Productivity Hack Alert! Follow the Getting Things Done (GTD) Method to Streamline Your Tasks

Are you the type of person who makes a plan every day and breaks it before the end of the day?

Or are you the type of person who wants to be productive but ends up spending days on late deadlines, unanswered emails, and half-finished projects?

Let's be honest!

Everyone wants to be like the first person, but many struggles with endless conflicts to avoid being the second person.

One way to do this is to use employee monitoring software. However, you also need to be aware of other factors.

I have a trick for you, namely GTD.

"Getting things done (GTD)" doesn't mean you have to be superhuman.

It's about having the right tools and using them successfully.

GTD is a self-management technique that allows you to store all your professional and personal work in to-do lists. Since you no longer have to spend energy remembering these tasks, you can focus on doing them brilliantly.

Before we talk about the best GTD apps, let's go step by step.

GTD Approach: 5 Core Steps You Need to FollowStep 1: Save

Organize all your tasks, appointments and plans in your inbox. Your inbox can be any legal folder that allows you to record everything in writing. This means you can use analog and digital inboxes like OneNote or Evernote, vertical filing systems, email boxes or physical filing cabinets.

The initial phase may take a few days until you start using the "let's get things done" strategy. Once you've done that, you can add new appointments, tasks and ideas to your inboxes as they arise. This rarely takes more than a few minutes.

Step 2: Clarify

You need to analyse and prepare everything that has accumulated in your inbox. This means figuring out where things belong in the GTD system. Ask the following questions:

What is the task?

Can you complete it in the time allocated?

What is the next step?

When assessing your inbox, don't put things back in it. Determine the location of each item. If no action is necessary or possible, choose one of the three options:

Put it on the "someday/wish" list.

Throw it in the bin.

Make a backup for future use.

The Getting Things Done decision method helps you organise tasks by urgency, scope and importance, so you can complete each task at the right time.

Step 3: Organise

Start by placing all the things that can be done in temporary boxes or on lists, and work from there.

Note: - If you can complete a task in fifteen minutes or less, complete it immediately rather than adding it to the GTD system.

Calendar

Mark appointments in your calendar. Place tasks to be completed in the "Next Actions" list, or mark them as a project and break them into shorter activities.

Projects

Any task that requires more than one step is a project in David Allen's GTD methodology. The project can be anything from a home renovation to an expert marketing campaign.

Add your project to the list of projects you check often. Then determine the next steps in the project and give clear deadlines for them.

Also, keep a list of reminders about the various tasks you have assigned to other people.

Next steps

Keep a list of next steps that are not specific to the project. Depending on the scope of your tasks, you can maintain different context-specific accounts for private tasks, orders, work assignments, calls, etc.

Wait or hold

In addition, keep a list of all tasks that are not assigned to project tasks. Set dates for when you will follow up on tasks.

Step 4: Reflection

You'll gain clarity by managing your tasks and appointments, but that alone won't increase your employee productivity and ensure you get everything done in the time allotted. That's why you need to review your lists often.

Check your calendar several times and keep track of your to-do list every day. In Getting Things Done, you do a weekly review.

This review includes the following steps:

Clear your head: at the end of each week, write down all the thoughts that go through your brain.

Inboxes: put new tasks, dates, and ideas where they belong in the GTD system.

To-do list: have you updated your to-do list? What are your upcoming tasks?

Project lists: update your project list. Make sure you have completed all tasks and that you are ready for the next project.

"Maybe or someday" lists: do you want to move some of the things on this list to the project folder and do them now?

Calendar: is your calendar up to date? Have you attended all your meetings? What are your upcoming meetings? Have you listed them all?

Pending list: what is the current position of your selected actions? Follow up with your colleagues if necessary.

Step 5: Commit yourself

In the GTH system, you use four criteria to determine your next step: Available Time, Context, Priority, and Available Energy. In the GTD method, you need to think about four aspects to make a thoughtful choice about which task to do next.

Context

When you are available, you need to ask yourself: What can I do right now? In what context do I find myself? If you are in the waiting room of a doctor's office and want to make the most of your time, you may not want to have confidential work conversations. However, you can respond to brief e-mails or send text messages to friends.

Time on your hands

If you are in your car and are 15 minutes away from your destination, don't initiate a call that you expect to take an hour. A better alternative might be to stay at the supermarket to finish a few things on your shopping list.

