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Getting Things Done

CPR - Capture Process Review

GETTING THINGS DONE by David Allen | Core Message (Remastered)

  1. Capture

  2. Process

    • Is it Actionable
    • Would it take 2 minutes or less
      • Yes, do it now
      • Else, go to 3.

  3. Organize

    • Project
      • Personal
      • Work
    • Time
      • By deadlines (use calendar)
    • Context

  4. Review

    • Weekly review the tasks for next week keeping 3-5 years vision in mind
    • Can do done at same time and place every week
    • Treat yourself after reviewing

  5. Engage

  • Focus. When other thoughts enter the mind, record them on an external nearby Thought Bucket.

  • Empty the Thought Bucket weekly and organize it.

  • Remove unimportant items, finish 2-minute tasks, and enter deadlines, or appointments in your calendar.

  • Practice outcome thinking by having a project list that tracks steps leading to desired goals. The most urgent step on the project list goes to the Next Action list.

  • The Next Action list should stay with you at all times so you can choose to act on them when time frees up.

  • The Waiting For list can help expedite things.

  • The Tickler File consists of 31 days and 12 months into the future, and is for time sensitive reminders.

  • The Someday/Maybe list is for ideas in the future that are not concrete projects yet.

  • Set up a functional workplace to create a cockpit of control that eases your mind.

  • Review and update all of your lists weekly.

  • Natural planning turns ambiguous ideas into brainstorming sessions that reduce the fog and provide clarity into actionable steps.

  • Don't multitask. Focus 100% of your mental capacity on the task at hand.

  • Our brain's nature is to think. Thus, thoughts might enter our mind that distract us from the current tasks.

  • Daily to-do lists are inefficient because of their warped view of time.

  • Including too many tasks

    • Ideally, create a 'top three' tasks at the beginning of your to-do list.
    • Long lists are a problem because most people aren't aware that "we only have about three to six good hours of work in us each day."
    • People also tend to underestimate how long a task takes.

  • create a fresh list for each day