Gleaned Basics from: David Allen on Getting Things Done
The weakest link to getting things done is failing to write things down.
1. Everything you have to, need to, or want to do, out of your head and into google calendar.
Write down things you're worried about. Call it a Ram Dump.
2. Next action thinking; the more important the goal, the easier it is to procrastinate because you don't know where to start.
Find the specific and manageable "next" thing to do, and be straightforward.
3. Create reminders and tricks to get through the month, by date.
Group tasks by context rather than by importance.
To do lists should be where you do them, i.e. phone, online, running lists: grocery store, drug store, hardware store, etc.
Review of 1,2,3
Write down goals in google calendar
Create manageable steps--next action thinking. Write them down. S
Put reminders where you will actually heed them, in context lists.
then
Scan lists rather than ignore them.
Two Really Good Rules
1. The 2-Minute Rule
If you can do something in less than 2 minutes, do it when you think of it.
Why? Two minutes is the threshhold where storing and tracking a task will take longer than acting on it.
2. The Triage your Email Rule
Move through your inbox every day and if it meets the 2-minute rule, answer it.
Otherwise, delete it, file it, or move it to a needs action folder.
updated 11/11/2008
Another great resource that can change the way you look at life: