Systems are part of creating organization from what ordinarily is potential chaos. Systems are a part of sanity, as they make things work in terms of clarity and ease of use and results; insanity is chaos. Our objective is for you to operate in "highsanity" in your life.
FIRST, DETERMINE AREAS WHERE YOU COULD BENEFIT FROM THIS
There are lots of areas, such as any area of your life. However, the first step toward providing a foundational system is to create a Reminders/Grounding Notebook and a Life Plan Notebook, go to Table of Contents link - note that these have some duplicate sections, so you can choose where to put the item, but the more detailed versions probably will be in the LifePlan Notebook. (Some people will want to set up an About Me Notebook, for everything from personality tests to one's history, parents, etc. and etc.)
These will provide the basis for you to run your life much more beneficially.
(Note that if you are constructing a "data base" or "article/writings" base, you would structure your computer with a place to put those, using as a basis something like the Computer Organization Outline.)
THEN SET UP THE NOTEBOOKS THIS WAY
1. Go to an office supply store to
a. Buy a three ring binder notebook of appropriate size. Note that you will most often underestimate the appropriate size. The two major notebooks should be 3 inch. The notebook should be of excellent quality and endurance.
b. Buy a divider tab set with 32 tabs (usually used for a monthly tickle system). Of course, you can buy the divider tab systems where you insert the section title - this can be used to further divide a section so that you can easily "tab" to it to read the section. (I get the tabbed dividers in bulk to write on from Amazon.com. Preferred: Oxford Manila Tab Dividers, Blank, Write On - 5 Tab; also ok: Three-Ring Binder Index Dividers, 1/5-Cut Tabs.)
2. Determine an initial list (or outline) of what you want in the notebook. You can start from scratch or use any of the formats already prepared (see LifeBook System page for some links). You can also use a Contents/Links directory page for an area.
FILL IN THE NOTEBOOKS THIS WAY
1. Write out your initial "table of contents" in the order you are likely to want to review it and/or by topics in some logical order. (Again, see examples of LifeBooks.)
2. Insert blank pieces of paper in each section, usually several per section. Put at the bottom of the page a notation, so you can flip to it easily, of the section number and subsection number - e.g. III-15A.
3. If you already have some written pieces that you want in the notebook, insert those in the notebook, properly numbering them. It is a good idea to insert blank forms that are relevant (click on the links and print them).
4. Work on the sections in the order of importance (or some order you decide to) generally. At the same time, though it may seem counterintuitive, you would write items out, on the relevant pages, that you want to remember - and you may choose at any time to further complete that page. You will, for sure, have many pages in partial completion, but these will build into a more complete and very useful extra brain to use when needed.
REVIEW AND USE THEM PERIODICALLY TO REINFORCE, BUILD, AND/OR "TO DO"
You would set up on your computer system or paper calendar reminders of when to use the notebooks.
Obviously, the point of the notebook system is to use it! And things do not get used without prompters/tickles!
You may not need to do that for the Reminders/Grounding Notebook, as you'll know to use that daily.
But the life plan notebook should be reviewed (at least scanned) at least every month.
