375:. The perspective gained from these reviews should drive one's priorities at the project level. Priorities at the project level in turn determine the priority of the individual tasks and commitments gathered during the workflow process. During a weekly review, determine the context for the tasks and put each task on its appropriate list. An example of grouping together similar tasks would be making a list of outstanding telephone calls, or the tasks/errands to perform while out shopping. Context lists can be defined by the set of tools available or by the presence of individuals or groups for whom one has items to discuss or present.
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similar in both editions). Once all the material ("stuff") is captured (or collected) in the inbox, each item is clarified and organized by asking and answering questions about each item in turn as shown in the black boxes in the logic tree diagram. As a result, items end up in one of the eight oval end points in the diagram:
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is worked on ("engage" in the 2nd edition, "do" in the 1st edition) unless the calendar dictates otherwise. One selects which task to work on next by considering where one is (i.e., the "context", such as at home, at work, out shopping, by the phone, at one's computer, with a particular person), time
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Empty one's inbox or inboxes daily or at least weekly ("in" to empty). Do not use one's inbox as a "to do" list. Do not put clarified items back into the inbox. Emptying one's inbox does not mean finishing everything. It just means applying the "capture, clarify, organize" steps to all one's "stuff".
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When letting one's mind flow like water to the stressor, a corresponding feeling arises in one's body (say a finger, or elbow), or possibly an emotion such as anger; in a martial art, the practitioner does not betray that feeling; instead the practitioner remains vigilant, retains posture, and seeks
339:
termed "mind like water". When a small object is thrown into a pool of water, the water responds appropriately with a small splash followed by quiescence. When a large object is thrown in the water again responds appropriately with a large splash followed by quiescence. The opposite of "mind like
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He claims stress can be reduced and productivity increased by putting reminders about everything one is not working on into a trusted system external to one's mind. In this way, one can work on the task at hand without distraction from the "incompletes". The system in GTD requires one to have the
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goal-setting, GTD works in the opposite direction. Allen argues that it is often difficult for individuals to focus on big picture goals if they cannot sufficiently control the day-to-day tasks that they frequently must face. By developing and using the trusted system that deals with day-to-day
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The GTD workflow consists of five stages. The workflow is driven by five steps (numbered on the top-left in the diagram on the right): capture, clarify, organize, reflect, and engage. (The first edition used the names collect, process, organize, plan, and do; the descriptions of the stages are
29:
387:. This involves thinking in advance, and generating a series of actions which can later be undertaken without further planning. The mind's "reminder system" is inefficient and seldom (or too often) reminds us of what we need to do at the time and place when we can do it. Consequently, the "
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If you're at all familiar with GTD you know that David Allen does not tell you which tools to use--GTD is tool agnostic--so those choices are up to you. Not saying all tools, software programs, paper planners work seamlessly with GTD, but where you organize your stuff is up to
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water" is a mind that never returns to quiescence but remains continually stressed by every input. With a trusted system and "mind like water" one can have a better perspective on one's life. Allen recommends reflection from six levels, called "Horizons of Focus":
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article titled "Meet the man who can bring order to your universe", saying: "For me, as with the hundreds of thousands around the world who press the book into their friends' hands with fire in their eyes, Allen's ideas are nothing short of life-changing".
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Allen first demonstrates stress reduction from the method with the following exercise, centered on a task that has an unclear outcome or whose next action is not defined. Allen calls these sources of stress "open loops", "incompletes", or "stuff".
331:. The workflow is the center of the control aspect. The goal of the control processes in GTD is to get everything except the current task out of one's head and into this trusted system external to one's mind. He borrows a
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Allen, in his 2001 book states that if a task is on one's mind, it will fill one's mind completely, which guarantees that one will be incapable of handling yet another task; therefore one will fail to complete any of
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These tools can be physical or electronic as appropriate (e.g., a physical "in" tray or an email inbox). Then, as "stuff" enters one's life, it is captured in these tools and processed with the following workflow.
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tools claim to implement GTD methodology and Allen maintains a list of some technology that has been adopted in or designed for GTD. Some are designated "GTD Enabled", meaning Allen was involved in the design.
