A jam-packed schedule, an overflowing inbox, and a to-do list that keeps growing. Oh, and you still need to buy a birthday present for your brother-in-law… It feels like you’re constantly playing catch-up. At the end of the day, you’re exhausted, yet it seems like you haven’t truly completed anything.
Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Many people experience daily feelings of restlessness, lack of clarity, and stress due to a constant stream of obligations, stimuli, and information. Fortunately, there’s a proven method that helps you regain control over your work and your mind:Getting Things Done, or GTD.
GTD is a practical method for personal productivity, developed by David Allen. It helps you get everything that requires your attention out of your head, structure it in a reliable system, and take action with clarity and focus. The result? More peace of mind, better overview in your life – and more space to actually get things done.
How does the Getting Things Done method work?
GTD shifts all tasks and responsibilities from your mind to an external, but personal system. This allows you to focus on one task at a time. The method brings clarity and calm, reduces stress, and helps you meet deadlines and choose realistic goals.
The five well-known steps are:
- Capture – Write down everything that demands your attention.
- Clarify – Determine whether something requires action and what the next step is.
- Organise – Place actions into the right categories and priorities.
- Reflect – Regularly review your lists.
- Engage – Actually carry out the actions.
Can I use GTD both at work and at home?
Yes, GTD is applicable to all areas of your life. Whether you’re a manager or simply want to organise your personal life better, GTD helps you manage your time and energy effectively.
What’s a common pitfall when applying GTD?
A frequent pitfall is losing consistency. You start off enthusiastically, but after a while it becomes difficult to maintain your system. That’s why doing a Weekly Review is important to keep your lists up to date and maintain clarity.
What are the benefits of the Getting Things Done method?
GTD provides:
- Less mental clutter (no stress over unfinished tasks)
- More focus and productivity
- Better control over work and life
- Clearer priorities, helping you set realistic goals
How do I start with Getting Things Done as a beginner?
Start with a mind dump: write down everything that’s swirling around in your head. Put all your thoughts, tasks, and unresolved matters on paper. No filter. No judgement. Just write.
Then choose a quiet moment to review everything: what’s urgent and what can wait? Next, group related items together. Finally, place them on a few lists. From there, follow the five GTD steps: capture your ‘stuff’, decide what to do with it, organise it on the right list, reflect weekly, and take action!
What’s the difference between GTD and other time management methods?
GTD focuses on action management rather than time management. It’s not about scheduling your time, but about structuring your actions through an external system. This way, you can work with less distraction and more focus on what truly matters. Because you can’t manage time – but you can manage your actions!
Are there courses or trainings on Getting Things Done in the Netherlands?
You can order the original GTD book by David Allen here. Additionally, meereffect offers the training Getting Things Done in Practice, which helps you truly implement GTD.
Good to know: when you participate in this training, you receive the GTD book for free. This way, you have both the theory and the practical tools to get started right away.
Often, a combination of reading the book and attending a practical training is the fastest route to effective implementation in your life. You can book an in-company training with meereffect.
