Comments on: Getting Things Done: Corraling Your Stuff

By: Debbie M

Debbie M — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:19:43 +0000

For things that need to be done repeatedly, Scouts use a kaper chart. I used to have a daily one to keep track of health stuff like how much I slept, how much water I drank, how much I exercised, etc. I’ve also made one for household chores and maintenance so I can see at a glance which ones are done. I also have a mental list of monthly bills that I don’t have automated (phone, gas, other utilities, charity, credit cards) that I double-check at the end of each month.

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 02:51:29 +0000

Sounds like a great idea. I’d like to try it… it’s on my list…

By: Kelli

Kelli — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:53:03 +0000

Well, I did it. I went and collected the stuff. OMG. Let’s just say I am eagerly awaiting the next installment so I can see how to process all of it!!! I must have a stack of about at LEAST 300 items.

By: Kelli

Kelli — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 22:39:10 +0000

I just spent some time going back and reading all the whole series. The process of collecting really appeals to me . . . maybe because my DH is not around this week to get freaked out by it! I often have trouble “turning off” my brain and maybe this would help. I am curious to know more about how Jill does her Google Docs organization since I don’t work at home like Trent. But I don’t have a smartphone . . . so maybe not. Or, maybe have a work section of a notebook (addressed in another installment, I believe) and a personal section, and empty them into the appropriate inboxes in their respective locations. Glad you are doing this! I’m gettin’ the book from the library any day!

By: Michele

Michele — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 21:25:41 +0000

Hey! The link to the last article isn’t working. I missed Friday’s article!

By: Joanna

Joanna — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:05:57 +0000

I also love this series. I tried a while back to read GTD and just got overwhelmed & ended up putting it down. It’s time to get back to it. I do have one question, though. How do you implement it in a family environment? My husband and I just bought a home and are both overwhelmed by the sheer volume of work that it adds to our lives. It feels like corralling alone I’d be missing half the to dos, but I’m not certain I can get the DH on board for the other pieces of it (or even the time commitment of the corraling). Trent, does Sarah do this with you? If not how do you handle the things in her head but not in yours? Does anyone else have any suggestions for an organized wife of a less organized husband? I know he would benefit from a system but I just don’t know if he’ll buy into it. Thanks in advance!

By: Joless

Joless — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:02:25 +0000

Wow! One question, are you supposed to write down everything you think you *should* get done but isn’t a necessity – such like ‘go through bookshelves’, as well as stuff that clearly *needs* doing – like ‘mend x’? What about repeating tasks like ‘mow the lawn’?

I’m forever making lists and trying to capture everything. It makes me calmer when it’s all written down, even if I don’t get around to doing it all (working on that bit!)

By: WendyH

WendyH — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 13:22:25 +0000

@ Notecards: I’ve been doing something similar with the large colored recipe cards, the different type of tasks (caulking-interior, caulking-exterior) get sorted according to color (house maintenance, landscaping etc.) and I also make $$$ with a price range because I’m trying to not start expensive projects while unemployed. I binder clip them together and flip through for my next task when I finish the current one. I guess I didn’t think of using them for ALL of my task lists because I wasn’t sure how to do re-occuring tasks. Looking forward to the next installment!

By: Peter Jay

Peter Jay — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:12:35 +0000

Me too Denna. I found this series helpful. Lot of small good idea slowly grown in my head after reading it.
Look forward for the next series Trent. :)

By: freelance

freelance — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:20:42 +0000

this series is changing my mindset and this explains so many things ie my energy level and my overall happiness

By: Kristen

Kristen — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:43:44 +0000

You’re killing me! :-)

I have been a lurker on your site for years…you’ve finally inspired me to leave a comment (to complain), oh my…no really you are a DAILY MUST-READ for me…can you create a link for the Getting Things Done posts that starts at the beginning and then we can just go to Part 2, Part 3, etc…you know for those of us who want/need to re-read the posts and often start over and over in this process! Thanks! :-)

By: Anupam

Anupam — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:16:33 +0000

Hi Trent,
While this may be beside the moot point of this article, but I am surprised that you, of all people, are asking to print emails that need action.
Most of the mail software provide features that you can use to highlight mails that require action (e.g. flagging in Outlook and Lotus, stars in gmail). Let us use those features instead of cutting more trees.

By: Dena

Dena — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 09:28:00 +0000

I gotta tell you that this series is changing my mindset.I realize now how much I am taking on.And this explains so many things ie my energy level and my overall happiness.I always look forward to the next installment.Thanks for putting out such great content……..Dena

By: Joy Sosoban

Joy Sosoban — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 08:54:25 +0000

Thank you, Trent, for this series. I’ve been following this and printing each article. I have the book myself as I’ve been searching for a way to hone my system. But it wasn’t always easy reading and with my heavy schedule organizing special events plus freelance writing, time is of the essence. And this is just so timely as I need to launch a major event with expected crowd of up to 10,000!

Thanks again and God bless!

Joy

By: Shannan

Shannan — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 07:49:55 +0000

I use note cards too. The perfect size for me is 4″x5″, which I found by cutting up those 8″x5″ index cards in half :)

From Shannan
(Maze Architect)

By: Danielle

Danielle — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:07:02 +0000

I really love this series. Thank You!

By: jill

jill — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:09:31 +0000

Instead of using paper to jot things down I recently started using Google Documents in the same way you are using note paper. I also use scraps of paper all the time to make menus, shopping lists and daily task lists, but I am excited to start using something that is always available to me, even when my little scraps of paper aren’t (for example, work). Another idea I had while reading this article, is that instead of printing off each email that needs attention, you could move them to a new folder(labeled “needs attention” maybe) and then move them back when the item’s completed. Thanks for the great review!

By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 01:26:37 +0000

I’m so glad you’re doing this series. It’s a big help because although I have the book, sometimes when you read the same thing over and over again it becomes ‘brain furniture’ rather than inspiring. Reading it in different words makes it fresh.

By: Stacy

Stacy — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 01:11:01 +0000

I love the idea of notecards rather than a full sheet of notebook paper. I was also thinking of one of the pocket sized spiral bound memo pads.
I need to do this, but I’m a bit afraid of the pile of tasks that I’d come up with.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:31:25 +0000

Oh this is handy! I have the day off work today and I was going to pretty much do this step! I already feel much more organised. I’m tempted to get the book out and jump ahead, but I’m just gonna wait ’till Friday! :D