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GTD in 15 Minutes – A Pragmatic Guide to Getting Things Done

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Re: GTD in 15 Minutes – A Pragmatic Guide to Getting Things Done

#21

Post by jeffbarr »

I keep a printed list in outline form, edited and annotated as I make progress throughout the day. My list contains items as diverse as building mind maps and writing blog posts for re:Invent, flattening out some boxes in my recycling pile, updating my will, and adding final screen shots to those blog posts. So far so good.

The key to productivity for me is to make the actual act of checking something off of the list a cause for a tiny internal celebration. As I make that checkmark I make sure that I feel a sense of accomplishment. This might sound trivial, but it works!

Re: GTD in 15 Minutes – A Pragmatic Guide to Getting Things Done

#22

Post by kendallpark »

beaconstudios wrote: post #13

I've tried to implement GTD a couple of times before but I always fail when I end up with organised but huge lists of things to do, along with things that become irrelevant over time (time-contextual "could-do's") and getting snowed under by day-to-day maintenance chores. Has anyone had success implementing it, and if so, was there any trick or technique that helped it "click" for you? I also realise I might just be…

I started with this: https://trello.com/b/2f37iYzy/sample-gtd-board

Then I made some alterations to fit my lifestyle.

For one, there's a giant "Homework" list with all of my assignments for the semester and due dates. This helps me make sure that on any given day, I know whether an assignment is coming up. I sync this Trello list with my Google calendar, which sends me an email reminder the day before something is due.

I have a "Now" list that keeps track of my current task and my next few immediate tasks (so like, "fix this bug," "do flashcards," and "call Doc to make apt.") Sometimes I couple this with Pomello (http://www.pomelloapp.com/) which helps prevent me avoid going down various rabbit holes when working on a specific task.

There's also a "Dragons" list which is where I put important big tasks that I've been procrastinating.

I removed the project lists. My GTD board is strictly a sophisticated to-do list. Projects get their own separate trello boards.

EDIT: here's a skeleton example of what my GTD board looks like: https://trello.com/b/Y5wBPXLH/kendalls-gtd

Re: GTD in 15 Minutes – A Pragmatic Guide to Getting Things Done

#23

Post by mhd »

eru wrote: post #14
mhd wrote: post #11

I tried GTD way back when in the heady Merlin Mann days, but never got a capture-anywhere method that I liked. Hipster PDAs were out due to me writing with pens isn't exactly enjoyable/readable, and I get tired easily by my slow mobile typing speed, too. And voice notes while among other people? I'm a German introvert, goshdarnit... On the computer, there's a plethora of possibilities (org, notational velocity, "quak…

On the voice notes: Google's voice recognition has improved markedly in recent years. Now it can even understand my German-accented English rather well.

I don't mind typing the notes once I'm in front of a real computer, I just don't want to do the "note to myself" while in public. And otherwise, I haven't found anything that gets me to capture things like "note: buy eggs" or "note: consider PEGs for the query builder optimization" fast enough. (Opening an app and laboriously using the mobile keyboard don't do it for me in the long run and just cause me to drop GTD again).

Maybe I should get one of those wearable chord keyboards from the late 90s and connect it to an always-on note-taking applicance...

Re: GTD in 15 Minutes – A Pragmatic Guide to Getting Things Done

#24

Post by beaconstudios »

CJefferson wrote: post #17
beaconstudios wrote: post #13

I've tried to implement GTD a couple of times before but I always fail when I end up with organised but huge lists of things to do, along with things that become irrelevant over time (time-contextual "could-do's") and getting snowed under by day-to-day maintenance chores. Has anyone had success implementing it, and if so, was there any trick or technique that helped it "click" for you? I also realise I might just be…

While only a small part, I kept a list on paper. Each day, you have to copy our yesterday's list, and copy our the list afresh. While doing that, you can reorder, just do so you don't have to copy, or dump if it isn't going to get done (either into a long term text file, or just the bin). I found that actively having to copy stopped my list accumulating things I know I should do, but probably never will.

I've been doing something similar to this, with my own version of a Bullet Journal - it's working well for short-term task management but for long term things that I might not notice day-to-day but know I need to get done (the drain needs unblocking, for example) I tend to forget or not make time for in amongst the mountain of day-to-days.

Re: GTD in 15 Minutes – A Pragmatic Guide to Getting Things Done

#25

Post by jgaa »

I wrote an app for that a few years ago :)

Not a full GTD work-flow, but what I found most useful at that time. It has served me well.

https://lastviking.eu/vikinggtd_released.html

Not worrying about remembering everything, all of the time, reduce stress and increase what I can actually achieve.

Re: GTD in 15 Minutes – A Pragmatic Guide to Getting Things Done

#29

Post by beaconstudios »

alexilliamson wrote: post #20
beaconstudios wrote: post #13

I've tried to implement GTD a couple of times before but I always fail when I end up with organised but huge lists of things to do, along with things that become irrelevant over time (time-contextual "could-do's") and getting snowed under by day-to-day maintenance chores. Has anyone had success implementing it, and if so, was there any trick or technique that helped it "click" for you? I also realise I might just be…

Have you read the book? I just finished for the second time and couldn't recommend it more. It helps to not only understand the whole system, but David Allen's reasoning behind it. Ultimately, like many others have noted on threads like this one, GTD may fall short of a comprehensive personal organisation system that adequately keeps creative juices flowing; however, it's a hell of a starting point. I am starting to…

I haven't read the book, but I've read a few articles that lay out GTD's motivation and process. I'll add it to my kindle list.

Re: GTD in 15 Minutes – A Pragmatic Guide to Getting Things Done

#30

Post by BtdTom »

I liked GTD, but in my opinion the system laid out in "Total Workday Control Using Microsoft Outlook" is much better: https://www.amazon.com/Total-Workday-Control-Microsoft-Outlo...

I was not a fan of Outlook before I came across this book, but the way the author configures Outlook and the workflows he lays out works really, really well. My inbox is near zero throughout the day, actionable items are captured easily, and tasks don't get lost over time.

I highly recommend it.

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