Are you the type of person who starts the day with a list and then crushes it by the end?
Or are you the type of person who wants that but ends up with a few half-finished projects, missed deadlines and emails awaiting replies?
Let’s face it, we all want to be like that person in the first scenario. However, most of us fight a constant battle against being the second person.
I have a secret to share with you.
“Getting Things Done” doesn’t require you to be superhuman. It’s about having the right tools, and how to use them effectively. It’s more Batman than Superman.
You need a system that works to get things done efficiently at work and in your personal lives. And as a project manager–either by title or by accident–organization and time management are essential skills.
You can’t manage your priorities and schedule. How can you lead your team?
It’s counterproductive to try to navigate through thousands of productivity apps, or try to manage projects across dozens of apps on your smartphone. I have done the research and found five apps that you can use today to get your “Getting Things Done!” process in order.
What is the ‘Getting Things Done’ process?
If you don’t know what “Getting Things Done”, it’s a productivity system that is based on David Allen’s best-selling book.
The “Getting Things Done” movement, which was first published in 2001 and has since grown to be a worldwide phenomenon. There are certified trainers all over the world, and a summit in 2008.
Like Elvis Presley’s mantra (“taking care of business or TCB),” “Getting Things Done” can be abbreviated as GTD.
The GTD system can be summarized as follows: The more productive you become, the less stress will you have.
Also, you will be able to do more in a shorter time and still have more time to relax.
According to Allen’s system, the key to this is to prioritize your inbox so you can clear clutter and focus on your task. While moving unfinished tasks into a reliable queue until you have them completed, it will help you to stay focused.
These tools are necessary for the “Getting Things Done” process:
These tools were still physically available in 2001. They included a desktop calendar and a file cabinet. You can now access all of these tools from your smartphone in 2018.
Some people find that having a calendar or to-do lists is the best way to organize their lives.
However, technology has advanced a lot since the early 2000s and apps are here for good.
GTD tools on your smartphone offer features such as collaboration and automation that your old notebook or daily planner calendar can’t match. They can save you time and money, and help your team stay connected.
5 GTD apps to reduce stress and save time
We’ve identified five key tools of the GTD system–inbox trash can, filing system and checklist–and created the five options below to address them all.
These options were recommended by real practitioners, and I decided to use them. These five tools were mentioned over and over. Some tools are iOS-only (after all, there are quite some Apple users out there), but I also included cross-platform options to ensure everyone is covered.
Apps are listed alphabetically.
1. G Suite
Android | iOS
Gmail inbox and G Suite ecosystem of apps (Source).
G Suite, Google’s GTD-friendly ecosystem, has the inbox covered. You may have heard it: It is the most popular cross-platform program.
