Getting Things Done: What is It?

Chances are, if you are reading this blog, you have at least some familiarity with what the term GTD, or Getting Things Done, is about.

For those of you who have not, I present a short summary:

GTD, based on the book by David Allen, is a system of capturing, organizing, analyzing and executing tasks in a way that will free up your energy and creativity.

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GTD is not a “buy this product and become organized” system. GTD can be done with paper and pencil. Or with any other tool that works for you as an individual.

GTD is not a system that insists you start with a grand purpose statement and decide your activities from that. In fact, it works in the opposite direction — take care of and manage the tasks you are already committed to to free up time and energy for planning.

GTD is not about rigidity. GTD allows you to know, at any moment, what is outstanding, so you can make flexible choices to do, or not to do, any of it.

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The underlying principle of GTD is that you capture everything that needs to be done, regardless of size, time required and time frame, into a trusted system, and then make a plan for what needs doing. The plan can be done or reconsidered at any moment.