395:" act as an external support which ensures that we are presented with the right reminders at the right time. As GTD relies on external reminders, it can be seen as an application of the theories of
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Next, reflection (termed planning in the first edition) occurs. Multi-step projects identified above are assigned a desired outcome and a single "next action". Finally, a task from one's
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GTD is based on storing, tracking, and retrieving the information related to each thing that needs to get done. Mental blocks we encounter are caused by insufficient 'front-end'
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Because hardware and software is changing so rapidly, GTD is deliberately technologically neutral. (In fact, Allen advises people to start with a paper-based system.) Many
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A description of the successful outcome of the "incomplete" is written down in one sentence, along with the criteria by which the task will be considered completed.
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and Clément Vidal of the Free
University of Brussels showed "recent insights in psychology and cognitive science support and extend GTD's recommendations".
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on a list of tasks, with the outcome and next action defined if the "incomplete" is a "project" (i.e., if it will require two or more steps to complete it)
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First published in 2001, a revised edition of the book was released in 2015 to reflect the changes in information technology during the preceding decade.
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Logic tree diagram illustrating the second and third steps (process/clarify and organize) of the five-step
Getting Things Done workflow.
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The GTD method rests on the idea of moving all items of interest, relevant information, issues, tasks and projects out of one's
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that specific problem, say to the cost, or to the benefit. The specific cost/benefit can then be formulated
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Once one's mind has moved beyond a problem, the mind is freed of it, and the practitioner can move on.
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delegated to someone else and, if one wants a reminder to follow up, added to a "waiting for" list
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A self-assessment is made of the emotions experienced after completing the steps of this process.
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The most annoying, distracting, or interesting task is chosen, and defined as an "incomplete".
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called GTD a "new cult for the info age", describing the enthusiasm for this method among
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the stressor to the next stage, say to the effect of completing the prospective task.
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inputs, an individual can free up mental space to begin moving up to the next level.
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by recording them externally and then breaking them into actionable work items with
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ran another article about GTD and Allen, quoting him as saying "the workings of an
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immediately completed and checked off if it can be completed in under two minutes
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on a context-based "next action" list if there is only one step to complete it
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Once the source of the stressor is identified or tagged, one's mind can move
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The next step required to approach completion of the task is written down.
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1174:"Getting Things Done Guru David Allen and His Cult of Hyperefficiency"
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Note: In the second edition, names of the five steps were changed to
489: ... to simplify a complex event, you need a complex system".
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Long Range
Planning: International Journal of Strategic Management
960:"Getting Things Done: The Science behind Stress-Free Productivity"
840:"Getting Things Done: Five Simple Steps That Apply Order To Chaos"
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Allen claims stress can be reduced and productivity increased by
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Ready for
Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Work and Life
157:. This allows one's attention to focus on taking action on each
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and published in a book of the same name. GTD is described as a
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Allen recommends scheduling a weekly review, reflecting on the
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Once the problem is identified with tags, one's mind can move
435:(Stern referenced it daily throughout 2012's summer) and the
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548:"Will it take less than two minutes?" Yes -- then do it.
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and written down, say using the tags or identifiers.
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1119:"Meet the man who can bring order to your universe"
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429:. Allen's ideas have also been popularized through
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561:within your expected timeline, then update
302:available, energy available, and priority.
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866:"Which list manager should I use for GTD?"
725:"The Rise and Fall of Getting Things Done"
16:Personal productivity system and 2001 book
1125:. London: Guardian News and Media Limited
978:
899:. The David Allen Company. Archived from
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872:. The David Allen Company. Archived from
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474:the self-help business book of its time.
323:Allen emphasizes two key elements of GTD—
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897:"Simply GTD with Kelly: Getting Started"
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1117:Hammersley, Ben (September 28, 2005).
205:A filing system for reference material
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363:Unlike some theories, which focus on
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215:A calendar (either a paper-based or
864:Forrister, Kelly (August 2, 2010).
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195:following tools within easy reach:
161:in an external record, instead of
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1065:Robinson, Keith (March 21, 2006).
