Getting Things Done
I Need a Better System
I’ve tried various plans for organizing my office and files but they generally don’t work for me and instead of filing I start stacking papers and eventually it’s completely out of control with years of papers piled up around my office. The result is forgotten deadlines and missed opportunities.
I’m great at making lists but I tend to have several lists going on different scraps of paper and some online and they are never complete so my brain spends a lot of time trying to remember what I need to do. I’ve decided it’s time for a change. I couldn’t deal with the clutter anymore and I was tired of forgetting important things.
Getting Things Done
I’ve read several organization books in the past and none of them really worked for me. Until this month, I finally read David Allen’s Getting Things Done
I love it.
It’s about writing everything down so you can forget about it and relax. Everything has a clear category (can you take action on it or can’t you) so everything is in an obvious place. It’s probably not for everyone as he’s got a flow chart for how to determine what to do with a piece of paper, but I’m finding it extremely helpful. Once I got going it’s not as complicated as it seemed when I read about it.
One of the things I love about it is he’s not selling a day timer or electronic gadget. He’s just explains his ideas and leaves the reader to implement it in a way that works for them.
I spent the first week of March (the week before my kids came home) organizing my office. Tossing out huge piles of papers and redoing my filing system.
- I now have a real world in box and my desktop is cleared.
- My email inbox is at 0 at the end of most days.
- I don’t have stacks of papers without a home.
- At a glance I know all the balls I have up in the air at any time and which ones need action.
Important but Not Urgent
As a result of identifying all the projects I was working on and the next steps I needed to do on them I’ve made some big progress in completing some of the projects. Projects that I’ve always wanted to do but haven’t tackled because they aren’t the most urgent things in my life.
As an example I knew I wanted to get some limbs cut off of a tree so my garden would get more light but it never made it onto a list as it was never urgent. With this system I wrote it down and in a few free minutes at work I found someone to do the work on craiglist and they came out that day and did the job.
It feels great to be making progress on more than just the things with a deadline this week.
Ready for the Big Breakthrough
I’m now in a position to tackle a really big project and bring it to completion – getting a professional portfolio pulled together along with a rewrite of my website as I’m ready to start looking for gallery representation.
This is a pretty big project and instead of going it alone I’ve signed up for Alyson Stanfield’s Artist Breakthrough Program (on the classes tab, it starts in April). After taking Christine Kane’s e-seminar I know the value in having outside support. And I love the amazing benefits of group energy. I’ll be holding myself accountable to completing these projects by working with a group and setting some deadlines.
I’m excited about getting this work finished and moving to the next level with my art career.
Blog Book Tour
Speaking of Alyson, I’m going to be hosting her on my blog on April 1 as part of her blog book tour. I love her new book I’d Rather Be in The Studio and I was excited for the opportunity to interview her for the book tour. Although I’ve read Alyson’s blog for years and attended a workshop with her I still learned quite a bit from her book. I definitely recommend it.
Posted by Lisa in: Goals and Intention
Tagged: Alyson Stanfield, Christine Kane, Getting Things Done
great post! lots of helpful information. i’ve been trying to figure out how to best organize all my paper, so i appreciate the tip to check out “getting things done.”
GTD yay Lisa!
Glad to read this Lisa. Over the last week or so I’ve been wondering how everyone from the GO (Get Organized) class was getting on. :) I know I’m still doing pretty okay but a few things haven’t quite clicked into place. Fortunately a few systems were drastically improved and I haven’t managed to destroy them yet. I’ll have to check out that book! And Alyson’s of course. Thanks for the little update!
First of all – I’m so jealous right now.
You’ve organized your paperwork? You should see my dining room table right now – one huge pile has become 10 big piles in my lame attempt at organizing myself. I’ve got some deadlines coming up and I had a moment of panic – when do I need to get the photos, let alone the work to the organizers??
Secondly, I just discovered Christine Kane this past week. (I know you blogged about your seminar with her before, but I don’t always follow all the links) Confessions aside, I would love to take one of her seminar’s and I love her music and energy. I suppose that sometimes, we need to make these little discoveries on our own when we’re ready. My new favorite song is “what the hell am I doing with my life?” When I first heard it – it was me 10 years ago – totally related.
Anyway, congratulations, and I look forward to reading your interview with Alyson.
Lisa, GTD is perfect for you. I’ve found that it doesn’t work for a lot of artists (too structured), but it’s got to be perfect for a gal with a series called “Structures.” And even if you use just some of his suggestions, you’ll be ahead. I look forward to an update. And I’m excited about the interview we did and to see it here on your blog–your first podcast. Thanks for the mention.
I am reading thru Alyson’s book and am finding lots of FABULOUS information. As deadlines are looming and an exhibition this July/August……I am slowly working on getting my studio in order and then implementing alot of what Alyson says!
I simply loved that book! (… and me being a quote lover, it was just over the top!)
Your post is very timely as it’s now been about 6 months since ArtBiz GO class and my reading GTD. I knew all of the ideas in the book were not for me, but so many were so valuable. Although I’ve stuck by many, I’m starting to see piles on the kitchen table, in the bedroom, office, etc…
This post is a wonderful reminder to review. Thank you!
I’ve just read both of these books and would recommend both of them as well. I am just in the starting process of Getting Things Done but I think it will be very valuable if I can get it set up.
leah – good luck finding a system that works for you.
Pamdora – everytime I see GTD I think Greatest Common Divisor. What a geek I can be.
Tina – definitely check out the book – it’s awesome!
Cynthia – I agree – when the time is right for us we find what we need. Isn’t Christine great!
Alyson – my email to you has started to bounce! Oh no! It was your website where I finally connected with the GTD stuff.
Dale Ann – yes – fabulous – and good luck with your show and organization.
Tracy – I think we all take what we want from systems – good for you for pulling what works for you. I’m not doing it exactly either but I love the main goal – effortless productivity – I’m a huge fan of effortlessness!
Lisa – it does feel daunting setting up GTD – I took a week to get the basics in place. I still don’t have all my projects down but I know I have all the ones that I need to think about in the next month on there – and I have a project for finishing my project list. I think this means I’m a gtd geek.