Getting Things Done in College
Monday, February 12th, 2007
David Allen’s Getting Things Done is a must-read for anyone stressed out over ever-changing projects, responsibilities, and deadlines both at work and in life. As a college student, I’m constantly bombarded with new course assignments, job applications, and social responsibilities. The Getting Things Done system manages stress through collection of ‘loose ends’ though ‘next-action’ lists and by keeping the system simple.
I’ve adapted GTD to suit my personal needs and my needs as a college student, which I’ll outline below. If you’re unfamiliar with GTD, I highly recommend picking up the book. Also, be sure to check out 43 Folders, a blog that focuses on productivity and GTD techniques.
Although I’m a huge fan of OS X on my new MacBook, I keep a Windows XP desktop around for gaming and some day-to-day uses. Windows always slows down on me over time, neccessitating at least a bi-annual reinstall. After backing-up my data, I began the reinstall process from my XP Pro CD. The install failed due to a scratched disc, rendering my desktop utterly useless. I searched the internet for the best solution for recovering scratched CDs and stumbled upon the miracle cure: toothpaste.