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Is Your Calendar Running You? 📅 - Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

2025-03-13T02:36:24.000Z

Is Your Calendar Running You? 📅
Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

Packed schedules and back-to-back meetings drain your energy and focus. A few simple tweaks to your Weekly Review® can create the breathing room you need to reset, recharge, and stay in control.

How to Plan Smarter

Feeling like you’re always one step behind? The Weekly Review® can help you anticipate what’s coming—whether it’s meetings, deadlines, or travel—so you can prepare in advance and avoid last-minute stress.

Watch GTD Coach Meg Edwards share how to stay proactive, not reactive.

Make Space for What Matters

The Weekly Review isn’t about micromanaging every hour—it’s about creating space for flexibility. When you review upcoming commitments while leaving room for the unexpected, you stay calm and in control.

Watch David Allen explain how this simple habit transforms your workflow.

End the Back-to-Back Cycle

Rushing from one meeting to the next can leave you feeling stressed and distracted. Even just a five-minute break between calls can give you the mental space to reset and refocus.

Watch Meg Edwards explain how small changes can significantly improve your productivity, mental clarity, and overall well-being.

Quote of the Week

“Be steady and well ordered in your life so that you can be fierce and original in your work.” – Gustave Flaubert

Know someone struggling to keep their calendar under control? Share this post with them.

Cheers,

GTD Focus

The post Is Your Calendar Running You? 📅 appeared first on Workflow Coaching GTD Focus written by admin

The Path to Optimizing Your GTD® System - Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

2025-03-06T05:00:17.826Z

The Path to Optimizing Your GTD® System
Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

You’ve built a solid GTD® foundation—but is your system keeping up as your responsibilities grow? These resources will help you take your GTD practice to the next level.

Upgrading Your GTD Practice

You’ve read the book, gotten the hang of next actions, and organized your projects. But as your responsibilities grow, keeping up can feel overwhelming.

That’s where GTD coaching comes in. By shifting your focus to higher horizons—vision, mission, and purpose—you’ll develop a more effective approach to prioritization and decision-making.

The GTD Focus Strategy Program offers one-on-one coaching to help you achieve stress-free productivity at a higher level. If you’re ready to optimize your capacity, don’t miss this opportunity.

Learn more from GTD Coach Christina Armstrong in this video

Is It Time to Renegotiate?

When life gets hectic, it’s easy to lose track of the promises you’ve made—both to yourself and others. Big or small, these commitments can pile up in the background, quietly draining your energy and focus.

In this video, David Allen shares how the GTD Weekly Review® can help you reassess and renegotiate your commitments so you can stay in control.

Don’t let unfinished tasks weigh you down—watch now

Quote of the Week

“Be steady and well ordered in your life so that you can be fierce and original in your work.” – Gustave Flaubert

Know someone struggling to keep their GTD system in sync with their growing responsibilities? Share this post with them.

Cheers,

GTD Focus

The post The Path to Optimizing Your GTD® System appeared first on Workflow Coaching GTD Focus written by admin

Clear Your Space, Clear Your Mind - Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

2025-02-24T22:41:56.499Z

Clear Your Space, Clear Your Mind
Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

A cluttered workspace leads to a cluttered mind. This week, we share simple yet powerful strategies to cut through the chaos and sharpen your focus.

Transforming Your Workspace

Is your desk buried under piles of paper? Do you rely on scattered sticky notes to keep track of tasks?

If so, your setup is working against you.

In this video, GTD Coach Meg Edwards walks you through a smarter office setup that reduces visual clutter and helps you stay focused.

You’ll learn how to:

Use an inbox to collect everything before clarifying and organizing.

Set up action support & waiting-for trays to avoid decision fatigue.

Store project materials & reference files properly so your space stays clear.

Watch now

David Allen Processes His Inbox

Does your inbox feel like a never-ending to-do list?

Watch GTD® creator David Allen work through his real-life inbox, showing exactly how he clarifies, organizes, and takes action on what’s in front of him.

Watch now

Quote of the Week

“A thought which does not result in an action is nothing much, and an action that does not proceed from a thought is nothing at all.” – George Bernanos

Know someone drowning in workspace clutter and decision fatigue? Share this post with them.

Cheers,

GTD Focus

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Make the Weekly Review Work for You - Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

2025-02-15T23:31:47.906Z

Make the Weekly Review Work for You
Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

Your Weekly Review shouldn’t feel like a chore—it should be your key to clarity and momentum.

Reimagine Your Weekly Review

Sticking to the same routine week after week can make your Weekly Review feel stale.

