43 Folders

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General Reference Questions

Hi.

First post here. I just read (and re-read) the portions of GTD on creating a general reference filing system. Unfortunately, the book leaves this part a little fuzzy. I understand that that's probably to allow the user to roll their own, so to speak.

It's unclear, for example, exactly how to file a new piece of information. The book seems to contradict itself a bit here. Allen says to forgo using a categorical filing system, then proceeds to file things according to category (albeit alphabetically), in the example involving gardening references.

It's also unclear when to make a new folder. He uses the phrase "make a new folder and file it" when dealing with reference material. Is he championing using a folder for every piece of reference material, or for every topic of reference material. If, for example, I make a folder on Microwaves, should I put all microwave stuff there, or should I be making "Microwaves--propagation" and "Microwaves--recipes", etc? I.e., a different folder for each subtopic.

Thanks.

Stew's picture

My advice is to label...

My advice is to label things in how you think of them. For example, I received a phone bill from Verizon the other day. I file these under "Verizon bills" because this is the first thing that comes to mind when I ask myself, "What is this?" Of course, I could have also filed it under "Phone", "Utilities", "Bills", but I wanted something specific and easy to find. Just go with the first specific thing that comes to mind and trust your brain will draw the same association when you need the item again. I haven't had a single case of not being able to find something since starting to label in this way.

 
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