“Getting Things Done: the art of stress-free producitivity” by David Allen, outlines a system for personal productivity. There are 5 steps: Infographic with the 5 stages of GTD
1. Capture Everything: Capture incoming tasks that arrive through email, mail, conversation, phone calls and meetings. Collect them in inboxes, which can be a tray, notepad, or digital list.
2. Clarify: Process tasks. Is action needed? What is the next action step? If it can be done in two minutes, do it now. If more than one action is needed, it is a project. If no action is needed: trash it, add to someday/maybe, or archive it for reference.
3. Organize: Put everything into the right place. Add dates to your calendar, sort tasks, plan projects, and file reference material.
4. Review: Frequently look over, update, and revise your lists. Do a regular weekly review. [Weekly Review: Trigger List from Pauwerfully Organized]
5. Engage: Act on next tasks based on priorities, contexts, time and energy available.
Getting Things Done (GTD) has been described as a “multi-dimensional todo list”.
- Next actions
- Projects
- Waiting For
- Someday/Maybe
I prefer different terminology for lists (next steps, pending, and ideas). The ideas of GTD are simple, but to follow the system is complex – see Me and GTD.
Learn about GTD:
- Ultimate Guide to GTD from facilethings
- Productivity 101: A Primer to the Getting Things Done (GTD) Philosopy at Lifehacker.com
- 43 folders recap and Next Action Verbs
- Zen Habits GTD for Beginners Guide and Massive GTD Resource List
- GTD 101 at Asian Efficiency
- GTD guide at todoist
- GTD in 15 minutes a pragmatic guide to Getting Things Done
- GTDportal
- Cool GTD applications at Life Learning Today
Workflow Charts:
GTD workflow charts are helpful for understanding how the system works. Find inks to many GTD workflow charts at GTD Made Visual and the GTD Pinterest board. Scott Moehring created an excellent GTD advanced workflow chart. The tips at the bottom are especially neat, don’t miss them. My attempts to visualize GTD are at What does GTD look like?
The Portable GTD mini system is designed for hands on use.
Learn more about productivity at Time Management 101.
I seek to create order from the chaos of complex information. Join me at the Daily PlanIt to gain insights, inspiration, and information to increase skills for a better life. I unlock the power of teaching reading with phonics in the pursuit of literacy at www.phonicspow.com. In my spare time I explore books and movies, often choosing titles available on both screen and page.
Daily PlanIt 
For implementing GTD you might try out this new web-based application:
Gtdagenda
You can use it to manage your goals, projects and tasks, set next actions and contexts, use
checklists, schedules and a calendar.
A mobile version is available too.
As with the last update, now Gtdagenda has due date for tasks (you’ll see in the calendar on the right if you have tasks due today), task notes, and Email & Print support.
Hope you like it.
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