{"id":19737,"date":"2020-03-02T07:13:48","date_gmt":"2020-03-02T15:13:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gettingthingsdone.com\/?p=19737"},"modified":"2021-05-23T15:58:21","modified_gmt":"2021-05-23T22:58:21","slug":"important-place-to-start-gtd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gettingthingsdone.com\/2020\/03\/important-place-to-start-gtd\/","title":{"rendered":"The Critically Most Important Place to Start with GTD"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"David<\/a>
\nPeople worldwide are discovering the Getting Things Done\u00ae<\/sup> methodology; and often I\u2019m asked, \u201cWhere should I start?!\u201d They have either read the book, been to a seminar, heard about it on a podcast or from a friend; and they have sufficient inspiration or at least curiosity to test it out. But because there are multiple aspects and components of the GTD approach, they\u2019re feeling a bit lost about how to engage, to begin with.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also a question posed by people who have seriously \u201cfallen off the wagon\u201d in their GTD practices. They\u2019ve tasted the delicious aspects of stress-free productivity the process provides, but things have slipped, and they\u2019ve fallen back into the experience of unclarity and overwhelm. \u201cHow can I best get back on?!\u201d<\/p>\n

For anyone and everyone in either of the above categories, I have a very strict and specific procedure that must be followed, without exception. If followed, it\u2019s a guarantee of success. If not, well\u2026good luck. Where, exactly, should you start? (Hang on, this is going to be tough…)<\/p>\n

Anywhere.<\/p>\n

Yes, anywhere. Any portion or component of the GTD approach, applied, will bring at least a bit more clarity, focus, and control for you\u2014without exception. And very likely when any one thing is executed, it will create a reverberation effect and spread to other parts. It\u2019s a holistic model\u2014i.e., any piece can be worked, and it will add to the whole gestalt.<\/p>\n

Just write something down that\u2019s on your mind. Simply decide the very next action on anything you need to be making progress on. Clean a closet. Allow yourself to fantasize where and how you\u2019d like to be, five years from now. Any of those actions (or a hundred more) could prime your pump to engage in some next step.<\/p>\n

That said, one cool starting point would be to go through Part 2 of the book Getting Things Done<\/em>, which serves as a hands-on instruction manual, step-by-step, walking you through the implementation of GTD. Of course, you could hire a David Allen Academy certified coach who can do the same thing (virtually or in person), with the added impetus of having someone right with you, holding you to and through the process (think: personal trainer in your gym).<\/p>\n

But if those are not options for you right now, I\u2019ve listed below some typically great starting points. I\u2019ve used each of them many times both for myself and for clients and friends. There\u2019s no danger here\u2014nothing about GTD is like running with scissors! It\u2019s all good stuff. Take your pick:<\/p>\n