (one item per sheet of paper usually).

7. Learn More About GTD
I've only presented a brief outline of what I think are the most important core elements of GTD.  You still need to read more in order to understand the details and figure out how well it will suit your needs.  Below you will find some of the best GTD resources on the web.  Go explore and think about what aspects of GTD you want to adopt in your quest for the perfect time management system..

• Getting Things Done at Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getting_Things_Done) (start here)
• Official Forums for Getting Things Done (http://www.davidco.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=5)
• 28 Resources on The best GTD resources - Listible! (http://www.listible.com/list/the-best-gtd-resources)
• Recap the Best of Getting Things Done at 43 Folders (http://www.43folders.com/2006/03/21/gtd-2/)
• Amazon.com - Getting Things Done Book (http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Things-Done-Stress-Free-Productivity/dp/0142000280)
• Amazon.com - Ready for Anything Book (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0670032506/ref=olp_product_details/104-5841295-4933568?ie=UTF8)
• Client GTDTiddlyWiki (http://shared.snapgrid.com/index.html)
• Digital Digressions A Procrastinator's Guide to Getting Things Done (http://www.digitaldigressions.net/blog/2006/08/a_procrastinato.html)
• foldedspace.org Getting Things Done (http://www.foldedspace.org/weblog/2005/05/getting_things_done.html)
• GameDevBlog Getting Things Done (http://www.gamedevblog.com/2005/08/ninja_productiv.html)
• Getting started with GTD on Squidoo (http://www.squidoo.com/getstartedwithgtd/)
• Getting Things Done - 43FoldersWiki (http://wiki.43folders.com/index.php/Getting_Things_Done)
• Getting Things Done - emersq (http://faithmaps.blogspot.com/2006/08/getting-things-done.html)
• Getting Things Done A Guide To Next-Action Lists (http://ezinearticles.com/?Getting-Things-Done:-A-Guide-To-Next-Action-Lists&id=50828)
• Getting Things Done by David Allen (Phil Gyford Writing) (http://www.gyford.com/phil/writing/2005/01/03/getting_things_d.php)
• Getting Things Done Information From Answers.com (http://www.answers.com/topic/getting-things-done)
• Getting Things Done Zone on OfficeZealot.com (http://www.officezealot.com/gtd/)
• Getting Things Done - Pavlina Blog (http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/category/getting-things-done/)
• Getting Things Done - Yahoo Group (http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/Getting_Things_Done/)
• Google Groups GTD Tips & Techniques (http://groups.google.com/group/GTD-Tips--Techniques)
• GTD at eafarris.com (http://www.eafarris.com/one_inch_frames/organization/gtd)
• Documenting my GTD System part 2 The Weekly Review at efarris (http://www.eafarris.com/documenting_my_gtd_system_part_2_the_weekly_review)
• GTDTiddlyWiki - your simple client side wiki (http://shared.snapgrid.com/index.html)
• jeffsandquist on GTD (http://wiki.jeffsandquist.com/default.aspx/GTD/HomePage.html)
• InnovationTools Book Review Getting Things Done by David Allen (http://www.innovationtools.com/Articles/BookReviewDetails.asp?a=34)
• coloradocollege Getting Things Done (http://www.coloradocollege.edu/LIBRARY/Instruction/gtd.html)
• Matt's Idea Blog What are the essential habits of GTD (http://ideamatt.blogspot.com/2006/07/what-are-essential-habits-of-gtd.html)
• MineZone Wiki  MVance - GettingThingsDone (http://www.minezone.org/wiki/MVance/GettingThingsDone)
• Notes From Re-Reading Getting Things Done After 18 Months #1 (http://tesugen.com/archives/06/08/rereading-getting-things-done-1)
• Notes From Re-Reading Getting Things Done After 18 Months #2 (http://tesugen.com/archives/06/08/rereading-getting-things-done-2)
• Ready4Anything  ReadyForAnything (http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/Ready4Anything/)
• Sylvia's Getting Things Done (GTD) Resource List (http://smerino.bol.ucla.edu/gtd/gtd-resources.html)
• What IS Getting Things Done - What's the next action (http://www.punkey.com/pivot/entry.php?id=1578&w=whats_the_next_action)
• Wired News A Guide to Getting Things Done (http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,68110-0.html)
• Wired News GTD A New Cult for the Info Age (http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,68103,00.html)
• Downloadsquad GTD Software Part 1 (http://www.downloadsquad.com/2006/08/14/getting-things-done-software-systems-part-1-of-2/)
• Downloadsquad GTD Software Part 2 (http://www.downloadsquad.com/2006/08/15/getting-things-done-software-systems-part-2-of-2/)
• DIYPlanner.com (http://www.diyplanner.com)
• The Anxiety of Getting Things Done (http://www.triptronix.net/ishbadiddle/archives/2005/06/19/01.53.20/)
• Yahoo TimeToUsers Group (http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/TimeToUsers/messages/1?viscount=100)
• LifeClever.com (http://www.lifeclever.com/2006/09/18/donationcoder-an-exclusive-interview-with-david-allen/)

