GTD can be as complex or as simple as you want to make it. GTD has so many awesome techniques to make sure you get your stuff done. Over the years I’ve learned, it’s not about the way to get things done, it’s about getting things done. So with that, I’m all about finding the best method that suits you. It took a long time for me to get to a point where GTD was comfortable for me. I needed a way that didn’t interrupt me, so I just altered things that I use on a daily basis in order to streamline my workflow. Aspects of GTD that I use are:
1. Inbox
2. Context (to an extent)
3. Archive
4. Inbox Zero (a weekly goal of mine I read about a long time ago on 43folders.com)

There are countless posts out there that explain each of these, but instead of doing that, I’ll just show you what I do with each of them. Inbox is, of course, my email’s Inbox. Everything I do starts there. Even if it’s me sending myself an email for something I need to do. When I get an email I asked myself: “Can I take care of this now?” If the answer is “Yes,” then I do whatever I need to do then go back to the email and click the Archive button, and that email is removed from my Inbox. If the answer is “No,” then it’s a matter of why I can’t. Is it a project based email? Am I not able to do what the email says because of where I am? Or simply, do I not have the time right at the moment to do it? Now comes the interesting part, what happens with that email?

This is where Context comes into play. If I get an email that’s a notification of a new follower on Twitter, but I happen to be reading it on my phone, I will just leave it in my Inbox until I get home, so I can properly follow back and send a personal DM to them. If it’s an email about coding up a piece of a project, I’ll place a label on it (if it’s not already on it) and leave it in my Inbox for when I can get to it. If it’s something that I can’t get to for a day or two, I’ll Archive it, but then have it Boomerang back into my Inbox then. Boomerang is a great GMail plugin that allows for scheduling of emails.

I mentioned adding labels to an email. What I will do is utilize the very powerful GMail Labels to organize my emails that are archived so that it’s easy to find an email based on a project, person and a keyword in the content. 9 times out of 10, the first time I run a search, I will find the exact email I’m looking for. I will set my labels up with the name formatted like ‘P/‘. This way it’s not only a unique string, but also a quick way to see that it’s a Project because of the ‘P/’ and then what project it is. Once I create a Label, I will also set up a filter as well, this way an email will get tagged with the label as it comes into my inbox. Most times, the filter will be based on who it’s from and some keyword in the email body, such as the project name for an obvious keyword.

Of course, this can be just the tip of the iceberg for you. There are things in my workflow that I didn’t go into here because it may not apply to you. I just wanted to give you a glimpse into another way of doing GTD, maybe even a simpler way as well. You have to find what’s right for you and what works for you. If you have to work hard to make GTD a part of your day, then you aren’t doing it right. It should be almost natural.

I took a screencast of a quick glimpse into how I go about my reading my email. Please feel free to leave a comment or questions about it below. As a GTD freak, I’d love to hear how others spin it.

*edit*
I couldn’t figure out how to get Vimeo to have my video as an HD video, so I apologize for the low quality of the video. But it’s still visible. If anyone knows how to do this, or a good process to have these screencasts, please feel free to let me know, thanks. I’ll use it for future posts.

1. 

   OmniFocus - The Must Have App for GTD

   Understand GTD and Use OmniFocus to Make It Happen
   Reading up on Getting Things Done (aka GTD) and learning what that methodology speaks to.  Along with my must have tool, OmniFocus by OmniGroup, I figured out a way to trap all that I need to get done.  Without OmniFocus, I don’t know where I would be right now.  This application is my lifeline to all the tasks and projects that I have to do.  I use it each and everyday, all day long.  Every thought, email that requires more than a quick reply, notion, comment, speaking point I have gets put into OmniFocus so that I can take care of it or review it at some later date.  Even if I’m dreaming of some idea that I may ever do in my lifetime, like make a TV show, will go into OmniFocus.

2. What To Do When Out and About
   I have the OmniFocus iPhone app, which helps me remain organized when I’m not sitting in front of my computer.  What is a really nice feature that I use all the time is the Geocoding for Contexts.  This is basically marking a specific location to where you can accomplish your tasks.  For example, I have a context called Grocery Store and I’ve set that to my local Stop and Shop.  Whenever I know I need to buy something, I put it into OmniFocus as an action and assign it to my Grocery Store context.  Then when I make it to Stop and Shop, I bring it up on my iPhone, hit the location button, and that context and all my items that I need to purchase appear right on my phone.
3. GTD in the car
   What I found to be the toughest situation are those where you aren’t in front of a computer or can’t type a task into the iPhone, but have a thought that I need to get down.  An example of this is like when I’m in the car and I get an idea for a project I’m working on.  This is where Evernote has come into play.  If you haven’t checked it out, do so – Evernote!  They too have an iPhone app, but what it can do is be able to take a voice recording and then once I get to my computer, I’ll sync up my Evernote Desktop App and then process those “Untitled” notes into OmniFocus.
   

   My Flightdeck

4. The Flightdeck
   This is not an original idea of mine.  I heard about this first on Paul Boag’s Posterous microblog.  The idea is called “flightdeck” and made perfect sense for me.  When I come home from wherever I may have been, I always walk past my desk.  I empty my pockets of my essentials.  This consists of my wallet, keys, iPhone, sunglasses, and my card pass for work.  These will always be at the front part of my desk where I know that they will be at all times and I will not forget any one particular item.

So there are a few of my tips on having a productive day.  I know that I’ve tried a few different methods over a year now and this is what works for me.  Hopefully you can take something away from this and maybe use it in your day as well.  I know that I’ll be talking more about this topic as we grow, but I figured this post would be a good introduction to it.