## Key Takeaway Have a central repository where all tasks are regularly added, organized, and reviewed, which offloads remembering and lets the brain focus on doing. ## Summary A book written by [[David Allen]], which details his philosophy / system / process / method of how to (as its name suggests), get things done. I did not read the book but I read a summary of it from Ionos: [[Getting Things Done - a productivity system for all areas of life]]. The method consists of five steps: 1. Capture: Put everything you need to do into a central repository (inbox) 2. Clarify: Think about the nature of each task 3. Organize: Put each task into their appropriate folders / trays 4. Reflect: Regularly review your folders / trays to intuit your progress or if any changes are needed 5. Engage: Tackle each task depending on time and place ## Details ### Step 1: Capture - Collect all your tasks, appointments, and ideas in boxes. - Add new tasks, appointments, and ideas to your inbox as they arise. ### Step 2: Clarify - Decide where things in the inbox belongs. - Ask the following questions: - What kind of task is it? - Is it actionable? - What's the next action? - **When reviewing your inboxes, don't put anything back in the inbox. Decide where each item belongs.** - If no action is possible or necessary, choose one of three options: - Trash it - Put it on the "Maybe/Someday" list - Archive it for reference ![[GTD Workflow.png]] ### Step 3: Organize - If you can complete a task in **two minutes or less**, do it right away and **don't** add it to the GTD system. If not, assign actionable items to temporary trays or lists: - **Calendar**: Only **appointments** go in your calendar. - **Projects**: Any tasks that requires **more than one action** is a project. - **Next Actions**: A separate list for tasks that are **not project-specific**. Can be further subdivided into **context-specific lists** such as "personal tasks", "work tasks", "phone calls", "errands", etc. - **Waiting For**: A **reminder list** for all delegated tasks outside of projects. Set dates to follow up with others on how far they've progressed with a task. ### Step 4: Reflect - Regularly review your lists to make sure that your system is up to date. Review your calendar several times a day and check your to-do lists at least once a day. Empty your inboxes once a day. - Weekly review: - **Empty your head**: Write down all ideas. - **Inboxes**: Put new tasks where they belong. - **To-do list**: Check if list is up-to-date. - **Project lists**: Check if list is up-to-date, and if at least one action was taken in the past week to move project(s) forward. - **Maybe/someday**: Do you want to transfer some items to the project list or process them now? - **Calendar**: Check if calendar up-to-date and all appointments kept. Check upcoming appointments and if all appointments have been entered. - **Waiting for**: Check status of delegated actions and follow up. ### Step 5: Engage - Use four criteria to decide what to do next: - **Context**: What context am I in? What can I do right now? - **Time Available**: How much time do I have now? - **Energy Available**: Schedule tasks that require full concentration at times that suit your biorhythm. - **Priority**: Which task is most important? ## Related While the GTD system organizes tasks, [[The PARA Method|PARA]] organizes information.