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: mouser on September 06, 2006, 04:23 AM

ok here ya go.. hope you didn't think things were going to stay at a snail's pace.. (https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/esmileys/gen0/Medium/SMARTASS.GIF)

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: jgpaiva on September 06, 2006, 05:03 AM

Ok, now i understand what gtd really is.
I got even more interested :D
Thank you so much for your time in making this, mouser!
It's a fantastic post and gives quite a good idea of what gtd experiment 2006 will be.
Looks like it's time to send you some credits ;)
 :Thmbsup: :Thmbsup:

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: mouser on September 06, 2006, 05:04 AM

Make sure you visit the wikipedia page also and some of the other pages to get a more well-rounded view from others about what *they* think are the key ideas of GTD, as they might not always agree with me.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: mouser on September 06, 2006, 05:46 AM

My very low-fi desktop organizational system:
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

just two 3x5" boxes with index cards; on the left are blank ones, on the right are items sorted according to when i expect to have them done (current day or two, within the week, within the month, longer term), or according to a few categories (software updates).

i just love how fast i can write down an idea or new todo task and drop it in the box of pending tasks, and how easy it is for me to scan through the items, sort them according to priority, move them around, etc.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: nudone on September 06, 2006, 05:48 AM

looks good. very simple. that's what counts.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: Perry Mowbray on September 06, 2006, 06:07 AM

Are the colours (on the cards) colour coding?

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: mouser on September 06, 2006, 06:16 AM

the colors are meant to be coding different things but since i have different sections it's sort of redundant and non-systematic at this time - perhaps i will find a system for the colors eventually.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: mouser on September 06, 2006, 06:18 AM

in case it's not clear - please do feel free to chime in with any disagreements you might have with my depiction of GTD, and discuss what you think are pros and cons, or add stuff I missed, or correct me where i got things wrong.  this is meant to be a community effort where we can debate these things.

also, please feel free to just post a little oneliner saying you are still commited to and following the experiment and enjoying it  :Thmbsup:

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: mouser on September 06, 2006, 06:52 AM

If you find the experiment useful you can digg it here:

• http://digg.com/business_finance/Help_Design_Your_Ideal_Time_Management_System_A_3_Month_Open_Experiment

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: tomos on September 06, 2006, 07:25 AM

still in, had a quick look at some of those links, but they'll have to wait till reasonable amount of stuff is DONE!  :)

so far I'm very happy with one thing in particular - my desk is clean and clear, & has been since monday morning.
That in itself gives me room to breath & somehow gives a bit of perspective too ...

just thinking "out loud" now:
i suppose you could use an index card filing system as well for the 43 folders idea (one folder for each of 31 days & 12 months)

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: Mentat on September 06, 2006, 01:10 PM

Some of my GTD web references and preferences

Blogs to watch

• to-done.com (http://to-done.com/)
• www.diyplanner.com for a GTD analog (indexcard) approach
• www.punkey.com/gtd/index.php
• GTD wannabe (http://gtdwannabe.blogspot.com/) (very good)

GTD review

• A very good resume of the method to read  (http://www.minezone.org/wiki/MVance/GettingThingsDone)

Photos

• Visualize some GTD stuff at Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/groups/gettingthingsdone/pool/)
• Very good flickr page of Jazzmasterson who show us great index cards and tickler file ! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jazzmasterson/)

To be continued ...

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: momonan on September 06, 2006, 01:14 PM

Thanks for the thumbnail review of GTD.  Very helpful.  :up:  I've been going in a different direction entirely: trying to sort out not just what to do, but what's important to do.  But now I realize it would be a good idea to step back and make sure I know HOW to do what I want to do.  It seems like it will be useful to get a handle on the GTD methods first, then apply them to my larger scheme.

Also, since I spent most of the morning browsing the computer and otherwise fooling around, I have another brief review to conduct, that I hope will be helpful.  When I was trying to get a handle on budgeting my money, I took some time first to just jot down how I was actually spending it.  This revealed huge gaping sinkholes, which I was later able to close up.  That's the way I feel about time, how.  Unlike the money situation, I don't have several months to get to the bottom of it.  I can spend at least a few days keeping track, though.  Of course, I know I waste a lot of time.  But I want to see it in writing:  how much time each day (how many actual HOURS) do I spend doing nothing useful (not even successfully recreating), and what is it spent on.   Maybe I can chisel away at it and then even include a finite amount of time for this activity (with the help of app103's "instant boss"?) before moving on to my real TODO list (or after).

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: urlwolf on September 06, 2006, 05:43 PM

momoman,

for knowing where your time went...
I use tasklog by Skrommel and Visual timeAnalizer. that last one seems to be replaceable by titlelog, another ahk created in this forum by dboogey.

