Getting Started with GTD (Getting Things Done)

I’m a big fan of Getting Things Done (GTD).  It’s an elegant, almost simple, set of disciplines and systems that promises “Stress-Free Productivity”.  However, like anything worth doing, those disciplines and systems require dedication to get the most out of them.  The following is a short list of the GTD systems that work together.  The discipline is keeping them up to date.  The freedom comes when they *are* up to date.

System One – The Master Project List – Every project (defined as something you want to get done that requires more than 2 tasks, taking longer than 2 minutes) that you want to accomplish in your life.  All down on paper (or in a system somewhere)

System Two – The Filing System – Active projects, Reference files, Archives

System Three – Your Tickler System

System Four – Your Calendar

System Five – The Waiting On System

System Six – The Next Action List

System Seven – Your In-Basket

System Eight – Your Weekly Review

Your homework for the week:

1) Tell me what you would accomplish if you achieved “Stress-Free Productivity”

2) If you are already a GTD fan, tell me how your story of getting your systems to work together.