Getting Things Done
David Allen developed the GTD® or Getting Things Done® Methodology and he has quite a following. There’s a book, podcasts, training classes, etc. Sadly, I haven’t researched any of it in depth. But I have taken to the quick summary of GTD® and I think that’s enough for anyone to get started:
Capture
Collect what has your attention. Little or big - all your things that need to be handled.
Clarify
Take everything that you capture and ask:
- Is it actionable?
- Yes: decide on the very next action required. If it will take less than 2 minutes, to it now. If not, delegate it (if possible), or put it on a list.
- Is it actionable?
Organize
Put action reminders on the right lists. For example create lists for the appropriate categories - calls to make, errands to run, emails to send, etc.
Reflect
Look over your lists as often as necessary to determine what to do next. Do a weekly review to clean up, update your lists, and clean your mind.
Engage
Use your system to take appropriate actions with confidence.
It takes a bit of practice to manage task lists in org-mode. Many people go through multiple attempts at trying to organize their own task lists. Many people go through a variety of software trying and failing. Keeping this simple process in mind as you build out and manage your tasks will increase your chances of success. Org-mode is very powerful. Although the official GTD® seems to recommend tracking both personal and professional tasks together, my mindset is to learn org-mode with your personal tasks, then apply it to your professional life. Learning is a process, and I don’t recommend diving in professionally without a good understanding of what org-mode is, what it can do, and what it cannot.