Getting Things Done, commonly abbreviated as GTD, is an action management method, and the title of a book by David Allen.

GTD rests on the principle that a person needs to move tasks out of the mind by recording them somewhere. That way, the mind is freed from the job of remembering everything that needs to be done, and can concentrate on actually performing those tasks.

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Getting Things Done

What is GTD?

GTD embodies an easy, step-by-step and highly efficient method for achieving this relaxed, productive state. It includes:

• Capturing anything and everything that has your attention. Write down the item when you think of it to clear your mind.
• Defining actionable things discretely into outcomes and concrete next steps. "What is the next physical action" you need to take?
• Lists in Context: Organizing reminders and information in the most streamlined way, in categories, based on how and when you need to access them. Example: Maintain an ongoing Target store list. When you think of things you need from Target you drop it on the list so when you visit the store you look at that list.
• Keeping current and "on your game" with appropriately frequent reviews of the six horizons of your commitments (purpose, vision, goals, areas of focus, projects, and actions).

Outcomes & Actions

1. Describe in a single sentence the intended successful outcome for the problem or situation

2. Write down the very next physical action required to move the situation forward, e.g., "Make oil change appointment", vs. "Get oil changed"

Quick Reference List

• What are the expected results of the work?
• What is the Task? What is the Outcome?
• What is the very next physical action Step?
• You don't manage priorities, you have them.

Horizontal & Vertical Control (Get Things Off Your Mind and Get Them Done)

1. Horizontal maintains coherence across all activities in which you are involved

2. Vertical manages thinking up and down the track of individual topics and projects