{"id":1818,"date":"2009-07-15T15:19:19","date_gmt":"2009-07-15T23:19:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gtdtimes.com\/?p=1818"},"modified":"2014-02-03T14:32:55","modified_gmt":"2014-02-03T22:32:55","slug":"the-evolution-of-a-gtd-workspace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gettingthingsdone.com\/2009\/07\/the-evolution-of-a-gtd-workspace\/","title":{"rendered":"The Evolution of a GTD Workspace"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"firstGTD Times recently had a post requesting that people share pics of their workspaces that had been inspired by Getting Things Done<\/em>.\u00a0 I contacted the Editor and she graciously suggested that I write up a little post about the evolution of my workspace and my GTD practice.<\/p>\n

When I set up my very first home office I was so excited about Getting Things Done<\/em>. I had just read the book<\/a> and was looking forward to using the techniques to start moving forward on my goals and dreams, things that I had in a sub-conscious “Someday\/Maybe” list that were never getting any closer to fruition. As you can see, I had very little idea of what I was doing, I simply jumped in head-first. Of course, the limitations of this cramped and non-ergonomic setting soon became all too apparent. The “room” I chose for my office was just too small for any kind of meaningful work. So, I took a chance and moved out to the dining room, which we rarely used anyway:<\/p>\n

\"second<\/p>\n

Here I was able to spread out, with room for the planner, the in-box, and my 43 folders Tickler File in a little rolling cart to the side. This is where I started achieving some real results, and discovered the GTD community that was springing up all over the internet.<\/p>\n

These bloggers soon became friends and partners in my learning experience, and I soon took up the pen and started writing about GTD on a regular basis. Experimenting with and tweaking my own system to find an optimal arrangement, as well as helping others to find their own ‘perfect’ toolset became my primary focus.<\/p>\n

In September of 2007, my wife took a new job, which required that we re-locate from Winston-Salem, NC to Phippsburg, ME. This was a very good opportunity for her, as well as a chance for me to start thinking about goinginto business for myself. The Natural Planning method of GTD was very helpful in putting together some goals and projects for making this a reality, and my new home office was really starting to come together.<\/p>\n

\"firstThe house that we were renting had a small room on the second floor that was nearly perfect for a home office.<\/p>\n

Everything that I needed was right at my fingertips, and it was in a dedicated space that did not need to get cleared off and ‘put away’ when we had company or a dinner party. In the photo above you can see (from left to right) the tagging tools, in-box, planner, laptop, (and to the right of the desk) storage for office supplies, Circa project binders (by this time I had become quite the Levenger fan!), and in front of the printer – the Tickler File.<\/p>\n

Over the winter of 2007 I spent a lot of time learning about the entire range of productivity systems and practices, while continuing to expand my knowledge of the fundamental principles of GTD. It was also here that I launched my own business, doing some consulting and training for local businesses in sales and hospitality management.<\/p>\n

Then the economy took a turn for the worse and in the fall of 2008 my wife found herself out of a job (see A New Adventure<\/a>).<\/p>\n

This was the most important test of my workflow system, a test that would alter it forever. We spent over three months traveling across the US, visiting friends and family in Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin before doing some sight-seeing in St. Louis, Missouri and Nashville, Tennessee. Then it was on to Hilton Head, South Carolina for a few weeks. During this time I was working hard for my new clients and hosting some teleconferences from wherever we happened to be. This fully-mobile lifestyle taught me some very important lessons:<\/p>\n