From the course: Time Management Fundamentals
Gathering to your inbox: Elsewhere
Gathering from your desk to your inbox is a great first step. Now let's consider a few other places where you may have unapproved gathering points. Look around your workspace. Are there any places you missed? Maybe behind a cabinet where papers got lost? How about closets or storage areas? Notice any visitors in the wrong home? Take your time and search your workspace. A little extra gathering time now may save you hours in reduced switching costs later. And, the more you practice gathering, the stronger this habit becomes. You may notice something that's bigger than the boxes. For example, as you look around your workspace, you might ask, what would I like to change? Perhaps installing shelves or hanging a picture? If so, make a note about that large object and then put that note in your inbox. After finishing up with your workspace, consider other locations you counted on your gathering points worksheet. What about your car, or your basement, or garage? You may also need to gather from those areas. But don't interrupt this course if going through those places will take a while. Instead, pull out your calendar and budget time, 30 to 60 days from now, to gather items from places outside of your workspace. For larger areas, give yourself about an hour per room. At the end of all this gathering, you might look at all those boxes and feel uncomfortable. Some of my clients are relieved, while most are a little overwhelmed or stressed. That's okay. You'll begin experiencing relief as you move forward with the course. I'm about to show you how to handle each item you gathered. We'll take one step at a time, helping you learn new habits that will relieve stress and become natural to you.
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