Getting Things Done is a meditation technique that involves writing down any thoughts that cross your mind in a trusted collection area outside of your brain. It then recommends regularly reviewing your collection area to determine if each item requires action, and if so, what the next action is and where it should be documented. Key components of the system include collection areas, a someday/maybe file, reference file, waiting list, calendar, next action list, and project list. The technique aims to help prioritize tasks and prevent procrastination by clearly defining action items.

1. Getting Things Done

2. The book:
(It’s good!)

3. I know when to go out
And when to stay in
Get things done
- David Bowie, Modern Love

4. GTD isn’t a
productivity
technique: it’s a
meditation technique.

5. What do you want to
be doing now?

6. What do you really
want to be doing now?

7. What’s stopping you?

8. Nagging Doubts.
Squirrels.

9. Only Collect

10. Technique one: if a
thought crosses your
mind, write it down.

11. You need a trusted
collection area outside
of your brain.

12. What do you do once
you’ve written it down?

13. Technique two: go
through your collection
area regularly, and
triage it.

14. Question 1: Do I want
to commit to acting on
this?

15. If it’s not actionable:
• Trash?
• Someday/maybe?
• Reference?

16. Question 2: What’s the
next action?

17. Where does the action go?
• Do it! (If it takes less than 2 minutes.)
• Waiting list. (If you want to delegate it.)
• Calendar. (If you want to be reminded at a
specific time.)
• Next action list. (To do as soon as you can.)

18. Components of your system:
• Collection areas.
• Someday/maybe file.
• Reference file.
• Waiting list.
• Calendar.
• Next action list.
• Project list.

19. Inbox Zero

20. Hierarchy

21. The only things that go
on your next action list
are single physical
steps.

22. Technique three: if it
takes multiple steps, no
matter how small,
make a project.

23. Example: Making a
Dinner Reservation

24. • Make a dinner reservation.

25. • Find restaurant phone
number.
• Call for dinner reservation.

26. • Pick restaurant.
• Find restaurant phone
number.
• Call for dinner reservation.

27. • Pick a date and time.
• Pick restaurant.
• Call for dinner reservation.

28. These steps aren’t all
next actions: only ones
you can do right now
are.

29. Fear of Commitment

30. Technique four: add
triggers to help you
select next actions.

31. One solution: contexts.
Shopping, phone,
computer, home, work.

32. Another solution: go
over the next action list
at the start of the day.

33. Perspective

34. It’s easy to get caught in
the details; sometimes,
you need to step back.

35. Technique five: once a
week, do a weekly
review.

36. Go over your lists:
• Projects.
• Next actions.
• Waiting.
• Calendar.
• Someday/Maybe.

37. Anything you’re
forgetting? Any new
projects?

38. This is what prevents
your someday/maybe
list from being a trash
can.

39. You’ll review these lists
every week. So:

40. If you won’t do it in the
next week, it’s not a
next action, it’s
someday/maybe!

41. And make the decision
of whether to commit
away from the heat of
the moment.

42. Again: read the
book:

43. Thoughts?