Overview
I encountered the Getting Things Done (GTD) process through my new course (CEP 810). Information about this process was given in the lab, and in a electronic handout. This process is an organizational system that involves listing and categorizing tasks.
Following this process has not been easy for me. I've been forced to confront some of my long-term goals and my method of functioning. As a PhD student in the most productive (by far) communication department in the country, I am in a state of constant anxiety and stress. The amount of work that needs to be done always seems impossible. By helping me externalize the tasks that need to be done, this method had helped reduce my anxiety. However, some other concerns are still left unanswered by this method.
Steps in the GTD process
This process consists of five steps, including:
(i) Collect: Involves listing all the tasks in one location
(ii) Process: Involves examining each task, and considering if it is actionable. If it is, then doing it immediately if its under 2 minutes, else defering or delegating it.
(iii) Organize: This involves putting all information into categories or 'bins'. The categories in the handout were :
- projects (tasks that you are committed to finish)
- Calendar (Tasks that must occur on a specific day or time)
- Next Actions (Tasks that be done immediately)
- Waiting for (tasks that are dependent on others completing their assigned work)
(iv) Review: Making sure that the tasks in every category are up to date.
(v) Do: Deciding on what to do, based on your time, energy and priorities.
I used my computer to organize my process. I created a separate folder for GTD, and had separate notepad files for each category.
Going through the process for the first time was accompanied by a sense of relief. Listing down the various tasks (in my case, it was close to twenty when I first listed them), helps externalize your concerns, and helps you objectively assess what needs to be done, and whether it can can be done.
Is this process helpful?
This process is helpful to me because:
(i) It decreases my anxiety (although not does get rid of it entirely) and helps me focus better on the task at hand.
(ii) It gives me a daily plan of action which helps me manage my time and energy better.
(iii) The categories prove very helpful, as it gives me an idea about what needs to be done immediately,and what can be put away for later.
Unaddressed concerns
Some concerns left unaddressed by what I've read so far are:
(i) What if a person has an unmanageably large task list? How does one learn to recognize that point which one says "no" to the work delegated to him/her?
(ii) How exactly are we to combine our estimates of time, energy and priorities to decide whether we should do a task or not?
(iii) If work that needs to be done immediately, but we are low on energy, what are we to do? Similarly, if we are anxious about a particular task, and that task needs to be done immediately, what are we to do?
Will I continue using this system?
Yes, I do plan to continue using this system, as it has helped me organize my tasks better. However in the few days that I've used this system, I still continue to be swamped with work and anxiety (though my anxiety is a little lesser than before). I hope to read and learn more about this system so that I can effectively apply it to my life.
I encountered the Getting Things Done (GTD) process through my new course (CEP 810). Information about this process was given in the lab, and in a electronic handout. This process is an organizational system that involves listing and categorizing tasks.
Following this process has not been easy for me. I've been forced to confront some of my long-term goals and my method of functioning. As a PhD student in the most productive (by far) communication department in the country, I am in a state of constant anxiety and stress. The amount of work that needs to be done always seems impossible. By helping me externalize the tasks that need to be done, this method had helped reduce my anxiety. However, some other concerns are still left unanswered by this method.
Steps in the GTD process
This process consists of five steps, including:
(i) Collect: Involves listing all the tasks in one location
(ii) Process: Involves examining each task, and considering if it is actionable. If it is, then doing it immediately if its under 2 minutes, else defering or delegating it.
(iii) Organize: This involves putting all information into categories or 'bins'. The categories in the handout were :
- projects (tasks that you are committed to finish)
- Calendar (Tasks that must occur on a specific day or time)
- Next Actions (Tasks that be done immediately)
- Waiting for (tasks that are dependent on others completing their assigned work)
(iv) Review: Making sure that the tasks in every category are up to date.
(v) Do: Deciding on what to do, based on your time, energy and priorities.
I used my computer to organize my process. I created a separate folder for GTD, and had separate notepad files for each category.
Going through the process for the first time was accompanied by a sense of relief. Listing down the various tasks (in my case, it was close to twenty when I first listed them), helps externalize your concerns, and helps you objectively assess what needs to be done, and whether it can can be done.
Is this process helpful?
This process is helpful to me because:
(i) It decreases my anxiety (although not does get rid of it entirely) and helps me focus better on the task at hand.
(ii) It gives me a daily plan of action which helps me manage my time and energy better.
(iii) The categories prove very helpful, as it gives me an idea about what needs to be done immediately,and what can be put away for later.
Unaddressed concerns
Some concerns left unaddressed by what I've read so far are:
(i) What if a person has an unmanageably large task list? How does one learn to recognize that point which one says "no" to the work delegated to him/her?
(ii) How exactly are we to combine our estimates of time, energy and priorities to decide whether we should do a task or not?
(iii) If work that needs to be done immediately, but we are low on energy, what are we to do? Similarly, if we are anxious about a particular task, and that task needs to be done immediately, what are we to do?
Will I continue using this system?
Yes, I do plan to continue using this system, as it has helped me organize my tasks better. However in the few days that I've used this system, I still continue to be swamped with work and anxiety (though my anxiety is a little lesser than before). I hope to read and learn more about this system so that I can effectively apply it to my life.
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