You are fundamentally correct that
capture is the non-negotiable principle.
However, let's subtly refine the term
"extrinsic capturing."
While much of our initial input often comes from external sources (emails, meetings, calls, etc.), the GTD principle of capturing must apply to
everything that occupies your mental bandwidth—regardless of its origin.
This means capturing:
- Extrinsic Input. Imposed obligations, received information, appointments.
- Intrinsic Input. Your own ideas, plans, goals, commitments, and sudden realizations (e.g., "I should really learn Spanish," or "That marketing strategy needs to be revamped").
The moment an intrinsic thought (like a brilliant new plan) enters your mind and demands attention, it becomes an
"open loop"—a cognitive distraction. Your brain doesn't differentiate between an email demanding action and your own desire to write a book; both are disruptive until they are externalized into your trusted system.
Therefore, we can confirm your principle with this critical clarification:
All GTD control begins with capturing everything—both intrinsic commitments and extrinsic demands—to transform mental noise into manageable data.
While the rule is to capture everything, the system is designed to be
efficient.
You generally
do not need to capture items that are part of your automatic flow or immediate routine.
For instance, you don't need to write down "brush teeth" or "take a shower" if these are standard, sequenced habits. The value of capture lies in
extracting the disruptive, context-shifting thoughts—those items that are "jumping out" and using your mental bandwidth.
The ultimate efficiency is self-managed.
If you find yourself capturing things that offer little value, you must reflect on the purpose. The goal isn't to micro-manage every second, like rigidly logging every routine action in a diary. The goal is to maximize mental clarity. Capture what you need to forget, so you can focus on what you need to do now.
Finally, consider this perspective shared in another discussion: Crafting a clear Next Action is essentially writing a reminder for your future self. In that light, the Capture step is simply writing a very early note for the 'Task Assigning Self'—allowing you to move the item out of your head immediately, and making it much easier later to decide when and where to prompt your future self to act.
