Clear Your head — The Key to Getting Things Done

Grab that pen and paper that have so patiently been waiting next to you (or even better, use Emacs Org Mode). During the next ten minutes, you will start to write down everything that's in your head. Try not to multitask but fully focus your attention non the list.

This exercise will range from small actions that need immediate attention up to big future projects whose impact you cannot yet even fathom. It doesn't matter what it is, once it's written down it will be out of your head. Things you might encounter:

1. Cleaning up the backyard
2. Find a good school for my kid
3. Improve my job skills
4. Learn how to use Emacs instead of Word for writing ebooks
5. Write an ebook about … (fill in your speciality)
6. Update your daily administration
7. Empty your e-mail inbox
8. Prepare presentation for quarterly meeting next week
9. Get XYZ project back on track with Isaac and Charlie
10. And so on, and so on.

Don't spend any time thinking about those weird things you're jotting down. What you're going to do with them later is irrelevant now. By the way, did you notice that most things on the list above, apart from items 6 and 7, are bigger things than just one action? In GTD-speak they're called projects, all “desired outcomes that take more than one action to complete” or goals. Goals are good, but can not be acted on immediately. They need to be made more specific and normally follow the route from defining projects first and actions later.

Now start writing. Take your time and keep writing, until your head is empty. If ten minutes of frantic writing is not enough, hold on. Later you'll thank yourself! OK, there we go, I'm waiting for you …

Ready? When everything went according to plan, you now have an impressive list in front of you. Full of actionable items, projects and the more fuzzy goals. With less than 30 points you either have an extremely laid back life or cheated. In the latter case: maybe write a little more? Until the number approaches 50 or even 100 you're probably not done yet. This only works if your head is clear of every loose end you will know when you're done.

What you have achieved now is that everything is in a trusted system outside your head. Now it comes down to the most important thing: doing something with this information. First look at things that can be done in one step: your actions. These go on an action list, to be done the moment you are ready for them. The rest of your items are either projects or goals. Put them on two separate lists, and keep them current. In the future, these lists make it easier for you to focus on what's requiring your attention now (projects) and to check whether your actions are in line with where you're heading in life and work.

Overwhelmed by a huge project list? Do not shoot the messenger! ;-) this is all your stuff. Who says you are required to complete the entire list? Take a critical look at the projects that don't give energy and that you can eliminate without risk of getting in trouble. Be honest, there's more to be deleted than you think. You are your judge.

A waste of time, all this list making? On the contrary! You have found a way to get those loose ends out of your head. This will give a tremendous amount of energy and focus. From now on you're doing only things that are important to YOU. It's hard to come up with a better time saver than that, I'd say.

Good luck clearing your head. Did it work? Share your experiences below.