TaskLog logs the overall activity I'm doing.

I have the following categories:
Pause,writing,reading,programming,surfing,mail,stats,planning,realLifeChores
I have a different icon for each one.

Visual timeAnalizer tells me how much time I spent browsing, and where, and it also counts how long it took me to read which pdf, write doc X, code script Y, etc. It is very visual.

Let me know if that helps, I can give you more detail...

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: jgpaiva on September 06, 2006, 05:48 PM

I use tasklog by Skr jpjaiva

-urlwolf (September 06, 2006, 05:43 PM)

Actually, tasklog was made by skrommel. (i made hotstringscript, which was the one i corrected you here: https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=5013.msg34968#msg34968) ;)
(Really sorry for confusing you guys..)

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: Perry Mowbray on September 07, 2006, 04:32 AM

I think the thing I like about this system so far is that everything that needs to be done gets popped into a pool, out of which I can select what I want to do (when there's time).

I understand that priorities are not part of it for the purist, but like some others, I think I'd prefer to record a priority (just to help me differentiate between the tasks).

But the big pool of tasks has some real benefits: if you choose the one you most want to do then you're more likely to be most productive on that one rather than the one you're don't want to do. That's not always true of course, and it's open to deceiving yourself... but the point of it all is that we are wanting to get stuff done and not just make a show!

I guess that's what I like about ToDoList (http://www.abstractspoon.com/) too (or most software based lists): you can record this stuff and filter it in or out, archive it, sort by something else, or put it in a different file. I was a bit concerned that with a big list and paper that trying to sort through paper would get unwieldy. I'd appreciate some feedback from you paper-shufflers out there  ;)

- Perry

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: urlwolf on September 07, 2006, 04:56 AM

I think the thing I like about this system so far is that everything that needs to be done gets popped into a pool, out of which I can select what I want to do (when there's time).

I understand that priorities are not part of it for the purist, but like some others, I think I'd prefer to record a priority (just to help me differentiate between the tasks).

But the big pool of tasks has some real benefits: if you choose the one you most want to do then you're more likely to be most productive on that one rather than the one you're don't want to do. That's not always true of course, and it's open to deceiving yourself... but the point of it all is that we are wanting to get stuff done and not just make a show!

-Perry Mowbray (September 07, 2006, 04:32 AM)

Hi Perry,
May I pop in again with the dangers of the infinite resource pool:
https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=5034.msg35405#msg35405

Although it's nice to have all your tasks in a large list that keeps growing, and it's certainly a feeling of liberation, the next thing you know is that you are cherrypicking tasks that are easy, or you feel like, etc, and a good chuck of tasks never get done.

So as much as I like the collection idea from GTD, I think infinite pool and cherrypicking are issues.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: Perry Mowbray on September 07, 2006, 06:20 AM

So as much as I like the collection idea from GTD, I think infinite pool and cherrypicking are issues.

-urlwolf (September 07, 2006, 04:56 AM)

I do agree, which is what I meant about deceiving oneself. That's where I thought that priorities may influence the mix. Hmmm, maybe priorities and deadlines.

Where the infinite pool comes in really handy is when there is no priority or deadline: it's just an idea that I want to achieve (someday), and I want to break it down into managable tasks along the way. It certainly isn't going to work for the purchasing of ingredients for Friday night's dinner party: that task has to float to the top before Friday night!!

- Perry

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: nudone on September 07, 2006, 07:08 AM

i'm trying to make this work:

define your 'serious' goal projects - give them a timetable - over a year or whatever. regard these as 'work' with 'real' deadlines, i.e. they might sometimes be a real effort to start or continue but who said 'work' was fun. commit to spending as much time as you can to completing these projects but don't beat yourself up for not doing them every single day - 3 times a week sounds good to me, well, that's what they always say when taking exercise.

define all other tasks as garnish and nibble at them when you have a bit of time, or when it just feels right for a snack sized task.

the important thing being to keep your eye on the whole 'meal'. you don't want to gorge yourself on just the garnish/snacks and you don't really want to just spend everyday eating the same big meal goal project.

apologies for reinventing the wheel here and not really stating anything new (i might be simply trying to convince myself of what i'm meant to be doing).

so, how to avoid ignoring 'low' priority tasks that will never get done? er, well, not sure. the techniques i've read in Forster's 'Do It Tomorrow' do pretty much have this answered but it's either too rigid for me to follow OR i'm still working my way up to that level of discipline - not decided yet.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: urlwolf on September 07, 2006, 01:16 PM

Is anyone here a member of GTD connect?
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Orchant/?p=196

I'd be interested in hearing what you think.
Certainly this looks completely in disagreement with the dc philosophy in that it creates two 'classes' of GTD users. That's my thinking at least.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: mouser on September 07, 2006, 01:31 PM

im not philosophically opposed to sites that charge for some premium thing, but no way would i pay $50 a month for this thin offering.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: nudone on September 07, 2006, 01:45 PM

from what i understand of the article it just sounds like you are paying for a 'personal trainer' type thing. if you can read the books and motivate yourself then fine - if you can't and you've got the money to spend and you think regular guidance and a bit of encouragement will help then i say, then why not?

