# Getting Things Done (GTD), explained

URL: https://gocutline.com/glossary/getting-things-done/

Getting Things Done (GTD) is a personal productivity method by David Allen (2001) built on five steps: capture everything, clarify what each item means, organise it into lists, reflect in a weekly review, and engage by doing.

## What it means
GTD's core idea is that your mind is for having ideas, not holding them: get everything out of your head into a trusted system. In GTD the calendar is reserved for things that must happen at a specific time; many people now also time block their most important list items.

## How to do it in a calendar
- Keep capturing and clarifying in your list tool of choice.
- In the weekly review, pick the next actions that matter most.
- Give those a time block in the week, so the list turns into a plan.

## An example
A list has 60 next actions. On Sunday, 8 of them get blocks this week; the rest stay on the list.

## Common mistakes
- **Endless lists, no time.** Lists grow; time does not. Block the ones that matter.
- **Skipping the weekly review.** GTD falls apart without it.

## Where it comes from
David Allen, Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (2001; revised 2015).

## Questions

**Does GTD work with time blocking?**
Yes. GTD decides what the next actions are; time blocking decides when the important ones happen.

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Facts: https://gocutline.com/facts/ · Updated 2026-10-24