Bullet Journal + GTD

Summary

In this video, Kara from Boho Berry shares her experience with the 'Getting Things Done' (GTD) method by David Allen, demonstrating how she’s integrated it into her bullet journal. She explains the five key steps of GTD: capturing, clarifying, organizing, reflecting, and engaging, and shows how she uses specific lists and printables to streamline her productivity. Kara also reveals how she structures her projects and tasks in her bullet journal, keeping them actionable and organized. With practical tips and her personal touch, Kara highlights how GTD has transformed her approach to planning and productivity.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video discusses the Getting Things Done (GTD) productivity method by David Allen, explaining how it transformed the speaker's approach to planning and productivity.
• 😀 GTD includes five key steps: Capture, Clarify, Organize, Reflect, and Engage, each aimed at boosting productivity and managing tasks effectively.
• 😀 The first step, Capture, involves writing down everything that has your attention, whether it's through a brain dump, notepads, or apps.
• 😀 Clarify and Process the captured items by deciding whether they are actionable. If they are not, they are either trashed, filed as reference, or stored on a 'someday maybe' list.
• 😀 Organize the actionable items by categorizing them into different lists such as calls to make or errands to run for easy reference when needed.
• 😀 Reflecting on your progress is crucial, and GTD encourages a weekly and monthly review to consolidate all tasks and plans.
• 😀 Engaging with the system involves actively using your organized lists, whether through a bullet journal or a digital app, to stay on track with tasks.
• 😀 The speaker uses a combination of a dedicated GTD notebook and bullet journal to implement GTD, allowing for flexibility and easy organization of tasks and projects.
• 😀 The importance of breaking down larger tasks into smaller, actionable steps is highlighted, especially when dealing with complex projects like writing a blog post or organizing a closet.
• 😀 A 'Someday Maybe' list helps keep long-term tasks in view without overwhelming the current to-do lists, while a 'Waiting On' list helps track tasks dependent on others.
• 😀 The video emphasizes that for those interested in productivity, especially bullet journalers, reading the book Getting Things Done is highly recommended for better organization and task management.

Q & A

What is the 'Getting Things Done' (GTD) method, and who created it?

The 'Getting Things Done' (GTD) method is a productivity system developed by David Allen. It is designed to help individuals organize tasks and manage commitments effectively by capturing, clarifying, organizing, reflecting, and engaging with tasks.

How did Kara discover the GTD method?

Kara discovered the GTD method after Brian from Goulet Pens recommended it during an interview. Following his suggestion, she listened to the audiobook, which led her to purchase the physical book and implement the system.

What are the five main steps of the GTD method outlined by David Allen?

The five main steps of the GTD method are: 1) Capture everything that has your attention, 2) Clarify and process what each item means, 3) Organize your tasks into appropriate categories, 4) Reflect by reviewing your lists regularly, and 5) Engage by using your system to take action.

What role does Kara’s bullet journal play in her implementation of GTD?

Kara uses her bullet journal to integrate the GTD system by creating lists for different actions, organizing projects, tracking next actions, and performing regular reviews. Her bullet journal serves as the primary tool to organize tasks and keep track of ongoing projects.

What are the key elements of Kara's GTD notebook?

Kara's GTD notebook includes a master projects list, a someday-maybe list, a list of current projects with signifiers for active, completed, or waiting-on tasks, and space for organizing specific projects with detailed steps. She uses removable pages in a Filofax binder to allow for flexibility and easy updates.

What is the significance of the 'waiting on' list in the GTD system?

The 'waiting on' list in the GTD system tracks tasks or projects that are dependent on external factors, such as awaiting a response or action from someone else. Kara uses this list in her weekly spread to easily check what is pending each week.

How does Kara handle the concept of 'projects' in the GTD system?

In GTD, a project is anything that requires more than one action step to complete. Kara breaks down these larger projects into smaller, actionable tasks and organizes them in her bullet journal, ensuring that each project is broken down into manageable steps.

Why does Kara prefer using separate notebooks for her GTD system and bullet journal?

Kara uses separate notebooks to keep her brain dumps, master projects, and detailed notes distinct from the content in her bullet journal. This prevents her bullet journal from becoming cluttered and allows for better focus on actionable tasks.

What changes did Kara make to her weekly spread after implementing GTD?

Kara redesigned her weekly spread to include sections for current projects (divided by home, business, and personal categories), a 'horizon' section for upcoming projects, a 'waiting on' list for pending tasks, and a more structured layout to track next actions for the day.

How does Kara plan and track her next actions within the GTD framework?

Kara plans and tracks her next actions by reviewing her current projects and breaking them down into small, actionable tasks. Each day, she writes these tasks as her to-do list, ensuring that each action step moves her closer to completing a larger project.