people pay for someone to make them exercise so why not pay someone to make you get your things done. sounds ideal to me.

of course, if this meant that all the techniques for GTD would become exclusive to those that pay/subscribe then it wouldn't be very good. but how could that happen anyway. and it's not like they are going to devise new super techniques that suddenly work miracles (well, i very much doubt it).

so, it looks good to me - i wish someone would pay me just to tell them to look at their 'to-do' list and say a few words of encouragement.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: mouser on September 08, 2006, 03:58 PM

How's everyone coming with this?

• Have you learned and understood the key ideas behind GTD?
• Have you figured out which details make sense to you and which ones don't?
• Have you put some or all of the principles to work?

The deadline for this assignment is September 14.

Please report in and report how you are doing and any observations you may have made about GTD..

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: mouser on September 08, 2006, 05:12 PM

One thing I really want to emphasize:

To make the GTD approach work, you absolutely MUST write down EVERY task that you need to do.
That means keeping a pen and notes/paper near by at all times, so that when you think of a new obligation or idea you can write it down and file it away.

It's critically important that you never find yourself saying "ok i'll remember i have to do that.."  The whole point is to completely free yourself from having to remember to do anything.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: allen on September 08, 2006, 10:14 PM

Still have room for me to jump in and try to get my green badge? I've already got a napkin that says "Make coffee, change diaper" :)

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: mouser on September 08, 2006, 10:20 PM

of course, anyone is welcome to jump in whenever they discover this.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: nudone on September 09, 2006, 03:19 AM

i've got the lists and notes of what to do. i'm busy doing things. sounds good doesn't it?

well, it seems very clear to me that i'm not going to get things done in the timescale i first thought to use.

why? because being busy and going through the list is good as it feels like you are on top of things, i can see that i'm making progress but i'm still not putting in enough effort to meet my invented deadlines. maybe i'm being too harsh on myself (and unrealistic).

it's certainly better to be doing things this way - the biggest revelation and help to me was simply being made aware of how procrastination manifests itself and how to recognise it - and define it as something intrusive.

if i can meet my deadlines i'll be happy - just need to know how to become more disciplined about doing it.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: mouser on September 09, 2006, 03:25 AM

I'd say i'm in somewhat the same position in that i'm writing new todo item cards constantly and it feels like i suddenly "have more to do" than i did before.. However in reality i know what's happening is much more beneficial.  What's happening is i'm writing out and filing ideas and tasks that before just floated around in my mind and got lost and re-found over and over again.. Doing it this was at least means i can scan through my list and find little things i can work on if i ever get a free moment to spend, rather than not being able to think of something and wasting time.

One of the things D. Allen mentions that I'm finding is true is that having a nice long/diverse list/collection of "actionable" items that require different amounts of energy means you can frequently reach in and find something to match your energy level, instead of casting about trying to remember something to do.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: nudone on September 09, 2006, 03:47 AM

i agree. (i think.)

the lifestyle i've lead for most of my life has meant i've had way, way too much time on my hands - but i've always had things that i could do to fill this free time - hence my lists going back 10, 15 or even 20 years.

but it is all too clear that i obviously haven't used that time wisely - the lists are still there, waiting, challenging me, taunting me.

the thing i'd like to make a point of that really hasn't been mentioned anywhere is the notion/concept of BOREDOM. up until recently - a few days before the beginning of this experiment - i would have been BORED quite often. i used to find this disturbing and very annoying as i knew there were many things i could be getting on with - all my lists said so.

so, it obviously isn't enough just to make and compile lists - you have to make a leap of faith - reinterpret yourself as someone that 'does' things 'now' rather than 'plans' things for 'tomorrow'. you have to believe you've changed and recognise your progression - keep it rolling.

so, yes, it's definitely better to keep busy working through the list - even if the bigger goals aren't getting done, it certainly beats being bored and doing nothing.

(i realise that i may be talking about a personal situation that doesn't really reflect anyone else - i assume that most people will have a life that has been full of things that just had to be done so boredom has never been an issue.)

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: mouser on September 09, 2006, 04:00 AM

I guess I might interpret the situation a little differently.

I very much value the time i spend *contemplating* and *planning* things to do.  There is a real pleasure in that.
And I think all evidence shows that sometimes we just need to spend time mulling over ideas before they are "ripe" enough to put into action.

The danger though is that you start to enjoy the thinking and planning and imagining too much and the actual "doing" suffers.. So one needs strategies to ensure you dont spend ALL your time planning and cogitating..

