Getting Things Done (GTD), an organizational work-life managament system created by productivity consultant David Allen, provides concrete solutions for transforming overwhelm and uncertainty into an integrated system of stress free productivity.
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15answers
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How do I make myself stop doing addictive activity?
Some examples of such activity:
browsing this site without a particular goal
browsing your friends' profiles on social networks
reading news
hugging with you spouse (endlessly)
watching TV
You can ...
24
votes
9answers
2k views
What is the linkage between “next actions” and “projects” in GTD?
Getting Things Done (GTD) defines a "project" as anything that will take more than one action to be considered complete. "Next action" items, with a specific context, are kept handy so that when an ...
20
votes
14answers
793 views
How to capture thoughts in inconvenient moments?
I use a GTD system, which places a lot of focus on capturing thoughts for processing into next actions or projects. I've personally found this to be very helpful in getting myself more organized, but ...
18
votes
7answers
2k views
How to use GTD both at home and at work
I'd like to use GTD, but work in an office away from home. I rarely take work home with me, but sometimes, for example, bring bills to be paid to work with me. I would especially like to hear from ...
18
votes
8answers
582 views
Being productive without energy
I use a variety of GTD-related systems that work smoothly for juggling many projects---as long as I have plenty of energy to pick out the right actions for 'now' and get cracking. However, when I sit ...
18
votes
3answers
2k views
How do I properly integrate The Pomodoro Technique with GTD?
The Pomodoro Technique isn't merely about setting up a timer and working for 25 minutes. To truly benefit from the technique one must look at how to spend those 25-minute blocks across tasks. This ...
17
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6answers
558 views
Are there fundamental behaviors that cut across multiple productivity systems?
A variety of productivity systems and techniques are discussed on this site (e.g. GTD, Inbox Zero, FTF, Pomodoro, etc.); however, lots of folks probably land here because they're looking to learn more ...
17
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8answers
4k views
Are there alternatives to the GTD system?
What are likely alternatives to the Getting Things Done productivity system?
Full fledged alternatives that "compete" with GTD
Group of smaller systems used together to replace GTD
"Simpler" systems
...
14
votes
4answers
572 views
What is “Getting Things Done” (GTD)? [closed]
Rookie question that a lot of people who are using this site may want to know the answer for (including me). I have read a couple of things referring to GTD but nothing definitive. It'd be good to see ...
14
votes
2answers
358 views
How do I prevent being overwhelmed by my GTD inbox?
The first thing I learned about GTD was to get things "out of my head" into an inbox.
This results in an overly long Inbox list which tasks that I still need to rewrite into (multiple) "do-able" ...
13
votes
4answers
4k views
How to set up a GTD workflow in gmail
I want to set up a GTD workflow based around my gmail account.
Although I have some other possible sources of tasks and projects coming "in", most things I need to do come "in" through my gmail ...
13
votes
5answers
6k views
How to use Remember The Milk (RTM) to implement a GTD system?
How can the Remember The Milk (RTM) task management system be used to implement the Getting Things Done system?
13
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4answers
449 views
Do programmers combine GTD and issue trackers?
I wonder how programmers here handle their GTD and issue trackers.
Do you take the time to add your tickets to your personal GTD systems?
12
votes
6answers
3k views
How can I use Outlook folders to implement GTD?
I want to use Outlook folders to implement GTD so that I don't have to use a separate program.
How can I set up Outlook folders to be GTD lists?
12
votes
4answers
483 views
Where should I file my Next Actions from Projects in Freemind?
I use Freemind Mind Mapping software to store all of my GTD lists. I have a separate mindmap for each list (i.e. In Tray, Next Actions, Projects, Project Support Material, Someday, Tickler Calendar, ...
12
votes
4answers
817 views
What are the weaknesses of the GTD system?
For those who use the GTD (Getting Things Done) system or have used it in the past, what are some areas where GTD is weak and might need improvement?
12
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3answers
3k views
Has anyone tried using Trello to track GTD projects?
