Hi guys - like many other beginners, I'm overwhelmed and have a lot of questions. I appreciate any insight you may have (especially you Katherine- I can't believe you started in December!).

My goal is to someday be able to provide answers to others from a place of mind like water. Until then...need help.

Okay, so I got the book on Audible and listened to it many times. However, I am coming from a very different background than most folks. I'm a waitress/actress and don't spend much time on my computer for anything other than email/internet. I have a Palm I never got comfortable with and so never used, I don't use the mail program on my mac (easier to just deal in Hotmail, now G-mail), I've never had much success with using a calendar or a datebook or a day timer, I don't balance my checkbook...in short - I have no systems for ANYTHING.

I do have a couple of file boxes that havn't been purged since the Dukakis campaign. But they aren't in any kind of order.

Here's the thing - I want to change how I opperate in the world. I'm not stupid (I have a BA from Pomona and a masters from University of San Diego) but I don't think systematically. My parents kept all their bills in a basket in a closet and fought at the end of every month. They are in their 60's and still use this method. I don't want to replicate that model.

In my attempts to start GTD, I began by using a spiral notebook. But where to put all the different lists? I made tabs for NA, for projects, for calls, for movies I want to see someday - but found that i was flipping back and forth too much - and I wanted to be able to see my NA list while looking at my projects list. So I got a loose-leaf notebook and have started lists in that - but it's too bulky to fit in my purse, so I don't take it with me when I'm out of the house. I tried a small notebook in my purse - but I wonder if I'm having too many collection areas.

As for the files - my boyfriend just built me a desk with a 2 file-drawers - but they are for hanging files, and made out of wood, so I don't quite get how I will go the no-hanging file route. I was thinking I might use them for the tickler file and perhaps project files. That's another question- does each project on your list get its own file? If not, what do you do with support materials?

I have nice hand writing - is the labler really necessary if I'm not taking the files into meetings with me?

Any thoughts for a super simple beginning would be of so much help. Thank you all so much for reading, and being a place of support (I am all in favor of a GTD support group - anyone in the Portland area?)

last question - do you think it's possible to chang eyour "type?" Has anyone else had this experience - to go from creative, disorganized child of hippy parents to detail oriented systematic organized being?

Hope so! Look forward to hearing from you!