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: nudone on September 09, 2006, 04:56 AM

i agree.

nothing to do with self-motivation techniques but having lots of free time definitely allows you to start 'thinking'. this appears to be a luxury (and maybe a curse) as you begin to realise/perceive things that a great number of people don't pick up on. i won't dwell or try to extrapolate further as i will just sound like a ranting armchair philosopher - which i am.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: momonan on September 10, 2006, 09:14 AM

I'm surprised there aren't more additions to this thread.  Could it be that everyone is busy experimenting with  getting things done? :P

On a related note: In addition to the focus on GTD, one of the things I have been doing is keeping track of how I actually spend time and reviewing it for improvement.  What I knew -- but didn't want to face -- was the tremendous amount of wasted procrastinating time I spend at the computer: browsing, games, just-one-more news site, etc.  Just like it's not good money management to spend thousands of $$ a year on Starbucks (or other brand) coffee, this is not good time management.

As Nudone said, by making a TODO list (and not putting "waste time on meaningless computer browsing" on it), it helps me think of something that would really be better to be doing every time I get that urge.

Another thing that is working for me is App103's InstantBoss http://www.appsapps.info/instantboss.php  I set it to work for 30 minutes with 5-minute breaks.  Then I race to get coffee, etc. and waste a little time, before it reminds me to get back to work.  Then after 5 of these sessions, I get a little applause and can relax for a while before starting again.

I'm still struggling with knowing WHAT to do, but I'm zeroing in on a method -- which will be a topic for a later post.  Good luck everybody.(https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/esmileys/gen0/Large/HORSE2.GIF)

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: Arjen on September 10, 2006, 04:09 PM

Hi everyone,

Here is my Getting Organized System (http://gettingorganized.pbwiki.com/My%20Getting%20Organized%20System) I've worked out so far.

It's mostly based on what I've read about GTD. I've tried to keep it as simple as possible.

Here's what I want to use and don't want to use (http://gettingorganized.pbwiki.com/Getting%20Things%20Done) from GTD, as requested in this week's assignment.

I must say I'm not consequent in using my own system yet, but I will try of course. I do use the weekly schedule, but I don't have a project list yet, for example. A lot of things I want to do are still in my head - to get all that out is one of the big challenges... :-)

Your comments are welcome!

I'm off to do my very first weekly review...! :-)

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: nudone on September 10, 2006, 04:13 PM

great, do keep us informed of how you progress, arjendk - especially if you find things don't go to plan.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: jgpaiva on September 10, 2006, 05:38 PM

Well... I'm still going through the several ideas / systems for GTD.
But right now, i've settled on some stuff:

I like the "next actions" and the "instant boss" ideas. They will definitelly help me getting things done ;)
Right now, i am keeping on my desk only my computer, my cell phone, blank paper sheets and a space to put the next actions todo lists.
Although these todo lists in paper have a big problem with the portability that i need, i'm keeping them for now (i hope i'll find a better system in the upcoming weeks).
Tomorrow, i'll be getting myself a calendar to start setting days for doing stuff.

Right now, i'm only sure about the qualitity of one thing in my sistem: Instant Boss. It definitelly makes a big help in the working scheme, and looks like i've adapted to it quite well. Thanks app!!  :Thmbsup:

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: Perry Mowbray on September 10, 2006, 11:27 PM

I really like Next Tasks and Due Dates on my tasks that are floating around my pool.

I'm another ToDoList (http://www.codeproject.com/tools/ToDoList2.asp) user (read a great review here (https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=5057.0) you beat me to it urlwolf!), and this is the way I've set mine up (which  travels around on my USB Drive):

Next Tasks:

• As SubTask
• Priority 10 [highest]
• Become filterable as: Show Incomplete Tasks + Above Priority #10

The nice thing about that is that I can have my Next Task for a "Someday Project" will still display when filtering, but it shows as a SubTask of the Someday Project [Priority 0].

Waiting for:

• Allocated To
• Allocated By (when not me)

Tasks that are allocated can be filtered as well.

Maybe Tasks/Projects:

• Priority:=0

ToDoList only filters on priorities above #, so low priorities are not filterable by themselves.

Use "Due Date" as the calendar for keeping track of your appointments and commitments: ability to sort by date and show tasks due by day, week or month.

Projects can be formed in the TreeView as nodes and childnodes.

I'm using Categories to group Projects/tasks together  ;): For example "GOE" is a Category at the moment!

The only other thing is some paper and a pen when TDL is not available  :)

- Perry

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: app103 on September 11, 2006, 12:00 AM

the thing i'd like to make a point of that really hasn't been mentioned anywhere is the notion/concept of BOREDOM. up until recently - a few days before the beginning of this experiment - i would have been BORED quite often. i used to find this disturbing and very annoying as i knew there were many things i could be getting on with - all my lists said so.

-nudone (September 09, 2006, 03:47 AM)

When I was a child, I once mentioned in my grandmother's* presence, that I was bored. It was the last time I ever said that, for a very long time.