In our latest video, GTD Coach Mary O’Malley shares how she customizes the review to fit her energy, schedule, and shifting priorities.

Break it up across the week to avoid overwhelm

Reorder the steps to spark creativity first

Focus on what matters most instead of getting lost in email

Stay engaged by adding novelty and flexibility

Watch now

Setting Yourself Up for Success—or Failure?

Adam Lacombe, a senior engineer and busy parent, thought Friday was the best day for his Weekly Review—until he realized it never actually happened.

After taking the GTD Focus Strategy Program, he made small but powerful shifts that finally made his system work—for both his high-pressure job and his family life.

If your Weekly Review feels like a slog (or isn’t happening at all), this conversation will change how you approach it.

Watch now

Lessons from 1,000 Weekly Reviews

Jason Atwood has spent nearly two decades refining his GTD practice, and he’s sharing 10 hard-earned tips to help you stay consistent, accountable, and motivated.

Read the full post and put these tips into action.

Quote of the Week

“Confusion is a word we’ve invented for an order which is not understood.” – Henry Miller

Know someone struggling to make their Weekly Review stick? Share this post with them.

Cheers,

GTD Focus

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How to achieve your goals with ease - Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

2025-02-13T07:16:47.726Z

How to achieve your goals with ease
Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

Are you ready to take charge of your goals this year? Discover how GTD can simplify your approach and help you turn your goals and habits into long-term success.

Goals Without Overwhelm

A viewer recently asked: How do goals and 12-week plans fit into GTD?

In this video, GTD Coach Julie Ireland breaks it down:

Goals in GTD live in your Horizons of Focus—they’re broader than projects but still actionable.

Regular reviews keep goals on track. Most goals fail because they’re set once and forgotten. GTD ensures they stay front and center.

System over outcome. Whether it’s health, finances, or career, every goal needs a clear project and next action.

If you’ve struggled to align GTD with your long-term goals, this one’s for you.

Watch now (7-minute runtime).

Integrating Habits

Habits form the foundation of personal growth, but how do they fit into GTD?

A structured approach makes all the difference. Read this Medium article to learn how to integrate habits seamlessly into your GTD system.

The Big Secret

Goals are tools, not golden calves.

Here’s the key: What we focus on changes what we notice.

When we set goals, we tune our minds to recognize opportunities we might otherwise miss.

In fact, the value of long-term goals isn’t in the future they predict, but in the shift in perception they prompt today.

Want to shift your focus and notice new possibilities? Start using your goals to change how you see the world right now.

Read more of this blog here

Quote of the Week

“Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

Pass this along!

If you know someone who’s looking to take control of their goals this year, these insights are just what they need to get started.

We value your feedback on this week’s content and topics you’d like us to cover in the future. Post to @gtdfocus on X using the hashtag #threefold.

Cheers,

GTD Focus

The post How to achieve your goals with ease appeared first on Workflow Coaching GTD Focus written by Robert Brown

How to share GTD with others - Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

2025-02-06T07:01:57.948Z

How to share GTD with others
Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

This week, we’re sharing GTD with others. Below, you’ll find resources that break down the methodology into simple, actionable concepts.

Lead by Example

The most powerful way to inspire others to embrace GTD is by embodying its principles yourself.

By maintaining a trusted system and setting clear expectations, you show how attainable stress-free productivity can be.

Read this blog post by David Allen to discover more ways to inspire others.

Real-Life Success: Suzanne’s Story

Suzanne Hawes, a GTD practitioner and Head of HR, transformed her workplace by introducing GTD and individualized coaching to her team.

In this video, Suzanne shares the strategy she used to inspire her team to adopt GTD—and the remarkable results that followed.

Watch Suzanne’s 20-minute story here

The Five I’s: A Practical Starting Point

Not sure how to get started? GTD Coach Meg Edwards introduces The Five I’s—a simple framework to help you build momentum:

Inspiration

Instruction

Installing

Implementing

Integrating

In this video, Meg focuses on Installing—how to set up your GTD system with the right tools to manage your projects and next actions.

Watch the 8-minute video here and explore how our coaching programs can help you implement GTD faster.

Quote of the Week

“It does not take much strength to do things, but it requires a great deal of strength to decide what to do.” – Elbert Hubbard

Do you know someone curious about GTD?

Forward this newsletter! These resources are the perfect introduction to the methodology.

We value your feedback on this week’s content and topics you’d like us to cover in the future. Post to @gtdfocus on X using the hashtag #threefold.

