homeWork: Productivity: GTD model

gtdworkflow.jpg

I guess I am officially a productivity nerd. I love this GTD model/method for work so much that I printed the above diagram and put it in the front of my moleskine. Organizing your flow of work is key for productivity.

This isn’t just for the workplace! It is an effective tool for home management. If you find that your lists are everywhere around the house, try out a moleskine notebook keep it all together. There needs to one place where most of your thoughts, ideas, lists, prayers, tasks, plans are together.

Mike and I use outlook for social calendaring and appointments. However, for tasks, lists, projects, relationship goals, menu planning, etc- it is good to have a location for all of that. If you are really geeky, like my husband, Mind Maps are effective. If you have an IPhone or other PDA, you can put those there.

Getting Things Done has transformed both Mike’s and my productivity for 5 years. Say goodbye to “open loops”. Capture those tasks and free your brain and heart space. GTD is a method for stewardship. Stewardship is the principle. Godly stewardship is prayerfully considering the practical ways in which God would have you take care of the gifts He has given.

Practically speaking, this method/model helps streamline your thinking not just your productivity. Remember- “open loops” are those thoughts, reminders, tasks, list items swirling around in your brain, uncaptured? Capturing those loops helps you focus more on what is in front of you. Open loops are unfriendly. They create chaos, stress, and keep your productivity stifled.

Yay for GTD! Yay for organization!

Posted on 8 December '08 by , under home management, Productivity.

6 Comments to “homeWork: Productivity: GTD model”

#1 Posted by Dan (22.12.08 at 00:59 )

For implementing GTD you can use this web-based application:

http://www.Gtdagenda.com

You can use it to manage your goals, projects and tasks, set next actions and contexts, use checklists, schedules and a calendar.
A mobile version is available too.

#2 Posted by The Pile I’m Standing In » Blog Archive » Routine (05.01.09 at 13:18 )

[...] a great “map” of an effective work flow, Trisha posted one from the Getting Things Done [...]

#3 Posted by susan rudolph (06.01.09 at 00:42 )

Okay Trisha, you are starting to convince me that GTD would be a useful tool in my life. I have so many open loops! Something that I’ve been doing lately is labeling where things go (I remember your home had lots of labels) and it helps so much with how fast I am able to clean up because I don’t have to think “Where should I put this back today?” or “I wonder where I last used this?” I already know because I am now in the habit of putting “this” back in its labeled “place”; even that obscure toy, pair of scissors, or wire for the computer has a place. Saves time, brain space, and frustration. I wouldn’t call myself organized yet, but I’ve got to start somewhere :)

#4 Posted by Georgene (24.01.09 at 08:21 )

I love the chart but I’m wondering how you implement it? Sorry to sound so dense! For instance, your mail comes in …. what kind of system would you set up to help prevent ‘open loops’? I have an ‘in box’ and a ‘pay bill’ drawer but I end up with my desk looking messy because I have other items that need attending to but I haven’t figured out a system where I can place them until I’m able to attend to them. Any ideas?

Love the premise of your site! :-) I am more work orientated than people orientated, also! God is working on me!

#5 Posted by homeWork: Systems at Work and Worship (02.02.09 at 14:38 )

[...] functionality. You can find yourself guilty and overwhelmed real quick! Your email is a system. In Getting Things Done, Allen talks about the 2 minute rule. Say you get 30 emails in a day. If you check your email 3 [...]

#6 Posted by Tami McKinley (17.04.09 at 23:25 )

I LOVE GTD!!! Mike is the one that told me about this program. Its the best!! I swear when I read thru the book the author was talking to me and answering my questions as I was thinking them.