My grandmother smacked me and told me to never say that again. She said if you are bored, chances are you are boring. Saying or thinking  "I am bored" is the same as saying "I am boring".

Interesting people don't get bored. They have plenty of interests to keep them busy.

Now that I am older, I can see her wisdom...and I agree with her 100%. I know if I am feeling bored, I am doing something seriously wrong with my time.

And for those rare occasions that I do feel bored, I would never admit to it now.  :-[

^{*My grandmother was one of the most interesting people I have ever known, who had multiple careers over the course of her life...from farmer to investigative journalist (back when it was a taboo career for a woman) to school teacher.}

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: nudone on September 11, 2006, 01:25 AM

app, i have to take issue with your comment on being bored. as i mentioned earlier - the concept of boredom doesn't seem to be addressed anywhere by self-motivation gurus - not very surprising i suppose.

i've steered clear of making the glib "if you say you're bored then it is you that is boring" remark in the past as that is a disservice to the nature of boredom - perhaps it is appropriate to say to a child, it certainly had the desired effect with you, but i think 'adult' boredom is more serious an issue - from personal experience i would say that it is connected with depression.

i said earlier that i had a whole list of things i could have been doing when i felt bored - i have often tried to sound profound when talking with friends about boredom by saying that you can only feel bored if you have something to do - you are just refusing to do it. i've always had something to do in life, i've always had more interests than i know what to do with - really, who hasn't?

thankfully i haven't been bored for years - well, except during my last job - that's why i quit. i'm sure i'm a very boring person to some people but i don't think that is why i was bored - there were a few things i could have done to relieve the boredom whilst i was at work - like having a lobotomy or shouting "fire, fire" but other than that i don't know what i could do. i was trapped in a place where i had to work a certain mundane way, do certain tedious things - i felt like a robot - it depressed me - i became BORED.

self inflicted boredom, like the mardy child, that wants others to entertain it is something entirely different to an adult that feels incapable of finding motivation.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: mouser on September 11, 2006, 01:30 AM

Good points nudone, i think this is a case where there are really 2 totally difference concepts that just happen to have the same word assigned to them:

Boredom(1) - when you can't think of anything to do and want someone to suggest a good idea for you.
Boredom(2) - when you are forced to do some work/job which your brain fights against because it's not being stimulated and nourished.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: Perry Mowbray on September 11, 2006, 04:28 AM

you can only feel bored if you have something to do

-nudone (September 11, 2006, 01:25 AM)

That's a really interesting observation. My wife has identified something that happens to her. She's a normal over-busy woman who is generally storing away things to do when she's got some time. The probelm occurs when the time arrives and she chokes on it. She'll get to the end of the day and say "I'm sure there were things I wanted to do?"

Not that she's bored (but is is very similar); it's an interesting parallel to your comment (BTW: I'm hoping this GTD will rub off  ;) )

- Perry

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: hugosanchez on September 11, 2006, 09:07 PM

In my case, I use GTD on a todo.text file.A full text approach is quite useful.
Working in a bash console in linux it is pretty easy to insert tasks  to the file todo.txt, and retrieve information from it (projects, next actions, contexts, dates, etc).
I insert a task into todo.txt file with:
$: echo "project context task description due date">> todo.txt
When I need an information, for example, related to the issue x, I can get it using
$: less todo.txt |grep x
In this way, all GTD method can be managed in a very simple and effective way.
Hugo

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: vrgrrl on September 11, 2006, 10:54 PM

i went shopping with mouser yesterday to get my supplies and, as you may or may not recall...i HATE systems. but! this makes so much sense and so far is so exciting.

now i just have to watch for my old nemisis...the "fear" reaction. sometimes i feel so overwhelmed that i'll avoid looking at to do lists, etc so i don't have a panic attack. but so far, no panicking...so far so good!

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: mouser on September 11, 2006, 11:05 PM

I should note, vrgrrl is using my soon-to-be-patented "Index-card Based Allen-Forster Hybrid System", soon to be on sale at Target and Amazon.com for the low low price of $399.95.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: vrgrrl on September 11, 2006, 11:12 PM

rofl. well, come on mouser...can't we give dc members a 4% off break?  :D

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: mouser on September 11, 2006, 11:22 PM

hmm... how about 1% off for the next 4 minutes?

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: Arjen on September 12, 2006, 01:51 AM

vrgrrl, I found the following article recently; if you don't like systems and todo lists you might find it interesting!

It's called: Time Management for Right Brained People (Or-What to do if to-do lists are not your style) (http://www.clt.cornell.edu/campus/learn/LSC%20Resources/TimeManagmentforRightBrain.pdf#search=%22time%20management%20right%20brain%22) (PDF).

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: app103 on September 12, 2006, 04:31 AM

vrgrrl, I found the following article recently; if you don't like systems and todo lists you might find it interesting!

