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GTD Very First Steps
Mobile | Dec 14 2006
I'm a GTD beginner. I'm documenting this mostly for my sake, somewhat to capture how I started, somewhat to help get others started, and somewhat to seek general comments or constructive critism. I just started using GTD literally finishing reading the book this morning. Here is how I started implementing GTD (earlier this week): Step 1: Put all papers on desk into new In Box (big enough to fit a file folder flat, and about 6 inches high). Step 2: Create a Reference/"To File" box (same size as "In Box") Step 3: In my desk I have about a 10.5 inch space for hanging file folders. Here is where I will keep my Active files. I could have used a desk top "crate" if I need even faster access to it. Step 4: Create Empty Lists: Step 5: Create File Folders (for in-desk file): Step 6: New Box (about 1 foot cubed) to hold "Someday/Maybe" items (smallish items hanging around that require repair) Step 7: Create Initial Action Lists: Right now, I don't have a decent system for holding contacts or reference material. But that will come quickly I assume once I start getting things done. I'll eventually be looking to keep a lot of information on Windows Mobile Pocket PC. Each of the lists (step 4 and step 7) is a single piece of paper titled as indicated and sitting on physically on my desk (in two groups cascaded to see the titles). My self-imposed ground rule is that nothing goes in the "Someday/Maybe" box or the desk file without being annotated on one of the lists, except for the Reference file or Reference box (they do not need to be on a list). PROJECT setup I assume that I'll be expanding each project with sequences of actions and plans (actions to do after the current project actions are complete) in the respective inner folder within the Projects in-desk hanging folder. SOMEDAY/MAYBE setup As I process the In Box, I add items to the lists as I think of them. This processing jogs a lot of memories about what I had previously wanted to do, but not yet gotten to. I write down everything I think of during this process. If I think of a project (things that require multiple actions) that I haven't really started yet--as are most jogged memory items--it goes on the Someday/Maybe list. Things that are pressing, current, or time sensitive (and soon!) go on the Projects-Active list. I'm about one quarter through my In Box and I haven't done a "Weekly Review" My plan is to implement the lists on a PDA (probably using Pocket Informant and/or ListPro) at some point in the near future (Projects-Active-"GTI" GTD Implementation. At some point, I imagine I'll have to brainstorm through doing a complete mind dump. But starting out without one allows me to clear my desk sooner and allows me to start following the lists sooner, getting things a little more under control. I welcome comments, suggestions or discussion. 1 Comment
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 I'm a little suspicious of...Submitted by Webb on December 14, 2006 - 11:24am.
I'm a little suspicious of the project setup. I think one of the things that really made GTD work for me was only "action-list"ing a single action from a project. This keeps the action lists manageable. It might be an optimization to put ALL the possible next steps into the action lists. That's what I tried to do with previous systems, and it failed horribly. Why?
The result was a big, unmaintainable list of actions that "aged poorly", and a huge threshold for starting a new project. If you do your weekly review, the link from actions to projects will probably not be necessary. You'll know why you're doing an action, and what the following action should probably be. Good luck, Mobile;7192 wrote:
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