The Disciplines of GTD

S

stargazer_rick

0
Some recent threads on this board, and others, has inspired me to think about what I would call "The Disciplines of GTD". I have found that as I implement more structure (ie. disciplines and habits) in my system and my life that I am more free to think clearly and work effectively and efficiently.

As my wife and I were driving last week we passed a Karate school. I told her that I wished that I had learned Karate as a child because I believe that I would have developed a greater sense of discipline in my life. (She told me that I need to loosen up and that I am already too disciplined. :D :D )

I know that I have become much more disciplined in general since I've began to study the martial art of Getting Things Done. My question for the group is: What disciplines, or habits, do you think are necessary to maintain a smoothly running GTD system?

The first things that come to my mind are:
- Collecting everything into your inbaskets
- Processing your inbaskets using the workflow diagram
- Filing all reference material in an A-Z system
- Maintaining a projects list
- Identifying next actions
- Doing a weekly review every week

What would you add to this list?
 
The more you know the less you seem to know

I think GTD as a discipline integrated into one's life will pay rewards far in excess of the effort involved. And only after you have integrated GTD as a habit (effortless) can you think of evolving the discipline further. I am sure that DA (knowing his oriental mindset) is also exploring deeper meaning than what he knows now of making life more productive. Those of us who have achieved black belt may be on the same path. But for others it is a long journey - a rewarding one at that.

Coming back to the points that you have mentioned what you have missed out is the actual DOing. We need to find time and ways to do things effectively. To do things at the right time, with the right amount of energy takes a bit of strategic planning (and may become intuitive [even though for me this is a big issue now] at some point of time). DOing, kind of, completes the circle.

Otherwise the points mentioned nicely encapsulate the philosophy in the clearest manner and in the fewest words.
 
The most important thing i did, was to go through EVERYTHING in my universe, and process it. That took a few weeks, or longer. I went from top to bottom.

I think i might need to do that again.
That might be a good Discipline to do on a yearly basis.
Go through ALL of your stuff top to bottom, and get it all processed.
Of course, if one is doing GTD right, then after the first time, things should not be falling through the cracks!

But there's always something...If its not one thing its another...

The hardest area to keep processed i find, is the Mental-Creative area, which seems to expand exponentially...

Coz
 
Good list, Ricky...

I think you touched on this, but I would add: Get everything out of your head and into a trusted system.
 
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