Getting Things Done

Getting Things Done (GTD ) is a self- management method by David Allen, which will enable its users efficient and stress-free working. She strives to capture the entire life of a person, inter alia, with context-aware task lists.

Main principle of this method is that the user records all his future activities, in a management system and thus the head was free for more important things, namely the execution of the current task, without having to worry about forgetting other tasks.

Overview

The GTD principles are:

GTD separates appointments and tasks. Dates are recorded in a calendar and tasks systematically funneled to context lists. The calendar and context lists are the means of coping with everyday life. The names of the individual context of each list specifies fixed individually. David Allen recommends that it be named according to the resources needed to discharge of activity: Suitable name of the context lists, for example, " telephone ", "Internet " or "Auto". In a weekly review of the context lists are checked and brought up to date.

The introduction of GTD begins with a complete gathering of all the "loose ends ". Under the "loose ends " David Allen understands all the activities, goals, projects, commitments, which are still pending in the environment or in the mind of the person. All so-called " loose ends " are recorded, collected and input into the system.

All the elements of the input, the management consist of more than one activity are called projects. A project can thus consist of two or more activities. Two examples of a project within the meaning of GTD would be the one " appointment with Frank at the bar XYZ " or other " thesis ". The not so comprehensive project " appointment with Frank at the bar XYZ " consists of at least two activities, namely, " Frank call " and " table reservation for 2 people in the bar XYZ ". For each project, always the respective next feasible step must be formulated and appear on one of the context lists. This guarantees that no unnoticed standstill created for a project in the system. " Call Frank" The activity is the " next step " of the " appointment with Frank at the bar XYZ " and would be assigned in the above example, the context list "Telephone".

In dealing with the activities should be " two -minute rule " to be considered: " Takes an activity less than 2 minutes, it should be taken care of immediately ." Projects where only in the future, an activity is possible, in a re-submission system, such as a resubmission folder, anchored ( tickler file). Projects or activities, where one deliberately does not follow right now that might be interesting projects in the future but are categorized as "Maybe / Someday " and stored as ideas.

The maintenance of the system by means of a weekly review. Here are the dates of the calendar are checked, memories written in the calendar, reviewed the progress of the projects and fed new necessary activities into the system.

The GTD system (not to be confused with the above- stated " context lists") supplemented by lists. Here, for example, be created a list of long-term goals. With the weekly review will determine whether all -added projects with their own long-term goals are in line. It would also be a list of routine activities imaginable, such as " post office bring to Cart " or " write entry into the logbook ."

Principle

Capture

Everything is gathered and placed in the " input" ( similar to a inbox, usually in the form of a basket ). The filling of the input takes the first time several days. Later, the basket is continuously filled and emptied daily. There may be several inboxes enter (eg, electronic, such as e -mail inbox, mailbox). The number of input bins should be kept as low as possible, or just as high as necessary.

Working through

Here the elements of the input are passed through the system. By working one must ask oneself the following questions, which lead to the correct classification of the elements in the system:

• What is it?
• Can now be something done about it?
• What is the next step?
• How long does this activity?
• I'll do the work yourself?

By working there following guidelines:

• Catch up on the inbox
• Lock only one element through the system
• Put an element never go back to the inbox

If an action is required,

• Guide them through immediately when it takes less than 2 minutes to complete,
• Delegate it or
• Move it as the " next step " in a context of lists

If no action is required

• Will file it as reference material,
• Throw it in the trash or
• Characterizing it as "Maybe / Someday "

Organize

David Allen are different categories for the temporary storage of the elements of the input after working through these steps:

Review / inspection

A look at the context lists and in the diary at least once daily. Once a week there is a week 's review. Here, the dates are checked, taking the successful completion of activities from the system, fixed at least a next step for each current project, still the inbox into the system and new goals and projects defined and well fed.

Handle

Completion of the next steps that are listed on the appropriate context list. The usefulness of the system can be seen that if the majority of the time can be spent with the doing.

Techniques and tools

Basically a computer is not necessary for the application of GTD. In English-speaking particularly popular materials for the implementation of GTD are the notebook, the Hipster PDA and the card box " 43folders ".

However, the implementation can be facilitated with computer support.

For a reaction with existing software, such as PIM or similar is possible. On the other hand, there are now some tailored to this way of working programs.

Criticism

There are no empirical studies that could demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.

In his e-book Zen To Done Leo Babauta criticized for getting things done in the core is indeed a laudable approach, but that it constitutes a full on unstructured series of habit changes with too little weight on the actions and personality of the individual. This will generate more stress than lost.

Reception

Getting Things Done has been repeatedly rezipiert in the media.