Comments on: Getting Things Done: Setting Up the Time, Space, and Tools

By: Fidget

Fidget — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 05:38:46 +0000

Wow. You really do need to say where you got those letter trays, they’re the first ones I’ve seen that are deep enough to be useful for me (PhD student in literature with countless articles).
Do you/does the book have any suggestions for coordinating an electronic filing system with the hard-copy one? I’m trying to wean myself off printed articles before it becomes absolutely too much.
Thank you so much for this series. The last post just helped me get some headway on the papers that have had me stymied for the past month (the mixed blessing of incompletes!).
Something that came free with my stapler but I’ve since grown really fond of: my magnetic rimmed paperclip holder. Never would have bought one, but it’s nice if you go through a lot of clips.

By: sheila

sheila — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 22:57:15 +0000

Wow, Trent! Those are the deepest letter trays I’ve ever seen! Most of the ones I see at office supply stores only hold about 1″ to 1.5″ of paper.

Where in the world did you find those monsters?

By: Michele

Michele — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 21:33:27 +0000

I third the notion of the labeler. One of my favorite things and I use it quite frequently, and I even label shelves and the like. My breakdown is my general filing at home. I only have one drawer and it’s very hard to work the A-Z thing.

Trent, thanks for offering your take on this system. It really helps to see how you and the readers implement the ideas.

By: Malcolm Anderson

Malcolm Anderson — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 03:04:28 +0000

Loving the hands on approach to the series.

Gotta say though, the labeler makes a HUGE difference in my world. I don’t know that David is right when he says that the brain reacts one way to a printed label and another way to a hand written label, but I know it makes a difference for me.

Ken, congrats on going digital, currently I can’t imagine the concept. Could be an age thing, but I’ve got to have that little sheet of dead tree in my fingers if I want to be able to really think about it. I’ve also got to be able to scrawl notes on that little sheet of dead tree, or on a sticky note that I attach to that sheet of dead tree.

It could also be an organizational thing. If I were to digitize everything, I honestly don’t think I would be able to find the stuff I want and need. How do you add notes to a pdf? How do you re-organize 50 sheets of paper that you now know were miss filed. How do you set something aside in a way that you can’t get up for coffee with out literally tripping over it?

By: Franke

Franke — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 22:57:07 +0000

Have to totally disagree about the labeler, Trent. I have one and use it constantly. It’s a battery-powered one, not one with a corded option as Allen recommends, but those kinds are much more expensive. I probably like it so much because my handwriting is so messy that it just looks sloppy on file folders. But I definitely consider it indispensable. If your handwriting is actually neat, then I would say you could do without.

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 11:13:48 +0000

Thank you so much for this series Trent! It makes GTD make so much more sense! I bought the book about a year and a half ago. Tried reading it. Then tried reading it again. It just seemed so dense. Just from reading your summaries/posts on each individual chapter makes me feel like I am ready to take charge of my life!

Keep it coming!

By: Joanna

Joanna — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 19:51:40 +0000

Stacy, love the plastic file folder idea. I’m going to steal that one if you don’t mind. :-)

And Debbie M, one use for a labeler that I’ve seen recently was for a linen cabinet. I’ve never done anything like this, but while househunting I noticed a few linen cabinets that had labels on them like “Queen sheet sets” “blankets” “hall bath towels”. Some were with label makers and others with masking tape/sharpie or some combo like that. The label maker labels were much cuter if that matters to you. :-) (I like attractive organization, what can I say?!) Like I said, I haven’t done it mostly b/c I haven’t had a linen closet & it’s just the hubs and me, but I can see how that could be useful for big families w/ kids & hubs helping out with the chores.

I also like Ken’s idea. We’ve recently gone to this method, saving only original documents like transcripts, marriage certificates, etc. I think we’re going to get a fireproof safe w/ a filing system for those.

By: Ken

Ken — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 19:36:09 +0000

I can’t say enough about going digital – forget about paper files and the amount of space they take up. Grab a Fujitsu Scansnap and a subscription to Amazon Web Services (along with a program like S3 Backup). Yeah, the scanner is like $400, but it is sooo worth it. I also second the shredder – once the files are backed up in the cloud, shred the paper.

By: Stacy

Stacy — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 19:03:47 +0000

Good basic list, although there are a few things that I would add.
Decent crosscut paper shredder. If not in this office area then at least somewhere in your house/apartment/wherever. So far as I’m concerned this is a household essential (unless you burn your paper trash).
Because I often transport papers between my home and a physical office, I bought a poly plastic envelope for these things. It sits in one of my filing trays and anything that needs to go to the office (including my work thumb drive) goes straight into this envelope. Then when I know I’m headed in to the office all I have to do is grab the entire envelope.
I really need to redo my filing system, both my work and our personal one.

By: Katie

Katie — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:07:17 +0000

Trent,
Thanks so much for this series. Where did you buy your paper-holding trays? They are a nice size.

By: cv

cv — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:41:32 +0000

The thing I really like about this series is the way it shows a detailed example of a real-world and highly effective implementation of the system. The book makes it sound a bit like you need to be perfect or the system will fall apart, though I’ve gotten a lot of value out of an imperfect implementation.

I like the fact that you don’t worry about the label maker or the binder clips, and that you have a “to be filed” bin (a big no-no in the book). It shows how to adapt the system to your own style and needs.

By: Debbie M

Debbie M — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:27:21 +0000

It seems like you could sub a pencil and eraser for the post-it notes. Especially if you always put your note in the same spot, like the upper-right-hand corner.

My “automatic labeler” is made out of “invisible” transparent tape and pencil—I put that on my file folder tabs so it’s easy to change the label and still have the file folder looking nice. Do you label things other than file folders?

By: David

David — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:10:56 +0000

When I first started, I didn’t have the stuff. It’s nice to have a comprehensive list explaining why I would even need it. It was a good excuse to get the things that I really did “need” as well. A $50 investment has saved me a lot of grief over the last couple years.

By: Josh

Josh — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:56:48 +0000

I have 3 Space Pens and they are, by far, the BEST pen I have ever had. I will also admit I have had my first 1 for 10+ years without losing it.

By: Funny about Money

Funny about Money — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:37:53 +0000

This post puzzles me. I don’t understand…how could you NOT have these things around the house? And if you do any sort of computer or paperwork, even if it’s just balancing your checkbook, why would most of that stuff not be located in a single place? While it’s not unheard of for people to deliver a shoebox full of receipts to their tax accountant, don’t most people own at least one file holder, even if it’s just a cardboard file box from Staples?

Possibly it’s just that describing a commonsense set-up for a home office in narrative overcomplicates matters.

By: Mat

Mat — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:32:52 +0000

I’ve been using things (mac software) over the last year and have really loved it. Might be interesting to those with space constraints.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:15:59 +0000

“I bought a seven-dollar pen because I always lose pens, and I got sick of not caring.” – Mitch Hedberg