Attention deficit support - "Getting Things Done"

Author

"Getting Things Done"

Emma Anne

2005-11-29, 12:56 pm

An ADDer friend of mine urgently recommended this book to me (author
David Allen) so I tried it. I now urgently recommend it to you.
Especially Part 2, "Practising Stress-Free Productivity." I don't
really need help with project planning or "key principles."

The underlying theory is that all the stuff you need to do weighs on
you. It takes up part of your mind and energy worrying about getting it
done or forgetting it. You need a way to get this stuff out of your
mind, and the way to do it is to get it in writing in a system that you
review. (Plus it helps you get organized and not forget things, but I
am concentrating on the stress relief aspect, because I think that's the
most important aspect for us ADDers, and it's been coming up a lot
lately.)

Practically speaking, I put everything that requires any action into an
inbox (if it's too big, I put a note about in the in box). Each Monday,
I go through the inbox, all of it, and file things and put them on lists
and my calendar. If an item takes less than ten minutes or so (emailing
to ask a question, say) I do it right then.

The only absolutes are that you *have* to empty the in box - no putting
things back -, you have to get the things you need to do written down,
and you have to review your lists once in a while.

There's lots more, of course, but most of it is take what you like and
leave the rest. The above are things you have to do for the system to
work at all. For example, if you allow yourself to put things back into
your inbox, pretty soon it's a big "miscellaneous" box. If you don't
write things down (or review the lists) you aren't getting them out of
your mind.

This change has been so great for me. I don't have piles (and drawers
and boxes) of things to do anymore - just my inbox and a few things that
have collected over the week, which will go into my inbox. The first
time I did it, all my inbox stuff was a huge pile covering a large table
and leaking onto chairs. Now it is an actual inbox. I used to have
files lying around everywhere to remind to do things. Now my lists can
remind me and I put away the files I am not using.

I have two main lists: thing to do at work (separated into things to do
at the computer and other things); and things to do at home (which
includes things like a list of gift ideas. I've tried other lists, but
these are the ones that I use.

The author says you have to put the next step to be taken for each item
on you list, and I sometimes do this. I write in the phone number if
it's a phone call, and note whether I am waiting for a client's review
or the like. But most of my items I know what to do next and I don't
bother to put it in writing. I think his advice is important for people
who put things off because they dont want to figure out what to do next,
but that's not me.

Another thing I found useful from the book is to have a lot more file
folders than I ever used to. I have a "Waiting for" folder that holds
things like rebate applications and questions for which I am awaiting
answers. I have a folder called Books, in which I put notes about books
I want to read, and list of books I am missing in a series. I have a
folder called Things to Order, and one called School and Camp Forms.

The book recommended buying a labeler and labeling the files. I did
this because I like any project better if it involves a gadget. :-)

Jack Straw

2005-11-29, 5:57 pm

"Emma Anne" <emma_anne@mac.com> wrote in message
news:1h6sa4x.1qfmi1blv24m2N%emma_anne@mac.com...
> An ADDer friend of mine urgently recommended this book to me (author
> David Allen) so I tried it. I now urgently recommend it to you.
> Especially Part 2, "Practising Stress-Free Productivity." I don't
> really need help with project planning or "key principles."
>
> The underlying theory is that all the stuff you need to do weighs on
> you. It takes up part of your mind and energy worrying about getting it
> done or forgetting it. You need a way to get this stuff out of your
> mind, and the way to do it is to get it in writing in a system that you
> review. (Plus it helps you get organized and not forget things, but I
> am concentrating on the stress relief aspect, because I think that's the
> most important aspect for us ADDers, and it's been coming up a lot
> lately.)

Yeah, well, that's nice, but my desktops (real and virtual) are littered
with to-do
lists. Can never remember where I put them. My other problem is that once
I've written something down, my mental reminder system flags it as "handled"
and I never think of it again. My other other problem is that finding the
to-do
list and acting on it is yet another task, which adds to the overload. My
other other other problem is that the reason I write something down in a
to-do list
instead of just doing it is that I don't know what to do about it, and when
I
see it on the list later on I still don't know what to do about it. That's
also the
problem with the "never put anything back in the inbox" or the "never handle
any piece of paper twice" theory. Generally I've got 20 projects on the go,
all in various stages of competion. I'm doing one, I hit a roadblock,
figure:
I'll think about this one for a while; switch to another; eventually cycle
through
all 20 and get back to the original one, and find the roadblock is still
there.
I can end up thrashing around in all 20, being stuck and getting nowhere,
furthermore having less & less chance of getting past those roadblocks
because the whole situation is stressing me out. Just about then, the world
throws problem #21 on my doorstep.