Energy available

You can't be energetic all day long. Everyone has a slightly different biorhythm. Monitor the difference in your energy level throughout the day for a week to know when you have energy highs and lows.

Prioritize

If you have divided potential tasks based on the 3 norms and have multiple choices, let preferences decide for you: which task is most valuable? Start with this task.

The 5 best GTD apps you need in 2021.FacileThings

I start my list with an app that has a feature set designed specifically with GTD methodology in mind. FacileThings brings out the things you need to effectively execute the GTD composition without getting sidetracked.

The smooth aesthetics and charming UI design make it one of the best GTD apps.

Featured Features

Different types of to-do lists depending on their respective category.

Multiple integrations of third-party applications.

Notes on tasks to add additional information.

Calendar to set all events.

Weekly review wizard to help you think through decisions.

Outlook tab for editing, as well as project, goal, and region overviews for action effectiveness.

Supported platforms.

Nirvana

This GTD app has smart features that help you get things done faster. The app provides customized lists that match all tasks according to their level of preference and importance.

The Inbox feature allows you to instantly collect everything that pops into your brain in one place.

Recommended features

Pre-made task lists that you can place at each step.

Repeated two-dose application for consistently repetitive tasks.

Notes, labels, and due dates for tasks.

Inbox to catch concepts before they slip away.

Focus list to focus only on the main tasks.

Todoist

Todoist is one of the most widely used to-do list management apps. The tool provides a robust set of features for keeping notes, habits, checklists, tasks, and more through a single platform.

The quick add feature serves as a method to collect concepts and move forward with the day.

Also, when you need to evaluate your performance, you can use Todoist's points, levels, and Karma traits. The impressive graphical visualization of your performance over time helps you better understand trends and track your activities.

Recommended features

Custom task views and task labels to provide context.

Powerful third-party app combinations to stay paired with your favorite apps.

Persistent due dates to keep up with habits.

Checklist management with quick concept scoring.

Color-coded preference phases and themes to match individual priorities.

Supported platforms: iOS, Android

OmniFocus

This is the Apple version of GTD. Packed with robust features, OmniFocus lets you manage things with ease and flexibility. The visually appealing and intuitive interface is the icing on the cake.

The app's review function helps you speculate on things and adjust performance to make informed decisions.

Featured features

Quickly enter activities whenever they come to mind.

Project analysis to track progress over time.

Forecasting to keep track of future tasks.

Custom labels and tags to classify actions.

Bright and dark modes to suit your preferences.

Platform supported: iOS, Mac, Web

Evernote

With lots of features focused on getting things done with a smart approach, Evernote is the ultimate budgeting app. This GTD tool achieves multiple goals without overwhelming you with a rich set of features.

When it comes to team collaboration, the Evernote app takes the worry out of it, offering simple syncing between systems, easy attachment of files including emails and documents, and shared spaces.

Featured features

Note labels to prepare notes by note type

Attached files with comments and image annotations

Web clipping functionality for storing content online.

Provide simple sharing of lists to get things done quickly.

Organise and capture notes either manually or via wizards.

Sync across multiple devices to stay connected.

Platform supported: iOS, Android

Bottom line

Getting Things Done (GTD) is an efficient approach to self-management. Countless supporters have proven its success. However, GTD is not an effortless methodology.

This tool is great if you prefer a highly analytical and structured environment and if you have some certainty about your goals and priorities.

If you have been multitasking, this method can be an effective tool to ensure even greater clarity.

Question 1: What is the Getting Things Done system?

Getting Things Done (GTD) is a self-management approach created by David Allen, who lists all his personal and specialist activities on to-do lists. With this tool, you don't have to spend energy memorising these tasks.

Question 2: Where should you start with GTD?

Make your choice.

List what you have in mind.

Stack a pile.

Clean out a drawer.

Clean out a file drawer.

Repair a new piece of equipment.

Delete an email folder.

Take a two-minute walk.

Question 3: What are the 5 strengths of GTD?

Reliability

Comprehensive organization

Helps you get things done on time.

Clear structure

Freedom

Do you have a question? Feel free to ask your questions in the comments section below.

Original article source

"Karoline steward writes Articles on online invoicing software. Her articles have appeared on several sites, including Bloglovin, Tech site, Medium.