What is GTD*?

GTD is short for "Getting Things Done*". It's a system for personal productivity created by David Allen. Here's a more formal definition.

Here, you can learn about GTD, and how to do it using Note Studio.

Important:
Now, there are many different ways to do GTD, and Note Studio is only one of them. Unless his official website says otherwise, David Allen does not endorse Note Studio, and we have no connection with his company.

In fact, we designed Note Studio long before we heard about GTD. It's only after our users kept telling us how they loved Note Studio for GTD, that we thought we'd better investigate what GTD actually was. Now, we're converted!

If you're interested in GTD, why don't you check out David Allen's website. We highly recommend both the GTD book and the audio book.

* GTD® and Getting Things Done® are registered trademarks of Davidco

Note Studio GTD Refresher

2. Your Personal Productivity System

We're going to start by looking at your current productivity system.

At this stage, you might protest:

"Productivity System? I don't even have a productivity system!"

That's a fairly standard reaction at this point. Well, I've got some news for you.

You do have a productivity system. The name might sound a bit grand, when applied to your system. But here's how I'm defining a productivity system: it's simply 'the system you use to get anything done.'

If you get anything done, then by definition you have a productivity system.

Your current system doesn't have to be complicated - it might be as simple as:

"Each day, I just try to remember what I have to do, and then do it,"

Your current system doesn't even have to work particularly well - in fact it might be better called an anti-productivity system, eg:

"When mail comes in, I just add it to my big pile. Every time I look at that pile, it makes me cry, because I know one day I have to sort through it."

Alternatively, your system might be at the other end of the scale. You might have a full list of all everything you're accountable for. Your whole life may be carefully scheduled for the next five years. You're on top of things. This is your productivity system.

Would you agree now that every functional person in our society - including you - does have a productivity system? It's simply your personal method for getting anything done.

Maybe your current productivity system is working just great. If that's the case - congratulations - you can stop reading right here.

But you might want to keep reading about GTD if your current productivity system is:

leaky; some things get done, other things get missed. Also known as random, where you do whatever comes into your head when it occurs to you,

overly complex; you spend too much time planning your work, then continually updating your plan as things change,

one-dimensional; you're great at work, but your home life is mess,

inflexible; it works fine until something unexpected happens (e.g. your car breaks down) then your whole week is thrown out,

ineffective under stress; it works fine until things get busy. Then, when you need it most, it deserts you, and you get "snowed under".

Or, put simply, you just feel that there must be a better way.

Contents ~ Next