I think all the "get organized" guides are great - for people who don't
have ADD. Unstressed and on meds, I don't need that stuff, otherwise
it doesn't do any good.

I'm just speaking for myself of course. If it works for you, go for it.

, maybe the answer will pop ,
>
> Practically speaking, I put everything that requires any action into an
> inbox (if it's too big, I put a note about in the in box). Each Monday,
> I go through the inbox, all of it, and file things and put them on lists
> and my calendar. If an item takes less than ten minutes or so (emailing
> to ask a question, say) I do it right then.
>
> The only absolutes are that you *have* to empty the in box - no putting
> things back -, you have to get the things you need to do written down,
> and you have to review your lists once in a while.
>
> There's lots more, of course, but most of it is take what you like and
> leave the rest. The above are things you have to do for the system to
> work at all. For example, if you allow yourself to put things back into
> your inbox, pretty soon it's a big "miscellaneous" box. If you don't
> write things down (or review the lists) you aren't getting them out of
> your mind.
>
> This change has been so great for me. I don't have piles (and drawers
> and boxes) of things to do anymore - just my inbox and a few things that
> have collected over the week, which will go into my inbox. The first
> time I did it, all my inbox stuff was a huge pile covering a large table
> and leaking onto chairs. Now it is an actual inbox. I used to have
> files lying around everywhere to remind to do things. Now my lists can
> remind me and I put away the files I am not using.
>
> I have two main lists: thing to do at work (separated into things to do
> at the computer and other things); and things to do at home (which
> includes things like a list of gift ideas. I've tried other lists, but
> these are the ones that I use.
>
> The author says you have to put the next step to be taken for each item
> on you list, and I sometimes do this. I write in the phone number if
> it's a phone call, and note whether I am waiting for a client's review
> or the like. But most of my items I know what to do next and I don't
> bother to put it in writing. I think his advice is important for people
> who put things off because they dont want to figure out what to do next,
> but that's not me.
>
> Another thing I found useful from the book is to have a lot more file
> folders than I ever used to. I have a "Waiting for" folder that holds
> things like rebate applications and questions for which I am awaiting
> answers. I have a folder called Books, in which I put notes about books
> I want to read, and list of books I am missing in a series. I have a
> folder called Things to Order, and one called School and Camp Forms.
>
> The book recommended buying a labeler and labeling the files. I did
> this because I like any project better if it involves a gadget. :-)
>
>

george_of_the_bush

2005-11-29, 5:57 pm

On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 17:47:36 GMT, emma_anne@mac.com (Emma Anne) wrote:

Emma Anne, please don't take the following reply personally.

>
>Practically speaking, I put everything that requires any action into an
>inbox (if it's too big, I put a note about in the in box). Each Monday,
>I go through the inbox, all of it, and file things and put them on lists
>and my calendar. If an item takes less than ten minutes or so (emailing
>to ask a question, say) I do it right then.
>
>The only absolutes are that you *have* to empty the in box - no putting
>things back -, you have to get the things you need to do written down,
>and you have to review your lists once in a while.
>

And true satisfaction is achieved when you sit nest to the warm fire
as the inbox burns.

_g

Emma Anne

2005-11-29, 5:57 pm

Jack Straw <gfrideric@gmail.com> wrote:

>
> I'm just speaking for myself of course. If it works for you, go for it.

Sure. I'm just speaking for myself too. I hope it may be useful to
someone else too.

Ann

2005-11-29, 5:57 pm

george_of_the_bush <not@today.net> expounded:

>On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 17:47:36 GMT, emma_anne@mac.com (Emma Anne) wrote:
>
>Emma Anne, please don't take the following reply personally.
>
>
>And true satisfaction is achieved when you sit nest to the warm fire
>as the inbox burns.
>
>_g

LOL, George, that was a good one!

But seriously, Emma, GTD is a good thing. There's a mailing list here
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GtD_Palm specifically for using this
method with a Palm OS device. Many people us Shadowplan to implement
the method.

I use a Palm OS unit, but I'm not as organized as in the book. It
does help, though, and Jack Straw, all those little notes get kept in
one place, there's one ToDo database to work with (unless you use
Shadow, then there's one program but as many lists as you want with
all sorts of options and uses) all contained in one small package, and
backed up on your pc (or two, as I do) so you can't lose them. It is
well worth trying, it doesn't all come at once but over the years I've
used one I've gotten pretty organized. Yes, I know, it's difficult to
follow through with anything when you have ADHD, but as I always say,
you've got to keep trying, cuz no one else is going to do it for
you.....
--
Ann
e-mail address is not checked

Emma Anne

2005-11-30, 12:54 pm

Ann <annbal@newsguy.com> wrote:

>
> But seriously, Emma, GTD is a good thing. There's a mailing list here
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GtD_Palm specifically for using this
> method with a Palm OS device. Many people us Shadowplan to implement
> the method.