Cheers,

GTD Focus

The post How to share GTD with others appeared first on Workflow Coaching GTD Focus written by admin

Stop overthinking—just start - Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

2025-01-30T07:01:47.555Z

Stop overthinking—just start
Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

Whether you’re new to GTD or refining your system, these tips will help you work smarter instead of harder.

Take Your First Step

Feeling inspired to try GTD—or ready to get back on the wagon? You don’t have to be perfect; you just have to start.

David Allen’s blog post is full of practical tips to help you regain clarity, focus, and control.

Read the blog post here.

Getting Started

Join GTD coach Kelly Forrister and David Allen as they share practical tips for getting started or leveling up your GTD practice.

Listen to the episode here.

Choosing a Tool

Finding the right GTD tool for YOU can feel overwhelming, but GTD coach Mary O’Malley simplifies the process with five essential questions to guide your decision.

Watch the 5-minute video to get started.

Quote of the Week

“The distance is nothing; it’s only the first step that is difficult.” – Madame Du Deffand.

Know someone who’s shown interest in GTD, but hasn’t been motivated to start? Share this newsletter with them.

Cheers,

GTD Focus

The post Stop overthinking—just start appeared first on Workflow Coaching GTD Focus written by admin

Omni Roadmap 2025: OmniFocus 4 Highlights - Learn OmniFocus

2025-01-29T23:22:44.999Z

Earlier today, Omni Group CEO Ken Case shared Omni Roadmap 2025. This post continues the annual tradition of celebrating highlights from the past year and provides a peek at what’s in store for the year ahead. Here are some OmniFocus-specific highlights based on Ken’s post.

Highlights From 2024

Before looking to the future, I’d like to acknowledge Omni’s progress in 2024. Apple also recognized Omni’s significant strides by including OmniFocus 4 for Mac among the Apple App Store Awards finalists.

Notable changes and additions in 2024 include launching OmniFocus on Apple Vision Pro, adding new perspective rules (I find the “Has date in range” rule particularly helpful) and adding support for Focus Filters. OmniFocus also gained support for lock screen controls, tinted home screens and Apple Watch double-tap gestures. Recently, Omni enhanced OmniFocus by adding Mac appearance settings and new actions to Shortcuts.

Omni Automation received some attention as well. I particularly appreciate the ability to create install links. Most plug-ins in our OmniFocus Plug-In Directory and the Omni Automation website can be installed with a single click or tap. Thanks of the efforts of Sal Soghoian, Kaitlin Salzke and others, you can effectively add new features to OmniFocus without any programming knowledge.

OmniFocus for the Web also got some upgrades, including a refreshed appearance and new view and sidebar options.

Kanban

Omni plans to add a Kanban view to OmniFocus. Kanban is a Japanese word (看板) roughly translating to “card you can see” or “signboard.” The use of Kanban as a visual management method stems from the lean manufacturing system that was refined and adopted by Toyota. While it can be very useful to view tasks as a list, it will also be beneficial to have tasks represented by cards on a board, especially for visually oriented people.

I look forward to sharing details and specific use cases once the Kanban feature has been added to OmniFocus.

Defer, Due and Do Dates

I’ve always appreciated that OmniFocus supports both defer and due dates.

A defer date specifies when a project, action, or action group will become available. The implication is that you can’t work on the task until that date and time. For example, if I’d like to buy concert tickets and they don’t go on sale until Tuesday at 09:00, it doesn’t make sense to see a “Buy concert tickets” action among my available actions until Tuesday at 09:00 arrives.

When used appropriately, due dates can be very helpful for tracking a commitment to complete something by a specific date and time. For example, if I promised to send some information to a client by Friday at 17:00, I could set a due date and time for Friday. In practice, I would probably set the due date to Friday at 14:00 to allow for some buffer.

There’s a third type of date. Let’s say you have a project to build your dog a new home that contains a “purchase supplies from Home Depot” action. You don’t plan to go to Home Depot until Saturday, but you still want this action to be available if you happen to be in the neighbourhood before the weekend. If you defer the action to Saturday, it won’t become available to work on until Saturday. And if you don’t defer it, it could clutter up your system by showing you things you don’t plan to do until the weekend.

Omni is considering adding a “do” or “schedule” date field. Returning to the previous example, you could schedule your task for Saturday without deferring it to Saturday. Presumably, OmniFocus would provide a mechanism allowing you to hide tasks scheduled for a future date while still considering them “available.” So, you could have a location trigger remind you to stop at Home Depot if you drove past on a Friday, even though this action was scheduled for Saturday.