For me, tracking projects has always been the hardest and most intractable part of GTD. In particular, how to manage future actions and keep track of sub-projects I've delegated to others.
Future ...
11
votes
5answers
2k views
What does a digital tickler file look like?
I'm in the process of implementing my GTD process, and I'm starting to run in to items that I want to put in a tickler file. The implementation of a physical tickler file makes tons of sense, but its ...
11
votes
4answers
412 views
How do I register deadlines in a GTD system?
In a GTD system, I have (among other things) a list of "next actions" organized by context, which are things that I have decided I should act on at my discretion, and a calendar, which shows things ...
11
votes
6answers
435 views
motivation strategies for GTD weekly review
David Allen has described the weekly review as key to GTD, but it's been the hardest part for me to adopt. When things get really busy, I am usually able to keep up with a minimum amount of ...
10
votes
5answers
367 views
Well organized, still overloaded?
After following GTD principles for several years, I now have the system well oiled. Unfortunately, I'm still overloaded--not at the inbox level, but at the project level. Too many things are flowing ...
10
votes
5answers
944 views
Tickler file for email
Getting Things Done (GTD) recommends using a tickler file for things that aren't immediately actionable but should be dealt with at some point in the future.
How can the equivalent be done with ...
10
votes
1answer
2k views
What is ZTD (Zen To Done) and how does it differ from GTD?
A recent RTM blog post mentions Zen To Done (ZTD), which the poster describes as basically a simplification of the Getting Things Done (GTD) system. What is ZTD, and what are the main differences ...
10
votes
3answers
549 views
How to break down steps of a project?
Each morning I'd wake up and tell myself that I have to get certain things done. The problem is that when I get to my GTD management program (Things for Mac), I don't really know what to put down.
...
10
votes
2answers
361 views
Can a project have multiple next actions?
I've recently read over Getting Things Done again, after reading Making Things Work, and as I was starting to implement my GTD system, I ran into an issue. I had ended up with a project that had ...
10
votes
1answer
162 views
Is there any psychological research into the value of GTD's trusted outside system?
One of the basic ideas of GTD is to dump all the things that are on your mind outside your skull, because you can't trust your brain to reliably remember all the details.
Personally I find this ...
9
votes
5answers
680 views
How to handle recurring but low priority tasks that aren't actionable now?
In a GTD system, how do I handle a task such as "checking the oil in the car", which should happen once a week or so but is also fairly low priority? My concerns are that
this task isn't actionable ...
9
votes
9answers
2k views
Which GTD apps provide cloud syncing, android device access, and SSL?
It seems like every system I've tried is missing something.
Remember the Milk
Requires paid for android application and requires a lot of tinkering because of it's flexibility.
Producteev
Doesn't ...
9
votes
8answers
3k views
What is an Android task manager with sub-tasks and complex filtering?
Basically, I'm looking for an Android app that will let me do just two things:
Have unlimited levels of nested sub-tasks
Filter so I can view only tasks that have no sub-tasks.
Let's say I have ...
9
votes
2answers
2k views
Confusion about using Evernote or RTM to implement personal productivity system
I am bit confused whether to use Evernote or RTM (Remember the Milk) to implement a GTD like system. I am already a RTM user & have been using it for some time as a GTD system. Now I want to ...
9
votes
6answers
8k views
How to use Evernote to Implement a GTD System
One of the top FAQs is How to use RTM to implement a GTD system. I've decided against RTM, I don't like it as described in a previous thread of mine. I've decided I want to know how some people use ...
9
votes
6answers
231 views
What to mention in a talk that helps the audience to become more productive?
We (a group of university students) generally meet for tea every week and discuss various topics, and my friends ask me to give a talk on productivity and time management in one of our next meetings. ...
9
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2answers
3k views
How to use Google Tasks to implement a GTD system?
How can I implement a GTD system in Google Tasks in combination with GMail and GCal?