It's called: Time Management for Right Brained People (Or-What to do if to-do lists are not your style) (http://www.clt.cornell.edu/campus/learn/LSC%20Resources/TimeManagmentforRightBrain.pdf#search=%22time%20management%20right%20brain%22) (PDF).

-arjendk (September 12, 2006, 01:51 AM)

THANK YOU!!!

Your reply has brought a smile to my face.   :)

Up until now, I have been a silent about a problem I was having with the whole GTD concept...the fact that it seems to come from another planet that I don't live on and is all in an alien language I can't really comprehend.

It was starting to get very frustrating to just think about it...and I react very poorly to frustration....it usually makes me cry. But I kind of felt obligated to continue with it because I said I would, and didn't want to be a disappointment to myself, and those that know me, by quitting....and being the first to quit.

That article seems to make more sense than all of the others I have read, put together.

I think I am going to start with some 'What have I Done' lists. (something not mentioned there but I think is necessary for me)

Then take a really good look at them and start making some 'Not ToDo' lists.

And use the 'Not ToDo' lists to help me learn how to say 'No'.

Then maybe I will have the time, energy, and desire to do the things I want to get done.

In my life I have too many ToDo lists...and most aren't even mine. Too many people around me use me as their ToDo list, knowing if they don't do it, I will.

Pretty good deal for them...after all, what other method of keeping a list guarantees that if you don't do everything on it that it will magically get done by the multi-talented list itself, doing it all for you?

Not a good deal for me though...I end up feeling drained of my energy and then lack the desire to work on my very short list.

I need to stop being so dependable, stop being the one that always picks up the slack for others, learn to say 'No' and stop being a doormat....and stop giving all my time and energy away for free.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: tomos on September 12, 2006, 04:44 AM

didn't want to be a disappointment to myself, and those that know me, by quitting....and being the first to quit.

i reckon that prize is long gone :)

Then take a really good look at them and start making some 'Not ToDo' lists.

i love it! (i could even list: stop thinking i cant do things ...)

And use the 'Not ToDo' lists to help me learn how to say 'No'.

i think thats a big one for lots of people (I'm learning myself!)
good luck with it all

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: Arjen on September 12, 2006, 07:05 AM

Up until now, I have been a silent about a problem I was having with the whole GTD concept...the fact that it seems to come from another planet that I don't live on and is all in an alien language I can't really comprehend.

It was starting to get very frustrating to just think about it...

-app103 (September 12, 2006, 04:31 AM)

Remember that this experiment is not about you having to do GTD, but about finding out what works for you. If GTD frustrates you it might not be for you. It might be interesting to look at what frustrates you: is it the concepts of GTD itself, or just the fact that it's explained in a way that is not your style? Or both?

Your todo lists sound a lot more like others-expect-me-to-do-this lists. Maybe you could try to make them I-want-to-do-this lists. Of course they could still contain stuff you want to do for others.

I used to think about getting organized, planning, setting goals etc. as something very stressful. (And I still do regularly.) But I'm trying to see it as exactly the opposite: getting organized as a way to make sure I can relax. If I have all my "stuff" organized I don't have to think about it and I can just do what I choose to do at that moment.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: mouser on September 12, 2006, 10:56 AM

well said arjendk!

remember, the goal with this 3 month experiment is not to get you to use GTD or any specific pre-existing system, it's to help you FIND or CREATE a system that works for you.

I am 100% convinced that having SOME kind of specific "system" for yourself is a good thing - but what that system looks like is up to you completely.  Maybe you will find an existing one that is perfect for you, or maybe you will have to invent a totally new system.  But commit yourself to figuring out some kind of system of rules and techniques to help you stay organized.

Btw:
Mark Forster, who we will start looking at next week, makes a big deal about not liking TODO lists, and instead advocates WILL DO lists for each day.  The idea is to make lists that are completely achievable for each day, and contain only what you can accomplish for that day, and not let lists get bigger after you make one, so that you really can finish it each day.

Title: A latecomer to the experiment, but not to GTD
Post by: Lilly on September 16, 2006, 10:05 AM

Hello all,

I just discovered this site. It was mentioned one of the mailing lists I am on.

I have been "trying" to use the GTD system for over a year now. I can never seem to make it fly, however. I am overwhelmed with my index cards full of ideas (the initial braindump), and I always seem to have something more urgent to do than to process cards. I just uninstalled the GTD Outlook plug-in because it was just not working for me. I'm going to give Clear Context a whirl, and see how that goes. I also just downloaded the "Instant Boss", so we'll see how that goes.

There are a lot of elements that I don't like with GTD (tickler file, the waiting on, etc.), but I always figured that I would come back to doing them. I think, after fighting with things for the last year, I realize that if it's not immediately in my face, I won't do it. Having an incredibly limited attention span will do that.

So what I've implemented so far is the Zero-Inbox (although there are still things in the @reply folder that I haven't touched), and the Hipster PDA.

