Getting Things Done
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Contents
Extension of the basic concepts into a web 3.0 environment
Five stages of workflow for control
At the core of Allen's system lies a workflow which has five phases. The horizontal axis of his system is the axis of "control", encompassing the workflow phases that allow the practitioner to regain control of all the "stuff" in their life.
Collect
- Capture anything that has your attention (paper notes, emails, voice mail) in leak-proof, external buckets
- Have as few of these buckets as possible and as many as necessary
- Empty buckets regularly (process and organise)
Process
- Make decisions about what you have collected
- not actionable vs. actionable
Organise
- Group the results of processing into appropriate action categories and contexts
Review
- Review calendar and action lists daily
- Conduct a weekly review to maintain, tidy up and develop the system
- Review longer term goals, visions and values as often as necessary to keep project list complete and current
Do
Allen recommends choosing what to do based on what you can do (context), how much time you have, how much energy you have and what your priorities are - in that order of priority. There are three main types of work that need to be done: predefined work, work "as it shows up", and defining one's work. Allen's system is designed to help deal with interruptions and surprises, because one knows what is being put off. He recommends following one's intuition in deciding what work to do but recommends doing regular reviews of high level goals, making sure the various levels are aligned and build on each other.
Six horizons of focus for perspective
The vertical axis is the axis of perspective, which allows the practitioner to step back and assess whether the work being done is alignment with higher level goals and principles. Allen introduces five levels of perspective, moving from the day-to-day tasks right up to life purpose at the top. The intervals given in brackets are the recommended review cycles for the various levels.
- 50,000 + feet: Life purpose and principles (yearly +)
- 40,000 feet: Vision (yearly)
- 30,000 feet: Goals (quarterly)
- 20,000 feet: Areas of Focus (monthly)
- 10,000 feet: Current projects (weekly)
- Runway: Current actions (daily)
Allen recommends working from the bottom up, to ensure current action lists are complete, because working from the top down while there is pressure to get stuff done can cause frustration and anxiety.
Notes and References
See also
- List of GTD requirements for software
- Pocketmod - design your own paper pocket organiser
- 3000 paper templates for download
- Plenty of personal organisation paper templates
- GTD Wikisummary
- List of links, tips for setting up a planner, etc.
- Ideas for wiki organisation
- Creating a D.I.Y. Planner
- ADHD tips for time management
- Combining the 7 Habits and GTD
- Weekly planning in 6 steps
- Things to consider when setting up a planner
- Seven Productivity Tips For People That Hate GTD
