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43Folders.com is Merlin Mann’s website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.

The Missing Link in GTD

So last week, I was determined to get into GTD, got my tickler file, my index, my next action lists....and it didn't work out.

I had started composing a post to this board a few days ago, but found the post sufficiently dumb and myself sufficiently vented and relieved after writing it, that I decided not to finish.

My problem was just that everything in my inbox seemed unactionable, something that seemed unique to my situation as a high school student.

Then I started listening to the book all over again (audio book thingy I got a long time ago), and I realized the piece that I was missing was the "project materials".

Like I picked up a chemistry worksheet the other day. I knew I couldn't do it right then and there, it didn't make sense to "file", or put in the tickler, and certainly I could say "what is it" and write down the appropriate action on my next actions list, but what the hell do I do with it after that? I've got it on the list, but it's still in front of me.

Now I realized that everything has to have an organized place. So I'm getting binders or containers for all my projects that don't already have them. Right now, I just carry around a chemistry book, the independent study workbook, and my notes, so obviously i'll have to bundle those together somehow, and have a folder for current work. It seems like an incredibly basic idea, but it eluded me for so long.

My "line cook" system I'm abandoning, unless I try the thing mentioned in the "would you like fries" thread (some of the other printable ceo stuff looks real slick). I didn't like all that stuff hanging over my head, though, literally.

Did anyone else have this kind of problem?

mcnicks's picture

I certainly had issues about...

I certainly had issues about how to find the actions in amongst the stuff that I collected in my email and everywhere else. I actually ended up 'cheating' and just writing down what I thought were actions on 5x3s for a few weeks, just to get a feel. It took me some time to get comfortable with processing my email the GTD way.

What is the chemistry worksheet you mention? What do you want to do with it? Maybe we could all pitch in with suggestions about what the next action is, not to tell you what to do, but to see how we all approach making things actionable.

Regarding current work, I have read here that several people have a "quick reference" tray for things that are being worked on. I have a whole drawer labelled "actioned" (yes I labelled my drawers). Whenever I get something physical in my inbox, I work out what the action is and just chuck whatever it is in my actioned drawer. When it comes to doing the action, I'll know the object in question will be in there somewhere. This has the double advantage of keeping my desk completely clear.

 
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