implement GTD

This evening heading to football, I printed off a document I needed to review so I could do so on the bus. Tomorrow, I have another bus journey to make and as luck would have it I have another document to review (one which will require thinking too… ugh!).

This evening post-strenuous exercise, I’m too tired to think or be terribly productive in a meaningful way, so I typed in some details from business cards recently collected.

My projects haven’t been specific enough.

For example, for a while I had one which was for general company stuff, but actually, each specific opportunity is a project in itself, each trip I make is a project, each document I need to prepare is a project.

Breaking it up makes it all not seem quite so daunting.

I’ve been re-reading the book, but I need to come up with a better system so that I actually make it a proper habit.

I’m not very good at the higher level stuff, but I should focus on at least getting the basics in place.

I think I’ve done enough of this to check this off my list. I still need to work on my longer-term goals, but that might take some time. In the meantime, I seem to be staying on top of my task list.

I’m getting closer to getting my system in order: I’m usually remember to capture thoughts and ideas as I have them, although I’m still struggling to remember to do my weekly review of everything.

When it feels like I’m under extreme time pressure, I still have a tendency to get overwhelmed, so I’m going to try and find somewhere to put this quote:

This constant, unproductive preoccupation with all the things we have to do is the single largest consumer of time and energy.

—Kerry Gleeson

If anyone needs a useful to-do list, with a built-in nagging service (via email, SMS or IM), then you could do worse than check out RememberTheMilk. Very nicely done, and free.

I have been using my new to-do list, and it seems to be keeping me more or less on track. I need to do more of the high-level stuff, though, before I can check this off.

Sounds like a disappointing Saturday night, but is actually the name of a GTD system for OS X/OmniOutliner Pro users. I started using it the other day, and it is helping me immensely so far.

I’m using index cards and post-it notes to capture to do items as they occur or are generated. My Moleskine is still pristine, and will continue to be so, as I can’t find it at the moment.

I need to change some of the contexts to fit better with how I wander around the world, but after that I should be good to go. If I can keep on using it (which is really the hardest bit for me), then I can mark this as done. Huzzah!

My New Filing Technique Is Unstoppable!

I bought a box of document wallets, and have now sorted all relevant papers. One wallet == one project. I also have a “General” project where I keep my APC and some other quick reference material. I always carry a digital decision maker (a coin) as well.

Thanks to the wonders of my new Crippy Duck bag, I can practically carry my entire office around with me¹!

Now I’ll be unstoppable!

Unless the bag gets stolen, then I’m *&!£$@.

¹ The exceptions being my monitor, keyboard, desk, mouse and printer.

• Index cards? Check.
• Moleskine? Check.
• Little pencil for Moleskine? D’oh!
• Clips to make a Hipster PDA from index cards? D’oh!
• Online tools to help? Check.

Hmm, almost there. I should really find the damn book again and re-read it, but I found a couple of quick start guides which should get me going for now.