any interest in a GTD support thread?

[umami_mommy]

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=939013

[mommytoavery]

I would be very much interested but wouldn't even know where to start. The zen habits website is very overwhelming to me. But give me a starting place and I am in.

[umami_mommy]

can you get the book?

there is this article here too:

http://www.bnet.com/2403-13074_23-52958.html

i keep starting and stopping but am in the middle of setting up my physical space.

[Cassiopeia]

me! me! Been trying GTD for a couple years now. Have a hipster pda and everything.

[fullofgrace]

I'd be interested! I have a home management binder which has all our family stuff super organized. But *my* personal to do and such? Not so much.

I have a desktop background of the workflow chart, but I haven't started to implement it at all. I don't have the book, either. I *did* just purchased the Zen to Done ebook, and that looks good. I'm checking my library for the GTD book.

[umami_mommy]

not sure where to set this up... which forum... i am homeschooling mama who is also trying to start a business.

[fullofgrace]

I think here is perfect. You can post a link to have people come discuss it here in another forum, though.

[dawningmama]

I have not heard of this before but I am definitely interested. I need a "hook" to keep me working regularly on the paperwork in this house. It gets out of control so easily and I am terrible at filing so there are just all these piles of paper in "holding patterns" and I end up missing important stuff. It's very frustrating.

I love buying and setting up office supplies, though, so I do kind of spiral forward. I have trouble staying on task.

[fullofgrace]

Yes! That is me. I am fabulous at the big clean and the big de-cluttering, but the day to day maintenance, filing, etc.? I dislike it and end up procrastinating, just causing piles to build up. I am also a big time multi-tasker, so I need a good system to make myself a little more productive.

[Cassiopeia]

Yeah, DA is big on checklists/routines and keeping your inbox empty as much as possible. I think it would be good for keeping paperwork stuff under control.

I still have problems doing "capture" - recording all my projects and to dos.

Anyway, there's tons of GTD stuff on the web, enough to keep you from ever getting anything done again

http://www.43folders.com/2004/09/08/...ng-things-done

So, I'm going to work on writing things down as I think of it. I think part of my problem is that I'm self-conscious about constantly writing things down in my little notebook.

[fullofgrace]

Oooh. I am loving the 43 folders Process to Zero for email.

[dawningmama]

Ok, so I'd really like to get a handle on household paperwork and such by then end of August. I want to start our new homeschool year with things in order. I feel like I am on my way with my home management binder, but even the use of that has not been as consitent as I envisioned.

[fullofgrace]

I like the idea of having a short term goal like that. I can get something done in a month.

My binder is great for the family management and most frequently accessed info, but not for the 'stuff' -- papers, mail, email, appointment reminders etc etc. I have two extremes -- cluttered and strewn on my desk or the counter and tidy and in the binder or filing cabinet. I have no system for the in-betweens like 'in progress' stuff. I'm hoping GTD or ZTD can help me with that.

[dawningmama]

Ok, so, uh, how do we get started? This is actually a good time for me, as I am home from work the next few days and we don't have too very much on the social calendar.

I will check my library for the book and hopefully start on a plan soon. I'd like to set aside time tomorrow to get started, at least on some of the piles of mail and such.

[Crayfish]

If you have a Mac, OmniFocus is based on GTD (they'll support other To Do schemes later, but GTD is their initial focus), is modestly priced, and is pretty nice. I just started playing with it.

Crayfish

[fullofgrace]

Zen Habits has a page of Simplifying David Allen’s Complicated GTD Setup.

I think to start, I'm going to ponder the questions ZH poses. Essentially -- Do you even have a system setup? What setup are you currently using? Is your setup complicated or simple? Is there value in simplifying your setup?

I'm going to think on what have and don't have, what I use and don't use tonight and share my discoveries here tomorrow.

The gist I'm getting is that the very first *doing* step is to collect all of our stuff into one area (on a list, in a box, a digital file). Processing it comes later.

[dawningmama]

Thanks! I'm going to look into the resources ya'll have shared. I'm going to dinner w/ some unorganized friends, and there will be wine, so not sure what I'll get to tonight. But I plan on stopping by this thread in the morning.

[fullofgrace]

So part of my problem appears to be that my 'system' for paper is bunch a of small, messy systems. Piles. An overflowing bin. More than one notebook floating around. Multiple, unfinished To Do lists. Paper calendar not matching the online calendar. :

My important and frequently accessed information is stored well, though. File cabinet. File box. Home management binder.

It's the bills, mail, and day-to-day paperwork and chores that are the issue. Basically everything requiring daily maintenance of some sort.

[dawningmama]

Me too, Fog! I am working today on this! I'm really excited. I feel like a dork but I got up at 6am and was excited to get started. I'm taking a breakfast break now, but I already have an enormous pile of paper that is being recycled. I'm keeping track of the new system over at google docs so that I can access it from any computer in the house.

[fullofgrace]

Originally Posted by dawningmama

I'm keeping track of the new system over at google docs so that I can access it from any computer in the house.

Do you mean like in list format?

Also -- you have a Blackberry iirc, right? Do you use it for organizing or plan to use it? I've been eyeing them, the Palm, and the iPhone for awhile. (can get a new phone in January per Verizon's new in 2 thingy) But I have this problem with just loving gadgets. I would need to actually USE it to get something other than just a phone. kwim?