What is Getting Things Done?

Getting Things Done (GTD) is a productivity framework created by David Allen that relies on capturing every task, idea, and commitment into a trusted external system so your mind can focus on execution rather than remembering. The core insight is that mental bandwidth spent tracking open loops - unanswered emails, half-formed plans, unwritten reports - drains energy that should be directed toward actual work. GTD eliminates this drain by externalizing everything into a structured system you review regularly.

The five stages of GTD

Capture: Collect everything that has your attention - tasks, ideas, requests, reminders - into an inbox. The medium does not matter as long as you trust yourself to process it. The point is to get it out of your head.

Clarify: For each captured item, decide what it is and what action it requires. If it takes less than two minutes, do it immediately. If it requires multiple steps, it becomes a project. If it is not actionable, file it as reference, put it on a "someday/maybe" list, or discard it.

Organize: Place clarified items into the right container: a project list, a next-actions list organized by context (at computer, on phone, at office), a calendar for date-specific commitments, or a waiting-for list for things delegated to others.

Reflect: Review your lists regularly. A weekly review is the linchpin - it ensures nothing slips and keeps your system current. Without regular reviews, the system becomes stale and trust erodes.

Engage: Choose what to work on based on context, time available, energy level, and priority. Because your system is current, you can make this choice confidently without worrying about forgotten obligations.

How Flux supports a GTD workflow

Flux's kanban boards map naturally to GTD's organizational structure. A personal GTD board might use columns for Inbox, Next Actions, Waiting For, and Done. Cards represent individual actions, with labels for context (e.g., "At Computer," "Calls") and checklists for multi-step projects. Due dates handle calendar-bound commitments, and the AI assistant can help clarify captured items by suggesting breakdowns or next actions.

For the weekly review, Flux's activity log shows everything that changed since your last review, making it easy to verify that completed items are in Done and nothing is stuck. The guide at Getting Things Done with Flux walks through the full setup.

Related terms

See also: Task management, Eisenhower Matrix, Time blocking.