9
votes
2answers
259 views
MBOs (Management By Objective), GTD and better solutions to managing knowledge workers
My boss wants to use MBOs to manage me. I am fairly new to GTD methods and it seems like they can be complementary to the MBO-style system. However, I seem to consistently struggle with the MBO ...
8
votes
3answers
199 views
How can I help develop a culture that positively impacts my motivation to work?
How can I leverage the people around me in order to achieve better productivity on my own tasks?
I feel that GTD does not have to be an one man show. Is there some sort of social-GTD?
8
votes
8answers
319 views
When to reply to e-mails?
Does GTD, or any other agile/time-management method give an advice/best practice about when to reply e-mails?
I am talking about typical e-mails, which requires some work to be done (1 hour+).
It is ...
8
votes
2answers
470 views
Starting GTD without collecting everything
In the past, I've attempted to use GTD and have failed miserably. Of the past attempts, the biggest problem was the collecting phase: even after dedicating time to the task (2-3 days), I could not ...
8
votes
4answers
617 views
Todo list manager that lets you queue next actions out of sight
I'm currently using Remember The Milk for my organisation system that is based on GTD.
One thing that I find is missing from my system is the ability to capture all the actions relating to a project. ...
8
votes
3answers
540 views
In GTD how do I track projects with subprojects?
I have been using GTD for several years now but I still find it difficult to manage projects with obvious sub projects that roll up into them. These are usually longer term projects with hundreds or ...
7
votes
5answers
801 views
Summary of Getting Things Done (GTD) system
Getting Things Done (GTD) has an entire book to teach the system. Is reading the whole book necessary for understanding the system, or is there a summary or simplified explanation of it available?
7
votes
7answers
742 views
Evernote implements GTD?
The GTD page on Wikipedia says that Evernote implements GTD. How is that possible?
I know that Evernote can be personally used in a way so as to implement GTD, as said in: How to use Evernote to ...
7
votes
3answers
256 views
How do you turn off your GTD mentality when you need a break
How do you turn off your GTD mentality when you need a break? Say you've even scheduled free time to do whatever it is that relaxes you. Perhaps what relaxes you are some of the personal projects you ...
7
votes
6answers
567 views
How would you describe reading a book in a GTD system?
One of the projects listed in my GTD system right now is to read a book. How would you define the next action(s) for this kind of project? I usually break out my actions into chunks between 5 and 30 ...
7
votes
2answers
820 views
Completely electronic GTD setup?
I've read some of the GTD material by David Allan and it's something I'd like to implement. A lot of his material uses hand written notes and lists. This isn’t an option for me since I’m totally ...
7
votes
2answers
133 views
Is there an electronic task management software that stores encrypted data in the cloud for syncing with other devices?
My question is basically what the title says. I am trying several software for GTD/todo/task management, focusing on syncing between laptops and cellphones. Although most of the software transfer ...
7
votes
1answer
515 views
pomodoro + GTD tool as an integrated tool / web service?
I have recently started to employ pomodoro as a way to allocate time for working on specific tasks (using Pomodorium) and am starting to see encouraging results. I figured if there's some tool that ...
7
votes
3answers
110 views
How to better switch gears between tasks?
I can never get myself to start things. When I do, however, and there's an unsolvable problem that needs solving, if I pick up even a little momentum in trying to solve it, I will stay on the ...
7
votes
1answer
222 views
What is your experience with a trickle list?
I have been thinking about setting up a trickle list to help me get some more strategic stuff done next to all the physical next actions that I capture using GTD. Normally, when I do my weekly review ...
6
votes
10answers
3k views
What's the best task manager with sync with Android?
I'm trying to find a task manager to use in my notebook and Android. I wanna hear from you what's the best task manager that let's you sync to use it online, in a notebook, tablet, smartphone Android, ...
6
votes
7answers
558 views
Arranging next actions to figure out what to do next
I spend too much time figuring out what to do next.
GTD helped me clarify incoming items and filter out "someday", "reference", "@errand", etc. so now I have a very nice list of about 80 "next ...
