GTD a-go-go!
(My new shoebox inbox! Who says you can’t be thrifty and organised)
So I’m trying out Getting Things Done again. Well, at least my own hacked together version. The basic idea is to turn all those wafty, hard to define knowledge work ideas and projects into solid actions that you know how to do, when to do and when they’re complete.
It appeals to my geeky sensibilities, and my desire to do more with less. Also, while on holiday I’m free to experiment with weird brain hacks that I generally just don’t have time to play around with to any extent during the school term. To be honest, I’m already pretty organized and good at keeping track of everything inside my head (the only organisational tool I’ve been using for the last year, though I did carry around a hipster PDA for a bit in the year previous), but I’m always open to finding better and more efficient ways to do things.
I’m focusing on building the habit of writing down everything. As soon as a thought pops into my head, it’s out with the notepad to it down, ready to be converted into actions and projects and maybes later on. It’s been a successful exercise for the first day. Of course, only time will tell how it works for any extended period. Given my previous record of building habits intentionally… I will have forgotten the whole thing within the week.
This sounds like a useful, productive system. On the other hand, you are, from my knowledge, one of the less procrastinatory people I know.
I could really use something like this. I get so many ideas that never quite materialise fully.
That’s the thing; I am pretty well organised, and pretty motivated to get things done already… but I was kinda disappointed with how few ideas I generated and actually remembered and did something with in the last year, so I’m gonna get better!
I use the PDA idea all the time!
My desk is completely covered in folded up A4 sheets of paper that have been in my pocket, completely covered in drawings and notes to myself, usually telling me to do something, then insulting myself for added effect.
Quote: “finish the florist website you filthy pig!”, “draw a picture for Emily ya dog!”, “Get mums christmas present you dirty paedophile!”
etc.