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Starting out with GTD
Pat Armstrong | Oct 26 2007
Hi everyone. I bought a paperback copy of GTD some time ago, flicked through it idly, and have only just got around to sitting down and reading it properly. I'm about halfway through, and have a question about fitting it to my situation. Some background: I'm a graphic design student, currently finishing my second-last year. I live with friends in a sharehouse, and will for the forseeable future. This means my bedroom is my main workspace for my coursework and odd freelance gig, and that I'm liable to move house once every year or two. I use the machines at uni quite a bit, but they're shared (so neither the space nor software setup is really customisable), and all my books/notes/reference stuff is at home. With my final year of uni starting in a few months, after the summer break (southern hemisphere!), I'm in dire need of a good, functioning organisational system: I'm easily distracted by all the other projects I have going at any one time, and deadlines often creep up on me. GTD seems like a good fit with a great community built around it. The thing that seems to be stopping me from getting through GTD, though, is the very corporate/business-y angle DA seems to be coming from. No-one I know my age has a filing cabinet, and the idea of a physical "inbox" on my desk makes me imagine fluorescent lights and beige cubicles. What do I need an automatic labelmaker for? I'd take less time writing out labels by hand, and prefer the look of my own handwriting to low-res thermal printer type. Anyway, you get the idea. Reading through the posts here, it seems you're all from quite varied backgrounds. So, my question is: How can I adapt the GTD system to my situation? Or do I just need to adapt to it? Thanks for reading! Love to hear your thoughts (or pointers to similar questions or issues that have been raised in the past). 6 Comments
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 labels and filingSubmitted by sisyphea on October 26, 2007 - 4:48pm.
So handwrite it. It's what works. I do like clearly defined labels though, and they do look more formal - what about using a plain stick-on label and handwriting it? There are some very funky intrays out there - faux leather, industrial grey wire. My desk space is at a premium so I use the top drawer of my desk as an intray. Keeps it out of sight until I'm ready to process it, too. What about a desk with a built in filing drawer, or one of those small filing cabinets that will trundle under the desk? I don't like hanging files so I use ring binders instead, with clear pockets to hold small items. I also don't use a tickler file - I just don't have that much paper. It sounds like the main value for you would be from making sure everything goes into your inbox, processing and keeping track through next-action and calendar. Once you start implementing the system you'll find it starts to become less daunting. Most people your age don't have a filing cabinet because they don't have that much paper; they won't get one until they have a crisis, with projects in total disarray and financial disaster looming. You have a big advantage starting something like this now while you're still a student. As you know,with graphic design, deadlines are critical, and if you're freelancing, ability to manage projects and finances are essential - lack of business skills is a real issue for many creative artists. cheers Helen » POSTED IN:
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