I'm really looking forward to this experiment. I had already done the Week 1 assignment, and although the Week 2 was supposed to be completed by yesterday, I'm going to try to do that right now (since I have a year and a half to draw from), and go from there.

Thanks so much for this experiment. Just reading all the posts this morning has gotten me motivated, and I'm looking forward to more of it.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: mouser on September 16, 2006, 10:10 AM

welcome Lilly!
I also have no use for the tickler stuff.

I've been using an index card approach lately and i like it.  based on gtd.

what i've been doing is i have sections for "TOMORROW, WEEK, MONTH, LONGTERM" so that each day i go grab the stuff i PLAN to do the current day and bring those cards up front.  then i put stuff for tomorrow in the TOMORROW section, and file others into week, month, etc. 

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: Lilly on September 17, 2006, 11:18 AM

welcome Lilly!
I also have no use for the tickler stuff.

I've been using an index card approach lately and i like it.  based on gtd.

what i've been doing is i have sections for "TOMORROW, WEEK, MONTH, LONGTERM" so that each day i go grab the stuff i PLAN to do the current day and bring those cards up front.  then i put stuff for tomorrow in the TOMORROW section, and file others into week, month, etc. 

-mouser (September 16, 2006, 10:10 AM)

I am going to try that and see how it goes.

I also have to say that whoever recommended "Instant Boss" is a godsend! I had no idea that my ability to gauge time (2 minutes break and 10 minutes) is so off! It's amazing! I'm giving it a try today, and already I'm really stunned at how off my internal clock is. No wonder I keep wasting so much time faffing around! Yeesh!

This software is definitely a keeper.

And, lastly, thank you for the welcome! I'm very excited to be here.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: mouser on September 17, 2006, 11:36 AM

Lilly, InstantBoss was actually written by one of the coders on our site (April), based on an idea from one of the members of this forum, so it's great to hear you like it.  :up:

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO ASSIGNMENT (SEP 5, 2006)
Post by: app103 on September 17, 2006, 11:39 AM

Lilly, I am glad you like it and find it useful.

If you have any suggestions on how I can make it even more useful, I'd be glad to hear them.  :)

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO+THREE ASSIGNMENT
Post by: mouser on September 17, 2006, 01:08 PM

NOTE: we have decided to focus on GTD for one more week, to coincide with the 2 part interview with david allen
(http://podcast.donationcoder.com).

On Sep 23 we will explore Mark Forster's methods.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO+THREE ASSIGNMENT
Post by: hugosanchez on September 18, 2006, 12:17 PM

Lilly, I am glad you like it and find it useful.

If you have any suggestions on how I can make it even more useful, I'd be glad to hear them.  :)

-app103 (September 17, 2006, 11:39 AM)

Hi, April
I just look your site and I have a question for you:
The tools there seems very practical and useful. Are you thinking in expanding it to linux platforms?
Thanks

Hugo

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO+THREE ASSIGNMENT
Post by: app103 on September 18, 2006, 02:27 PM

Hi, April
I just look your site and I have a question for you:
The tools there seems very practical and useful. Are you thinking in expanding it to linux platforms?
Thanks

Hugo

-hugosanchez (September 18, 2006, 12:17 PM)

Not exactly...at least not at this time...or not intentionally.

I think I should become a linux user first, before programming for linux...otherwise how would I know if it worked?

I don't think I am ready for linux yet...I still feel like I haven't settled into XP. It still has that 'new OS smell'.

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO+THREE ASSIGNMENT
Post by: tomos on September 19, 2006, 01:36 AM

I'm struggling a bit with practicalities of indexing/filing/structure.
I want to post about that but have to try & get an overview of it all first!  :D

I have a query re todolist (Abstract Spoon one) in the ToDo mini-review (https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=5057.0;topicseen)

I would also be very curious how other people are using this programme:
so far I just have the following TaskLists:

Action/To do list
Ideas list
GOE list
Texts List

but I'm unsure would i be better having all in one list - so  I can prioritize stuff*. At the moment if something from the Texts Lists needs to be done soon I add it to the Action list.
This isn't very efficient - I know/believe you can make links between tasks - is that a recommended route ?

I'm using paper for my daily-will-do list but like the coherency of this programme & am looking at combining both.

*Interesting possibility would be if one could see a list showing all tasks over a certain priority from all lists.
I think you can use reminders as well but at the moment I'm happy/prefer listing stuff by Priority and working my way through things.

So my query at this stage is really how people are using the programme, especially in regards to GOE

Title: Re: GETTING ORGANIZED EXPERIMENT - WEEK TWO+THREE ASSIGNMENT
Post by: mouser on September 22, 2006, 03:26 PM

Nice blog talking about GTD stuff:
http://www.punkey.com/gtd/index.php

This weblog deals with everything GTD and the five phases of projectplanning as written by Dave Allen in his book "Getting Things Done" I will try to record and publish my thoughts and experiences with this system to really "Get Things Done" in my personal and professional life.