The Getting Things Done productivity system is the most successful of its kind in this decade. One reason is its being not dependent to particular platform or tool.
GTD is a philosophical approach to productivity. You can practically apply its principles to any industry or domain. We’re all witnesses to the numerous successful implementation of GTD around us.
Despite the wide array of GTD blueprints available to us, why most of us are still failing?
These are some of the reasons why we’re failing with our GTD setup.
We Can’t Let Go Of Our Stuff
Purging is fundamental to the GTD System and, thus, holds a big part in the whole system. The quicker you can adopt a purge strategy, the easier it is to maintain your GTD setup.
Purging is a prerequisite to GTD and it should be done prior to your GTD implementation. GTD needs a clean slate to build upon.
We Can’t Let Go Of Our Old Ways
GTD requires a total lifestyle turnaround. There is no going back. It is like religion. Backsliding shakes the whole foundation.
If you cannot commit to the system 100%, chances are GTD only complicates your already complicated life. It becomes a burden once you mess it up – something that will require consistent rigorous maintenance.
We Can’t Let Go Of Our Excuses
Like I said, GTD requires commitment. Not some commitment but whole commitment. If your GTD adaptation necessitates you to do your tasks one way, don’t do it the other way.
You don’t cut corners just so you can check off one task from your To-Do List.
We Can’t Let Go Of Our Tools
Technology rapidly advanced our tools. We have now more tools than we will ever need in a lifetime.
We sometimes forget that GTD is not about which tool is best to use. We forget that GTD is a state of mind and, thus, we end up being prisoners of one tool.
We Can’t Let Go Of Our GTD Obsession
Are you more concerned about thriving in the system per se or actually getting things done for productivity sake.
The greatest trap in the GTD system is the system itself. It is easy to get caught up with it.
Ponder upon these things. Getting Things Done is the best productivity system out there. But, just like any other system, it can lead you to either productivity bliss or unproductive damnation.
Photo courtesy of flick user zenbouw
Great points. We worry about being GTD purists; tools draw us in and make us fiddle. We really just want the right stuff done ASAP. We want to focus on the work and not the system.
HOWEVER, it really can work without a lot of effort if it’s tweaked properly.
To get the good result of this ‘GTD’ I usually setup up my place in such an organize manner. When my place is such a mess, my head is messy too.