Spring Cleaning # 30 - Take a load off our drives

For this post I looked through all of the files on my computer. First, I moved and deleted a file to the S: drive. I had never used this drive before. I don't know how often I'll need it, but it's good to know it's there. They, I looked at the P: drive. I already had my own folder on my branch's P: drive. I use this folder when I am on a computer that is not logged into my person profile, but I still need to save or work on a project. It wasn't in too bad of shape, but I did delete some items and move some other items to my Z: drive. I already had quite a collection of folders going on in my Z: drive. As I have been with HCPL less that 2 years, nothing was too old. However, I did take this opportunity to clean up and further organize some of my folders so that they are now a little easier to navigate. Overall, I found I was already somewhat organized but that it was good to have an incentive to clean up a little before the messiness got out of hand. As it was, it only took about 20 minutes to clean everything up.

Spring Cleaning #29 - Email

I do already have a personal email address, so I've never had a problem with having to use my work email as a personal email (except for my husband who always emails me books to request for him, but I guess that is kind of work-related). My inbox is pretty clear and I actually just recently deleted a large amount of trash and sent emails. I've used the folder system since I started at HCPL. However, I noticed what I need to go through were the folders I had already set up. Because these folders were going on 2 years, I noticed that many of the items were outdated and no longer needed. I've started to go through these folders and clean them up, delete some, and consolidate others. This takes a little bit longer because now I need to think carefully about what I really need and what I am just holding on to as a security blanket! Hopefully, I will continue to do a good job of keeping my inbox, sent and trash boxes clear-perhaps on a weekly basis. I probably need to actually looking at my folders on a quarterly basis.

Spring cleaning #28

I read post #28. I decided to try out Remember the Milk and Bla-bla list. What I liked about Bla-bla list is it was simpler. I just used it as a list making device. But it was also easy to figure out how to send that list to my email and how to print it. It seems like it would be an easy thing to quickly open in the morning and minimize so that I could add to it during the day. Remember the Milk seemed to have more bells and whistles, but I don't thing I really need that. Traditionally, I've always organized by writing things down in a notebook and then crossing off the finished items. I'm not sure if having an electronic list will work for me. It's just so much more satisfying to physically cross something off a list rather than clicking it done. Especially if I have a red pen to mark with!

As far as GTD, I think this is basically the way I usually works. It just serves as a reminder of the process I already seem to do.