1039:Mann, Merlin (September 8, 2004).
958:; Vidal, Clément (December 2008).
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723:Newport, Cal (November 17, 2020).
595:to influence the possible outcome.
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1172:Wolf, Gary (September 25, 2007).
1144:Caplan, Jeremy (March 12, 2007).
1010:Andrews, Robert (July 12, 2005).
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274:in a neat reference filing system
895:Forrister, Kelly (May 4, 2009).
810:Fallows, James (November 2012).
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789:(1st ed.). Penguin Books.
439:, especially via blogs such as
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1:
1210:(1 ed.). Penguin Books.
1092:"Review: Getting Things Done"
1012:"A new cult for the info age"
927:"Common Tools & Software"
702:(2 ed.). Penguin Books.
641:
1146:"The Oracle of Organization"
492:A 2008 paper in the journal
485:are more complicated than a
454:interviewed David Allen for
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391:" stored by context in the "
347:Horizon 4: Long-term visions
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931:Getting Things Done website
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356:Horizon 1: Current projects
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989:10.1016/j.lrp.2008.09.004
447:, and The Simple Dollar.
350:Horizon 3: 1–2 year goals
271:on the someday/maybe list
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80:Published in English
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359:Ground: Current actions
1317:2001 non-fiction books
483:automatic transmission
419:information technology
260:
105:(2015 reprint edition)
844:gettingthingsdone.com
432:The Howard Stern Show
397:distributed cognition
235:
1307:Personal development
838:David Allen (2001).
373:six different levels
1322:Penguin Books books
494:Long Range Planning
487:manual transmission
472:Getting Things Done
136:productivity system
127:Getting Things Done
33:First edition cover
23:
1254:Making it All Work
956:Heylighen, Francis
903:on August 29, 2010
557:If you didn't get
520:Pomodoro Technique
510:Human multitasking
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165:them intuitively.
21:
1263:978-0-7499-4103-1
1241:978-0-670-03250-1
1217:978-0-14-200028-1
1096:The Simple Dollar
876:on August 6, 2010
812:"Busy and Busier"
498:Francis Heylighen
423:knowledge workers
289:on one's calendar
155:known time limits
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103:978-0-14-312656-0
1329:
1297:Management books
1283:
1282:
1280:Official website
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1256:. Viking Books.
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1234:. Viking Books.
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1181:. Retrieved
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1123:The Guardian
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1100:. Retrieved
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1020:. Condé Nast
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821:. Retrieved
817:The Atlantic
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582:a stressor.
576:identifying
559:get it done
329:perspective
319:Perspective
202:A trash can
159:task listed
140:David Allen
43:David Allen
1291:Categories
1071:Lifehacker
1045:43 Folders
907:August 22,
880:January 4,
642:References
563:your tools
445:Lifehacker
441:43 Folders
997:0024-6301
975:CiteSeerX
870:GTD Times
736:April 18,
515:Life hack
477:In 2007,
464:In 2007,
450:In 2005,
411:In 2005,
407:Reception
299:task list
163:recalling
118:914220080
59:Publisher
1252:(2008).
1228:(2003).
1204:(2001).
1183:March 5,
1157:March 5,
1129:March 5,
849:July 27,
785:(2001).
698:(2015).
610:in words
504:See also
437:Internet
385:planning
365:top-down
335:used in
248:Organize
228:Workflow
199:An inbox
53:Business
937:May 30,
580:tagging
399:or the
379:Summary
325:control
252:Reflect
244:Clarify
240:Capture
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1102:May 2,
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623:beyond
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333:simile
256:Engage
254:, and
172:Themes
39:Author
1178:Wired
1017:Wired
963:(PDF)
539:them.
526:Notes
479:Wired
414:Wired
89:Pages
1258:ISBN
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1185:2010
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1151:Time
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1104:2020
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993:ISSN
939:2014
914:you.
909:2010
882:2015
851:2019
825:2018
791:ISBN
738:2021
704:ISBN
578:and
467:Time
421:and
327:and
151:mind
112:OCLC
98:ISBN
84:2001
74:2001
985:doi
496:by
132:GTD
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