It is often difficult to sort through a neglected Inbox when there is a lot of material –perhaps an entire laundry basket full Been there, got the T-shirt, and threw it away!
David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” suggests/insists on working from the ‘top’ down, one item at a time. This is absolutely DEADLY. You never know what is coming next, you cannot see how you will get to the end, and cannot plan how to file each item –will it need it’s own category or can it fit into existing categories, are there more like it, and so forth.
Instead, get a big table surface, and sort it all into piles based on how you will treat each type: e.g., business bills, home bills, article types you wish to save, banking info, customer letters, supplier invoices etc.
One point David Allen makes that is useful in the above step is to deal with (*eliminate*) anything you can do in about two minutes. Get it the heck off your mind and done!
Now you have only a few ‘conceptual’ groups to work with. You can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Tackle whatever pile suits your fancy. I tend to do the easiest first, then the clutter is largely gone, and it feels like you are actually working on the important stuff, and really getting something done.
Go for it, then follow David Allens plan for “Getting Things Done” on a regular basis, not to mention using all the great tips on MyOrganizedBiz.com.
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It is often difficult to sort through a neglected Inbox when there is a lot of material –perhaps an entire laundry basket full
Been there, got the T-shirt, and threw it away!
David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” suggests/insists on working from the ‘top’ down, one item at a time. This is absolutely DEADLY. You never know what is coming next, you cannot see how you will get to the end, and cannot plan how to file each item –will it need it’s own category or can it fit into existing categories, are there more like it, and so forth.
Instead, get a big table surface, and sort it all into piles based on how you will treat each type: e.g., business bills, home bills, article types you wish to save, banking info, customer letters, supplier invoices etc.
One point David Allen makes that is useful in the above step is to deal with (*eliminate*) anything you can do in about two minutes. Get it the heck off your mind and done!
Now you have only a few ‘conceptual’ groups to work with. You can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Tackle whatever pile suits your fancy. I tend to do the easiest first, then the clutter is largely gone, and it feels like you are actually working on the important stuff, and really getting something done.
Go for it, then follow David Allens plan for “Getting Things Done” on a regular basis, not to mention using all the great tips on MyOrganizedBiz.com.