Question: How did you organize your tasks? Am I suppose to have a main Projects category and corresponding action tasks categorized @home, @work, etc? David Allen: Yes, for me “Projects” is a category, just like the action lists of “Calls”, “At Computer” etc. They are simply flat lists, tied together with your review of the …
Tag Archives: David Allen
You'll automatically feel better when…
“You’ll automatically feel better about what you’re doing if the inventory of defined next actions available to you is as complete as possible.” -David Allen (p.211 of Making It All Work)
GTD Webinars
Here are the upcoming Webinars on GTD Connect, our online learning center: Project Planning, with Coaches Wayne Pepper & Kelly Forrister – April 8, 11am PDT. The Coaches will go over common questions, like: How do you plan out a project? Where do project plans go? How far out should you plan a project when …
Controlling your work instead of being controlled by it
Dear David and Co., About three years ago, on a long plane ride, I was able to fully deploy GTD into a paper-based system. I had read the book. And the book suggested writing down all active Projects, Tasks, and Waiting Fors. After writing down all my projects, I looked at the list. It was …
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Quick tip for processing your Inbox
Once you have determined your next physical action, you can either complete it in the moment, hand it off to someone else to do, or keep track of it in a way that you will be reminded of it appropriately. -David Allen (in chapter 12 of Making It All Work) Want any easy way to …
A Mom Who is Ready For Anything
David’s second book, Ready For Anything, is a wonderful little book, chock full of inspiring essays and helpful coaching questions. It was born out of the “Food For Thought” essays he does in the free Productive Living newsletter (formerly called Productivity Principles.) Kim, a mom in Ohio, wrote to David to share her experience with …
David Allen's travel checklist
I suggest that people build into their personal systems whatever checklists might prevent things from glitching on the back end, assuming they are reviewed appropriately. A great example, for people who travel, is the “travel checklist”–everything that you might ever want to take with you anywhere. Doesn’t mean you have to pack it! Just that …
David Allen shares the Essence of GTD
[HTML1] Want to see more videos of David? Check out GTD Connect.
Your filing system should be…
“Your filing system should be a simple library of data, easily retrievable–not your reminder for actions, projects, priorities or prospects.” – David Allen
David’s cool/convenient lists to have
David Allen’s list of cool/convenient lists to have There are critical reminder-type lists that we all need to let our brain relax (re: outcomes and actions). There are other lists, though, that can be useful, fun, and interesting, that fit in the area of “reference” or “support.” Account and $ numbers– credit card #s, PIN …
Creating a network of GTD’ers in your organization
People ask us all the time how to get GTD to stick in their organization. Here’s a great testimonial for how to build a network of GTD’ers: David, Just a quick note to let you know my company is still employing GTD and getting better at it! We conversed a few years ago about a …
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Lotus shares the value of Getting Things Done
As many of you know, we are a Lotus Notes shop. Have been for years. Even Lotus is also catching on to the value of GTD (with the GTD tool eProductivity) for adding value to Notes : [HTML1] If you’re still searching for the best tools for your GTD implementation, be sure to check out …
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Keeping the Runway Clear
David Allen refers to your day-to-day Calendar and Action choices as the “Runway.” In the Horizons of Focus model, covered in Getting Things Done and more extensively in Making It All Work, it’s the ground floor: 50,000 – Purpose 40,000 – Vision 30,000 – Goals 20,000 – Responsibilities 10,000 – Projects Runway – Calendar & …
Getting to the bottom of your inbox
Dear David Allen: Where do you find the time to go through the hardest parts of your Inbox (I seem to have a lower layer that never gets finished — notes from meetings that need follow up that are important but not urgent etc.)? DA: You’re trying to use your Inbox as your organizer, and …
What is GTD?
Getting Things Done® (also known as GTD®) is not just about inbox zero, picking great tools, or doing a Weekly Review. It’s a whole workflow ecosystem invented by that David Allen that can bring calm to your world, give you perspective on life, and give you better control of your day-to-day. As David says, “there is more …
Done a Weekly Review lately?
You can never get enough of what you don’t really need. And you can never work hard enough, long enough, or fast enough, to eliminate the stress or discomfort that drives those behaviors. Your Weekly Review brings a much-needed break in the pace. -David Allen Grab the free article on the GTD Weekly Review
The GTD Best Practices Series
Do YOU know the best practices of GTD? Although they’ve been recorded for our GTD Connect online learning center, we have been posting the GTD Best Practices series to our free public podcast as well, for all to benefit from. These informal podcasts are a great way to learn the essentials of GTD. Here is …
Managing Projects – Tips from David Allen
Here’s a great Q&A between David and a new GTD’er. To appreciate David’s response, it helps to understand the GTD definitions for projects and next actions: Projects = Your outcomes that require more than one action step. Next Actions = Your next physical, visible action steps. Some are project-related, some are not. Question: If a …
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Working on a team when you’re the only one who does GTD
A GTD’er asked: I am part of a team with five teammates who are not using GTD. How do I handle the frustration within the lines of communication and organization/productivity? David replied: The more anyone around you is out of control, the more you need the GTD going to have to manage yourself, no matter …
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The Problem is not Information Overload
The problem is not information overload, by David Allen E-mail overload has gotten a lot of press lately – the quantity, the distraction it creates, and our inability to do much about it. There was even a recent debate in a global newspaper between readers voting for keeping e-mail at zero vs. those who use …
