The Basics Of Getting Things Done (GTD)
What Is GTD?
David Allen’s book, titled “Getting Things Done“, is a very well-written system that teaches you how to use GTD to become a more productive individual. To start off, I’ll just explain the very basics of GTD that I’ve tweaked and used.
How To Incorporate GTD Into Your Workflow
- Find a good task-manager application (i.e. OmniFocus) to collect all of your ideas.
- Organize specific categories to place each task into: Inbox, Current Projects, Next Actions, etc.
- If you know it will take less than 2 minutes, go ahead and get it over with. If it will take longer, delegate it with a due date.
- Organize your email into categorized folders (Archives, Family, Due Next Week, Bills, Other, etc.)
- When you use something put it back to its original spot, that way nothing gets out of place.
Other Tips To Help You With GTD
- Keep a pad of Post-it’s™ with you in your back pocket along with a pen. This way you can jot down a quick idea or something and you won’t forget it. Personally, I use this when I find new features about applications that I want to go back to later.
- Throw away a magazine after you read it, there’s no reason to keep it.
- Keep your desk area neat.
- Scan paper documents onto your computer, so you won’t lose them and to conserve desk space.
- Make a list of goals you want to complete by the end of the year.
Hope this helps you understand the basics of David Allen’s GTD system. I recommend you buy his book and read through it to truly understand all that his system has to offer.
March 31st, 2008 at 6:37 pm