I use a little program that came with my computer called OmniOutliner
(it's a list program, even though it sounds like an outlining program).
There are much more sophisticated tools, of course, but this is doing it
for me so far. I don't want to have so many elements in my plan that I
don't do any of them.

I may try something more powerful down the road.

>
> I use a Palm OS unit, but I'm not as organized as in the book. It
> does help, though, and Jack Straw, all those little notes get kept in
> one place, there's one ToDo database to work with

Yes! It helps your peace of mind to know you've captured everything in
one place. And reducing the stress and near-panic of knowing I am
forgetting things is even more important to me than the fact that I am
more organized (though they are closely related, of course).

(snip)

> Yes, I know, it's difficult to
> follow through with anything when you have ADHD, but as I always say,
> you've got to keep trying, cuz no one else is going to do it for
> you.....

And none of us have the option of just giving up. You can't just miss
all your appointments and deadlines, if you have any interactions in the
world.

Jack Straw

2005-12-01, 12:59 am

"Emma Anne" <emma_anne@mac.com> wrote in message
news:1h6u6xz.e1ev8n1cscaivN%emma_anne@mac.com...
> Ann <annbal@newsguy.com> wrote:
>
>
> I use a little program that came with my computer called OmniOutliner
> (it's a list program, even though it sounds like an outlining program).
> There are much more sophisticated tools, of course, but this is doing it
> for me so far. I don't want to have so many elements in my plan that I
> don't do any of them.
>
> I may try something more powerful down the road.
>
>
> Yes! It helps your peace of mind to know you've captured everything in
> one place. And reducing the stress and near-panic of knowing I am
> forgetting things is even more important to me than the fact that I am
> more organized (though they are closely related, of course).
>
> (snip)
>
>
> And none of us have the option of just giving up. You can't just miss
> all your appointments and deadlines, if you have any interactions in the
> world.

As to software, I use Outlook and it has all the necessary bells and
whistles.
I spend 90% of my time on my computer (20% working, 30% playing computer
games, 50% thrashing around - like now). The calendar part of it I use
regularly,
I have it beep me well in advance of things, only I don't always remember to
put appointments into it. I also sporadically use the Contacts feature,
though
mostly I just do a search on my email when i want to find someone. Thee's a
"tasks" (i.e. to-do list) feature, too, which I try to use but never
remember to
look at, and Notes and Journal which is too much complexity for me.

The meds help: I find that on dex when I take a computer game break, I get
antsy after I've played 2 or 3 games and get back to work, instead of
tunnelling in, playing game after game, and suddenly 2 hours have gone by.
The thrashing mainly comes from stress, which I'm under a lot of at the
moment because of marriage problems. Tranks help a bit.

I actually don;t have a problem with routine no-brainer jobs: take out the
garbage, feed the dogs, do the dishes - those things don't engage the brain,
so they're actually kind of soothing. I let bills pile up, and I can see how
a 'never put anything back in the inbox' rule could help there. But my
problem
comes with more complex activities. Even say something like filing expenses
for a trip I took. I had all the receipts in my wallet - I thought. Haul
them
out, set up a spreadsheet, type in the numbers - oops, I'm missing some.
Where could they be? Can't think. Oh, well - I'll look up the credit card
statement. Look in efficient filing system, find folder with jumbled up
bank
& credit card statements, sort statements into neat piles in order by date
noting some are missing, clip with paper clips, find the ones I need. Hey,
doin' real good. Copy some numbers. Still missing some. Stumped.
Leave it for now, get on with other stuff. Soon buried on desk. Later:
tidy desk, file credit card statements etc. Much later: look in briefcase,
find missing receipts. Put remaining numbers in spreadsheet: each item
keyed to a receipt number, now just need to preint the sheet, number the
receipts, put the whole thing in an envelope .... hold on, missing the first
bunch
of receipts. Tear the place apart looking for them. Stumped. Set the
whole
thing aside. Much much later: have reason to look in credit card file
again,
missing receipts were stuffed in with credit card statement. Finally finish
job.
Elapsed time: about 2 weeks.

Hmmmm.

Emma Anne

2005-12-01, 10:57 am

Jack Straw <gfrideric@gmail.com> wrote:

> The thrashing mainly comes from stress, which I'm under a lot of at the
> moment because of marriage problems.

Stress definitely throws my systems off. And yeah, thank God for meds!

There's a marriage support group if you are interested:
alt.support.marriage.