What's the next action

How do you start with GTD?

Recently I got a lot of the same question: I read the book, got my folders, got my labeller, the works. Now HOW do I start? Where do I start? Somehow I seem to get stuck, not get going very good with being GTD.

Interesting question. Especially because there is not one answer I think. Because everybody has their own specific problems. For instance, maybe your actionlist is not made up of individual actions, but little projects. Maybe you are afraid to really get everything out of your head and into an objective system (I know I am sometimes). So I turn to my valued readers. If you are already into GTD, what was the one thing that got you started? And if you are still struggling to get started, what is it your struggling with? Let me be the first to give an answer: How did I start with GTD?

More >> Used tags: autohotkey, empty_mind, esynergy, inbox, information_overload, lookback, nozbe, productivity, software, weekly_review

30 09 07 - 11:19 - Permanent link - eleven comments

The Dave explains your mind

I am a big fan of YouTube but for some reason I never searched on it for GTD content. Strange really. But today I found a very nice lecture from The Dave. I think it's part of the GTD Fast seminars since I recognize some of the sentences and jokes he makes. I listen to it too much I guess. It's a 5 minute video where he explains before a crowd and in an interview how the mind works regarding productivity and how you are not getting tired from getting things done, but actually from not getting them done. His analogy for information overload with a library still cracks me up. Yeah I'm a GTD-nerd, I know. Video after the click! More >> Used tags: david_allen, gtd, interview, lectrue, video

23 09 07 - 10:59 - Permanent link - one comment

Escape From Email Hell – Chapter 4

This is a guestblog by Craig Huggart. I blog on Getting Things Done and work-life balance at Tech Rest.

Ed's first visit from the Email Angel was about 5 months in the past. Things were going so much better it was hard for him to even remember how stressed out he had been over email.

Lately, though he noticed a disturbing pattern: he was forgetting to check his folders and as a result, sometimes he would forget to do things. It wasn't as bad as it had been but it still bothered him. It was irritating and embarrassing to get a call about a meeting 10 minutes after it started. Even worse was the time he forgot about a party his wife had told him about and scheduled a golf match with a friend instead.

He was thinking about these things as he drifted off to sleep that night.

For the rest of this chapter and other chapters in the book, click The Book .

Used tags: craig_huggart, email, gtd

10 09 07 - 13:00 - Permanent link - two comments

Lists: To Do vs Action vs Next Action

This is a guest post by gtdfrk of the “Getting Things Done - My experiences with using GTD” blog.

We are all making lists. Especially if you are into Productivity in general and GTD more specifically, you will be very familiar with making lists. Odds are you are making these lists to keep track of all the things you need to do to make progress in certain (or all) areas of your life and to be reminded of them at the appropriate time.

But are you making the right list? Are you maintaining your list? Are you sticking to your list? And is your list encouraging you to actually get things done and achieve your goals?

From my personal experience and from what I see around me, I want to show you different lists and why one is better than the other for getting things done. More importantly, I will show you how to create an effective list which is attractive, encouraging and easy to maintain.

More >> Used tags: action, gtd, list, productivity, project

05 09 07 - 10:21 - Permanent link - four comments

Be Cognizant of your Online Personal Brand

This is a guest post by Dan Schawbel, publisher of Personal Branding Magazine and owner of the world acclaimed Personal Branding Blog.

Personal Branding has become a hot topic in the world today and is more relevant than ever before. With the rise of social networks and the demand for reputation management, Personal Branding is a must for just about anyone. It's important to recognize how we are being perceived online and who is viewing our pictures and bio's.

More >> Used tags: personal_branding

03 09 07 - 16:41 - Permanent link - two comments

On-line GTD with Nozbe and Google Calendar

This is a guest post by Jeroen Sangers, self-proclaimed productivity tweaker and blogging (in Spanish) on El Canasto.

Lately many on-line GTD applications have appeared, and while I am still using my good old Outlook/Palm set-up, I am looking for something simpler that does not require synching several devices. After looking at several on-line GTD tools, I decided to give Nozbe a try, and currently run the two systems in parallel.

More >> Used tags: calendar, gtd, nozbe, productivity, software, work

01 09 07 - 10:04 - Permanent link - two comments