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GTD doesn't let you get things done

16 04 07 - 21:59 - Bookmark this post

GTD is a timemanagement/planningssystem that has been wildly popular over the last few years, especially (or because of) the large following online and the ease of use to get started with it. But there is one problem. It will not get things done for you...

The biggest thing I have discovered about GTD is that it is a system that doesn't give you orders what to do next. It does not tell you: "Listen up, it's 10 AM, you should be doing this right now". What GTD does, is it gives you simple principles for you to collect, process, organize and review your work. But the doing part, that is hardly an issue with GTD. Sure, The Dave talks about the use of time, energy, contexts to decide what to do next. But that nanosecond, that one defining moment where you know what to do next? Where you know where your next tasks lies? That is actually not an issue at all in GTD.

That is also the biggest pitfall of this system. Because a lot of people get started with systems like GTD because they are caught up in work, can't see where projects start and end and don't know where the importance of their work lies. And they do something every human being would do. They seek a guiding hand. They seek for someone or something that helps them and says "I will help you, I will guide you through the corporate jungle" So they trust themselves in the safe and comforting hand of a self-management book, they go through the steps vigorously and better yet, buy all the goods and office wear to really get things going. Just to get to the point where someone else tells them "Now do this". People need confirmation. They seek it in systems.

But there is one thing you will find out about Getting Things Done. It will not get things done FOR you. You will still have to do that yourself. That may sound logical but it is not. I've spoken to quite a few people who still have problems with getting the right things done at the right time. This has nothing to do with their enthousiasm about GTD or the way they implement it. Hey, I'm one of them! But I found out that you can collect, process and organize everything all day long. Even worse, when you get to the point that you have everything organized, you have your lists set up and your Inbox is shining empty you will definitely do something else than doing your tasks. Because your mind is free from all the negative stress you get up with all sorts of new ideas. You start reading that book you wanted for so long, you will find some new online resources. You name it. You will do all those things because you think to yourself "I can do that right now, everything I should be doing is in my system so it's OK" But even worse, you might think " My system will let me know when to do what"

The first thought is not too bad. The second is the one you should be carefull about. Because you are still the master of your own system. You are still in control. Better yet, you're it. You are it. Because once all your work, all your tasks, are in your trusted system, there is no one else to blame for things not getting done but yourself. And that's a tough cookie to swallow sometimes. Believe me, I know. I've had those cookies.

So make sure that after you set up your GTD system, you will not forget to actually start doing the things you should be doing.

(Photo credits: Josh Cawthra)

Very recognizable! I have had many moments in which I just sit back and relaxed as my inbox was empty. But an empty inbox does not mean that the work has been done.
Jeroen Sangers - 17 04 07 - 10:32

It alls sounds very true and familiar! But how about a few tips and tricks for actually DOING the things that need to be done.
Renrew - 17 04 07 - 18:58

Funny…
http://zenhabits.net/2007/04/zen-to-done..

Same problem, different approach :)
Christian Tietze - 17 04 07 - 20:13

I understand what you are saying. One method I have found that helps me actually execute the tasks I have set is to combine GTD with my existing planner. In that planner I still have A1, A2, B1, B2…etc prioritized tasks. I will make sure the GTD tasks have high priority. Once the tasks get prioritized, I generally can count on myself to do them more or less in priority order, because I truly believe that a life of doing high priority tasks first does produce the best outputs.

I must say that GTD has been immensely helpful in working on multi-event, longer-term projects. I never had a “mental space” (or even a physical one, for that matter) where these longer-term tasks could “live”. In particular, the “Waiting For” file is a true “secret weapon” for me, enabling me to “live” both in the here and now, and also calmly wait for specific moments in the future when I have certain actions planned.

Manny
Manny - 18 04 07 - 19:44

I find myself working to get things off of my lists (which is good) but I also find myself trying to keep my lists “done” or very close to done and I have started to feel resistance toward putting new things on my list to keep them caught up and “clean” – I suppose that this COULD be a good thing in terms of making more front end decisions about what I am doing – but I feel that it also could potentially make using my lists into something negative
Mark - 01 08 07 - 23:26