When did you do GTD, bon, and how long did you do it for? Why did you stop? Did you drop it all at once, or slowly fade away? Has stuff still stuck with you?

I bought the book in ~2006 or so. I followed some of the things it advises -- the initial cleaning/to-do list making, but never really started the 42 folders/Friday cleanup thing. I just didn't have the motivation for the weekly review. In the long run, I know that filing makes things easier, and file most things; I make to-do lists with discrete tasks (but not contextual ones-- I think that's most useful for salesmen but not for office workers); I very frequently do time-dashes. Even if you do none of the ongoing tasks, I recommend the book to everyone because there are simple tips in there that are surprisingly useful. Like getting a label maker and labeling files -- you're more likely to file things and be organized. It's totally worth the cost.

I used GTD. I never implemented it fully, but the label maker was surprisingly helpful. And I used the tickler file. Getting things out of the brain and onto paper is vital for me. I used Toodledo quite a bit to organize my to do list - I get overwhelmed easily, but could star just three things and then only see the starred tasks. Also, a simple but effective thing for me - making every item on my list start with a verb. Like, "write draft of TPS report" instead of "TPS report." Also, setting a timer for stuff at home if I'm tired. I'll just do dishes for seven minutes, for example.

You people sell me on an iPhone every day.

It's really brilliant. Semi-useless for phone calls, but brilliant otherwise.

If you get it on Verizon, the phone actually works.

Like getting a label maker and labeling files -- you're more likely to file things and be organized.

Above and beyond just writing on the file folders? Presumably because of a sense of formality and investment?

Filing is completely an Achilles heel of mine, both at home and at work. The majority of the mess at home is mail that hasn't been opened and shredded or filed as needed, and my desk is notorious for the layer of paper that covers it at all times. But it is honestly (at work, no excuses for home) a situation of having all my information within hands reach--I write down what I feel I should have on the top of my head on printer paper, one topic per sheet, and I don't file/stack it until the paper is filled up (or perhaps some time afterwards). And then there's an array of post it notes with notes from ad hoc short conversations.

I think I should give that book a go. I need to take this all more seriously and get a grip.

Above and beyond just writing on the file folders? Presumably because of a sense of formality and investment?

There's probably a little of that. But IIRC the idea is making filing easier than the alternative. So in this case the file folders are easier to read. He also advises having enough filing space so that you're not forcing files into the drawer-- another reason people will just not like filing. Simple stuff like that that has a larger psychological effect than you realize.

You don't have to make a lifetime commitment to GTD; just a weekend with it will seriously make you more organized in the long term.

Oh, dear god. The Bloggess wore an actual wolfskin to the Breaking Dawn premiere.

[link]

So. Awesome.

Consuela, I saw that. She is so indescribably awesome.

But IIRC the idea is making filing easier than the alternative

But I like writing on file folders! Like, actually take pleasure in it! So, if there's another reason, I wonder what it is, to see if it is more important.

As for sufficient space--talk about Achilles heels...I have a wire basket that's about the size of a milk crate and the right width to take hanging folders, and that's about it. Now, if I were on top of keeping it just the past year or two, and keep charging forward with my conversion to paperless, that would be just fine. However, I'm a lot better at the latter than the former.

You don't have to make a lifetime commitment to GTD; just a weekend with it will seriously make you more organized in the long term.

Booyah! Nookbook! Okay, let's give this a shot.

Aah! That Bloggess thing creeps me out! I cannot imagine all that fur all close up and aahh!

I dunno. I don't actually see shots of the Bloggess in the theater over her shoulder with actual Twilight on the screen. I think it's possible she's really watching the Muppets.

I fucking cannot stand GTD. It is like Franklin Planner stuff to me (seems to be cultish and the people on the internet who LOVE it seem to love it a little too much).

I think that GTD has some good stuff, but I respond better to general principles and considerations. I think the issue with time management for most people (and holy fuck are there a lot of to-do apps in the app store) - is procrastination, needing to properly prioritize, and perhaps being unaware of how long things take.

One thing I did like GTD for is attempting to have one inbox for all the things we need to do and to remember to do a weekly review to assess to-dos. I tend to use wunderlist, and the web service @followupthen.com for most of my to-dos, but sometimes I will put them on google calendar as well. The iphone/ipad app Due is also pretty good.

My recommendation right now is for you to figure out a way to manage your work to-dos (like project management tools) and then use the pomodoro technique to help keep you on track, work through procrastination, and help keep you mentally focused.

Lifehacker has a few posts about managing to-dos with text files which might be a more flexible medium than any app.

What is this pomodoro of which you speak? Also, tell me more about wunderlist and followupthen, if I'm not being too lazy.

I've pretty much made a time/effort/money investment in Astrid. It ties into Locale/Tasker on Android, so for my tasks (most useful for non-work) it can be location sensitive, and pops up home tasks when I get home, pharmacy tasks when I go into CVS, etc. It's not otherwise particularly synchronised with my mental processes, but the automation integration is very important for me right now. It's a big part of me being able to relax about externalising my to do list.

As for work project management productivity tools, there's nothing *at* the office other than Outlook that's endorsed. I've seen some people work some magic with tracking their shit in it, but I'm trying to streamline home/office and make less of a distinction between them--just getting my work calendar on my tablet, and my google calendars on Outlook (I did *not* know you could do that until yesterday), means I can holistically balance what effort I need to make. Otherwise I don't take everything into consideration when I pace myself.

My big problem at work right now is *that* project. At 5:45 on Wednesday afternoon I found myself scheduling training for the testing department (i.e. a department I'm not in, and training I'm not giving in an application I don't understand). I stopped myself mid email, which I consider a lot more self-awareness in the moment than I've displayed in a while, walked over to the Quality Assurance lead and told her I was overstepping my bounds.

Fuck me for an idiot. She looked at me with such relief and pretty much begged me to keep doing it. I'm such a sucker.

I want a 24K gold star when all is said and done, or a sharp slap across the face. Whichever.