Discussion Forum > Above GTD - interesting inspiration
Much of this seems sensible, though it was spoilt for me when he professes ignorance of the "A-Z Filing System" which is a core part of GTD. From what he says, this is so alien to his idea of good filing that it probably just didn't take when he read it. (A-Z filing is just optimising your filing by ease of filing rather than ease of recovery. The insight is that even if you do occasionally need to look under 2 or 3 headings for a document, this is still going to be more efficient than a theoretically perfect system which you don't always follow.)
As you say, some way from AF, but it does go some way towards some of the stuff that AF doesn't claim to cover.
As you say, some way from AF, but it does go some way towards some of the stuff that AF doesn't claim to cover.
January 23, 2012 at 14:40 |
Will
Will
Thanks Daneb. For me one of the best thread about GTD
January 23, 2012 at 18:02 |
FocusGuy.
FocusGuy.
For filing domestic stuff I just do it periodically in date order under a few simple categories.
Filing in date order is easy as it files mostly in the order it comes in, just split it into a pile for each category.
(I don't even bother with files as such, just put it into A4 plastic wallets, write on the date range and category, then put the wallets in a box.)
Filing in date order is easy as it files mostly in the order it comes in, just split it into a pile for each category.
(I don't even bother with files as such, just put it into A4 plastic wallets, write on the date range and category, then put the wallets in a box.)
January 23, 2012 at 22:40 |
smileypete
smileypete
@WILL: I understood proposed filling system as splitted to several main categories (general, actual projects, company operations (finance, accounting) etc) and then still filling A-Z in each of them. Which is something I always used. E.g. I never had my current project files at the same filling system as my general/archive stuff etc.
But what is most important for me: when I fill a document or generally when I put any physical thing somewhere, I ask the question: "Where will I probably tend to look for it when I need it? What will be my first idea?" It works perfectly for me. And usualy when I cannot find something quickly, it is because I broke this rule. The system order itself (being A-Z, or more broad categories or even different places) is not so important as asking this question for me. Including home stuff etc.
@SMILEYPETE: I use system similar to yours, e.g. for receipts, ATM receipts and similar, which I do not bother to categorise - I take it out of my wallet, pin it together with date (e.g. "jan-feb 2011") and in case I would need any, I approximatelly know where to look for. After some time, I trash them.
But what is most important for me: when I fill a document or generally when I put any physical thing somewhere, I ask the question: "Where will I probably tend to look for it when I need it? What will be my first idea?" It works perfectly for me. And usualy when I cannot find something quickly, it is because I broke this rule. The system order itself (being A-Z, or more broad categories or even different places) is not so important as asking this question for me. Including home stuff etc.
@SMILEYPETE: I use system similar to yours, e.g. for receipts, ATM receipts and similar, which I do not bother to categorise - I take it out of my wallet, pin it together with date (e.g. "jan-feb 2011") and in case I would need any, I approximatelly know where to look for. After some time, I trash them.
January 24, 2012 at 13:35 |
Daneb
Daneb
"Where will I look for it", "How often will I need to find it" and "How long does it take to file" get equal attention overall, but they get different priorities. Something I need rarely but would need to find quickly (legal papers) get "Where look". Routine papers get "how often" and "time to file".
January 27, 2012 at 15:09 |
Cricket
Cricket
http://www.whatsbestnext.com/2010/08/getting-things-done-to-the-next-level/