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Getting started: how to consolidate

Just read through GTD after having implemented some suggestions based on the system over the past few months. While I like the theory I am having some difficulty in implementing.

By biggest stumbling block seems to be how to consolidate stuff. I am referring to the mass of things I need in all aspects (reference, next actions, projects) which comes in many forms, emails, printed bills/receipts/etc, manuals and other physical reference materials, computer files. Furthermore, all of these materials can be in any one of several locations at once, work, car, home, etc. I've already started scanning many reference materials, but I cannot do this for all (manuals for example), so it seems to me like one location will not work for all items, but will two or three locations work? To further complicate things, I suspect I would have the same organizational folders both in My Documents on the computer, in Email, and then in physical storage.

cornell's picture

Hi dgreco3917. I think the...

Hi dgreco3917. I think the best most of us can do is "folders" in three places: Email (for messages), disk (for files), and file cabinets (for paper). My recommendation is to name them all the same (i.e., "Acme Project" in all three), and to not get too wrapped up having three places. That said, some people do what you suggest - scan into files, or (conversely) print and put in one file folder.

I would be careful about the multiple locations (car, etc,) i.e., don't use these places as collection points (if that's what you meant).

Note this means it takes a little thought and planning when you're heading out. For example, if you're going to a meeting with a client, use that as a trigger to grab the paper file, maybe print some messages, etc. Some people carry a PDA and sync the messages/docs; others print their Outlook calendar, etc.

Hope that helps!

 
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