If you start from zero, it is tempting to take the whole system with all its subtleties. Now - after one year of application - I have to admit that that's too much of a good thing was; of course all depends on the complexity of the working day. At the beginning of a sweeping blow is recommended, in which the entire office, all working materials, all the drawers, shelves, archives, etc. Going through. Plus - if you want - you do this on the private sector, so the entire household, cellar, in terms of hobbies, etc. In my case, I was in connection with a list of 300 tasks since. The book gives a lot of tips on how to more concrete tasks, brings in hierarchy and executes. However: Once you have started the system, you have to get away from the idea, eventually to be finished with the list. Rather come through processing and progressive time ever new tasks added, so you will probably always have to rest of his life at least a few dozen tasks in store. Initially kept stressing me that much because I came at a snail's pace compared to the list length ahead. Moreover claimed the maintenance of the system, of course, some extra effort, the force is applied only paid if a managing automatically goes out of hand. Meanwhile, after a good year, the system (or the elements used by me) is the daily routine in it that my life has become fairly orderly and relaxed. My home office as well as my private household is extremely orderly compared to the past and I barely sweaty important appointments or obligations.
Here is a brief overview of the use of mine and for the most important elements considered or a few comments on proposed elements:
- Weekly Review: Indispensable, is quasi the control center of the entire system. At this time all notes are transferred, eliminating archive bodies, you get a complete overview, decide on priorities, etc.
- Status / context / priority: According to Allen, all tasks are collected on context lists (egwork,phone,errands etc.). In GTD-based software solutions (any ToDo apps and Co.) to give a still possible, priorities and statuses (eg active, waiting, next task and so on) to forgive. As I consider the essential category "waiting" time you an overview of all delegated tasks has (outstanding answers to mails, callbacks, answers to letters, to be supplied components of the project, etc.). As for the other categorizations must compile each a completely separate system, because this is absolutely the own working style, the type of task, and perhaps even of one's own personality dependent.
- Inventory: It is an incredibly valuable supplied list that represents an estimated 100 questions about living and working areas. The aim is to find any tasks that lie dormant somewhere. Sure you can do that even without the list, but for me personally it has brought several things to mind, which I would have otherwise neglected.
- Someday / Maybe list: Anything that can not be recognized as an urgent, concrete task, finds its place in a Someday / Maybe list. Basically, that's great, but you have to be aware of the risks: all too easy to gather there several spinning mills, which are anyway never realized. On the other hand, it happens from time to time that there end up projects that would be pretty important, but where you simply can not find a reasonable place to start. As long as one is aware of dangers and mercilessly rejected and pushed back and forth, which is very useful.
- Project List: Certainly that is useful in many professional projects; in private and hobby area is only conditionally necessary. Definitely good, if it is too confusing and quite impractical when Weekly Review, but it is another list that has to be maintained.
- Software tools: In the area there are an infinite variety of options that proposals are already outdated at the appearance. For my part go well with the Google calendar, Toodledo (Silver Edition with sub-task functionality) on the PC and on your Android phone, and the note-app of Samsung Note 2. In particular, the pen-based note function as proved very workable. My cell phone I have always with you; a pad and pen not. And most come just a good professional ideas while walking or on the park bench. As I first informal detention ideas in the memo app that separation between Inbox and Task List is maintained and is in each case matched to one another at Weekly Review.
- Checklists: A quite useful concept to which I am but so far (yet?) Could not get used. Only writing the checklists but has already shown me some facets to which it applies to respect of certain projects.
- 30,000-feet-perspective: For the (weekly) reviews or keep track of their own (? Life -) tasks Allen tried the analogy of altitude. Depending on the altitude back different aspects into focus, each in different levels of detail. Every now and then the perspective to change makes a lot of sense: There are a further objects and problem areas, but just come to mind in various contexts also sensible solutions. How to perform the change of perspective concrete, probably everyone has to find out for themselves personally. Some may perhaps just like that think, while others might need a little distance in the form of vacation, walks, retreats or whatever. I find it alone very important that the concept ever comes up.
- Hanging File: Only by GTD I have come to use hanging files and find them extremely important to presort documents and to have on demand.
- 43 Folders: 43 bags / folders 31 days of the month and 12 months of the year. Should allow one required on certain days documents to have directly available. Has proven to me as not really practical and is another part of the system, the care and maintenance required. For some areas of work but it certainly makes sense.
- Processing of the tasks: Here you will be left alone for a while! When you in what order which executes tasks are getting the best productivity book can not decide for one. Here the author also not too many concrete suggestions. Basically, the previously created task list should allow for easy processing the tasks, but you have to just be aware that you finally even have to decide in the minute or hour that the tasks to tackle and what we might yet again a few days defers. It is the responsibility of everyone, not even around the nose to guide itself (by, for example always tackles only self-perpetuating and difficult projects defers).
Conclusion: My review only deals with aspects of the book and has now become very long. Accordingly, many suggestions keeps ready the book. Hardly a will use the complete system from A to Z and each might easily set the focus differently. Definitely it's been for me the most complete book that actually allows, but just to gain privacy a clear plan of their own labor.
PS: In the book 'Zen To Done' by Leo Babauta a light version of the system is presented. Unlike GTD Babauta puts a focus on the specific processing of the tasks by concrete targets and week days daily goals you set yourself. This is a really useful extension of the system. From my own experience I can confirm that one can grope as a pure GTD-ler well in the case, in phases more time for maintenance of the system than to invest for the processing of the (important) tasks.
