Writing out a regular to-do list sometimes includes vague tasks, which may lead people not to take real action on those tasks. Allen suggests breaking it down this way- overwriting traditional to-do lists. When organizing your listed tasks, empty your collection tools and put the right things in place. The next steps will show you how to postpone these types of tasks. If it’s your responsibility, then defer it. A complex task: Ask yourself, are you the right person for it?Ģ.) If not an actionable step, delegate or outsource to someone else if possible.A quick task- do it immediately (i.e., make a brief phone call).Ask yourself the following:ġ.)Is it an actionable step? Do I need to do something about it?Ī.) If the answer is no, trash it or revisit it later. Each week, review and empty all external items to stay organized. The next step of the GTD method is to clarify each item you wrote down earlier.

Also, it allows you to free up your brain while keeping projects going forward.Īlong with organizing your workspace for maximum success, the steps listed in the GTD method include:ģ.) Organizing your outcome into a structure of listsĤ.) Reflecting on what’s important & reviewing the items It’s a systematic approach to keeping your mind clear and staying on top of things. The method consists of a system of external lists to have on hand, with actions to accomplish tasks. In Allen’s book, he goes over the Getting Things Done (GTD) method. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity In this getting things done overview, I will discuss the key points of the author’s well-known method. A productivity expert, Allen helps people save time while getting more done in shorter amounts of time.

David Allen offers a guide helping you do a task-by-task checkup in Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity.

Several books discuss how to be more productive.

Getting things done book review