| If you do not have a designated "bin" to collect all of | | | | when you're back in your working office. |
| the incoming items in your life, then these items end | | | | 7. Your suitcase: a folder or some type of zipping |
| up being spread, stuffed, and/or stacked anywhere | | | | pouch which is emptied into your home or office |
| and everywhere. This leads to the omnipresent | | | | inbox upon returning from out of town. When you |
| feeling that you have things to do, but you're not | | | | get home from a conference or other trip, you don't |
| exactly sure what or where they are--and gives the | | | | want a nagging sense of 'I know I had some other |
| impression that you are an absent-minded professor | | | | stuff I needed to take care of...wonder where those |
| because you are trying to keep everything in your | | | | things are?' You want to know where all the |
| head (and that's not a particularly good place to be | | | | 'to-be-processed' items are located and that they will |
| collecting and organizing everything, no matter how | | | | get processed as soon as you're back in town. As I |
| smart you are!) | | | | write this, I'm on a 7-day trip, where I'll be speaking |
| By having collection "bins," you have (at least) limited | | | | at 2 universities and I have a special folder (quite |
| the possible locations. Consider buying attractive bins. | | | | large) where all my to-be-processed items are going. |
| The top of a box will do, but it's much more | | | | This is, of course, in addition to my dirty clothes bag, |
| satisfying seeing the bottom of a lovely oak inbox | | | | which will be emptied and processed in the laundry |
| than the bottom of a cardboard box. Consider the | | | | room at home! |
| following suggestions for collection locations and their | | | | 8. Your planner: one location for recording all incoming |
| accompanying "bins" -- although don't think you need | | | | ideas, voice mails, and requests that are not on |
| ALL of these. Choose the ones you need and start | | | | another piece of paper. This "bin" is processed daily. |
| there. | | | | 9. Your PDA: one file or list where you can record all |
| | | | incoming ideas, voice mails, and requests that are not |
| 1. Your office: a large box or basket, which is | | | | recorded elsewhere (this is for people who use |
| processed daily. Daily. | | | | electronic instead of paper planners). This "bin" is |
| 2. Your home: a large box or basket, which is | | | | processed daily, just like all the others. |
| processed daily. Mail, receipts, whatever...all goes here. | | | | 10. Your gym bag: a designated pocket or pouch, |
| 3. Your car: a large box or basket which is carried | | | | which is carried into your home or office and dumped |
| into your home or office daily and dumped into the | | | | into the inbox and/or washing machine there. It may |
| inbox there. For many, without this type of system, | | | | seem funny to consider someplace in your workout |
| their whole car becomes an in-box. | | | | bag as an 'in box,' but if you accept the concept that |
| 4. Your home office: a large box or basket which is | | | | we need to have designated places to 'collect' and |
| processed daily. Everyone in your home should know | | | | then process, you'll understand how you have items |
| that this is where things go that they want you to | | | | that need to be processed after you've worked out |
| attend to. | | | | -- including ideas you came up with while you were |
| 5. Your email: one email inbox to collect all initial email | | | | on the stairstepper machine!) |
| (even when you have multiple email addresses). Don't | | | | The key idea here is this: have limited locations (bins) |
| leave yourself open to 'forgetting' to check your | | | | for collecting the incoming items and then process |
| multiple email in-boxes. Have one. | | | | these items daily. Your life will change radically if you |
| 6. Your briefcase: a folder or large envelope that is | | | | empty/process your inboxes every single day. You |
| emptied daily into your office or home inbox. No | | | | don't want to be (or appear to be) an absent-minded |
| matter where you are (meetings, appointments, etc.) | | | | professor, do you?! |
| you're picking up items that need your attention | | | | |