The main thing that comes to mind is the distinction between a GTD system and project materials. In my mind, GTD lists are an index of things I need to do. Many of those tasks require other materials & tools to accomplish them, such as papers, computer files, a vacuum, etc. But the materials are stored separately from the GTD lists.

With that said, we all still need an organized way to keep up with supporting materials. This is where a simple filing cabinet comes in. Follow David’s advice and put things in files, ordered alphabetically, and you’ll always know where that document went. For digital files, a powerful desktop search (such as Google Desktop) can solve the problem.

My own method is to file papers away as soon as possible, then get them back out when needed. Fortunately, I don’t have lots of paper crossing my desk these days, so that definitely helps.

As for portability concerns, that’s a whole separate issue (in my mind). But I suppose that will influence the system you select to handle your project support materials and your GTD lists. However, my big question here is whether you actually have papers that you routinely need at school? Perhaps you need a 3-ring binder for class handouts. This is portable and easily organized. You’ll always know that class materials are in there. Other school docs (such as admin stuff, billing, financial aid, loans) would probably be fine left at home in the filing cabinet, right?

I might be way off base from your real questions here. If so, please let me know. I’m curious what you think of all this.

Thanks for commenting,
Andrew

I get many e-mails and files sent to me on computer (too many to print out), which is great for doing GTD on computer. However, I also get many class handouts at school, documents at work, and letters in the mail (too many to scan into the computer) that require a paper GTD system. This resulted in two problems:

First, it is hard to keep track of the GTD system because every time I act on a task, I have to check the paper file and computer file (an additional problem was that e-mails didn’t save well in folders on the hard drive and files that didn’t arrive in e-mail didn’t save well in Outlook, but maybe that is making this question too complex). Having to check both paper files and computer files is annoying and time consuming.

The second problem was that the paper file system for GTD (42 folders) was more than could be stored in my school backpack. So if I used the GTD folder system, I wouldn’t have important files with me when away from home.

Any advice? How do you handle this dilemma? Thanks.