In the meantime, one of my favourite OmniFocus plug-ins is Scheduling by Kaitlin Salzke. It cleverly uses tags to earmark activities for future dates. You’ll find it in our OmniFocus Plug-In Directory.

Mutually Exclusive Tags

I find it very helpful to group related tags. For example, I have a tag called “Communications” with nested tags of “Email,” “Phone,” and “Message.” If I had an action such as “Contact Ken about Omni Roadmap,” I might initially assign it a “Phone” tag to add to my list of phone calls. If it gets too late in the day to call, I might opt to remove “Phone” and put “Email” in its place.

Omni is looking at the possibility of supporting mutually exclusive tags. This mechanism would automatically remove a tag when another from the same group is applied. For example, if I changed “Phone” to “Email,” OmniFocus would automatically remove the “Phone” tag, as it doesn’t make sense to have an action tagged with both “Phone” and “Email.”

With a bit of effort, you can have this functionality today using Josh Hughes’ collection of Toggle Tags plug-ins. You’ll find an overview of these plug-ins in the OmniFocus Plug-In Directory.

Document Links

A productivity system is comprised of a variety of tools, including a task manager, calendar, note-taking app and file-management system, that work together to help you deliver on whatever you’re bringing into being, whether it’s a Q2 report or a relaxing vacation in Hawaii. Linking apps and data together essentially creates what I call the “ultimate productivity app.” Each app is a component of a larger system, and everything is interconnected.

I was pleased (and not surprised) to see Omni embrace the Manifesto for Ubiquitous Linking, an initiative by my fellow British Columbian, Luc Beaudoin. I’ve supported this approach from the beginning and am among the signatories.

Omni Roadmap 2025 includes an overview of “document links” planned for OmniFocus and Omni’s other apps, including OmniGraffle and OmniOutliner. Instead of importing a static file, you can use a document link to refer to the file. You can store this document wherever you like, for example, on iCloud Drive, Dropbox or Google Drive.

If you’d like linking capabilities right away, check out Hookmark. This clever app is available directly from the developer and as part of a Setapp subscription. I’ve featured Hookmark many times on Learn OmniFocus (and it will be featured in the upcoming “Taming Email with OmniFocus 4” course). See the Hookmark page in the OmniFocus App Directory for an overview of how Hookmark can be used with OmniFocus. This page also includes links to related Learn OmniFocus content.

Apple Intelligence

Omni is closely monitoring Apple’s rollout of Apple Intelligence features.

Omni has already added nouns and verbs to OmniFocus and its other apps. In the short term, these additions are already helpful for creating shortcut automations using Apple’s Shortcuts app. We continue to highlight some use cases in our content library.

These same nouns and verbs can be used by future iterations of Apple Intelligence to provide secure, on-device automations that don’t require the creation of shortcuts. I expect we’ll learn more at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2025.

Thanks, Omni!

Many thanks to the talented folks at Omni, who continue to develop outstanding products that benefit many people, myself included. As a former software engineer, I know how much time and energy goes into creating quality software and appreciate Omni’s dedication to its products and customers.

Get Clear for the New Year - Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

2025-01-23T07:03:44.818Z

Get Clear for the New Year
Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

Your productivity is at risk when you have an overflowing inbox, mental to-do list, and the chaos of undefined tasks. But it doesn’t have to stay that way.

This week’s resources from GTD coaches and David Allen provide practical tools to regain control, think clearly, and focus on what truly matters.

Taming the Chaos

Is your inbox derailing your focus with random emails? You’re not alone. Many people try to work directly out of their inboxes, creating chaos instead of clarity.

By clarifying and organizing—sorting actionable tasks, reference materials, and waiting-for items—you’ll build a system that works for you.

Watch GTD Coach Julie Ireland’s 4-minute video on taming your inbox and how clarifying and organizing can be applied elsewhere.

Overwhelmed by Your Mental To-Do List?

Your brain isn’t a filing cabinet. It’s designed for thinking, not holding tasks. Overloading it compromises your ability to focus, be creative, and strategize.

In this blog post, David Allen reveals why the “Mind Sweep” technique, proven by decades of practice and backed by cognitive science, is the ultimate antidote to mental clutter.

Whether you’re new to GTD or a seasoned practitioner, this playlist is packed with valuable insights.

Are You Missing This Key to Productivity?

Clarifying your work is a prerequisite before engaging with it. In this 10-minute podcast episode, David Allen explores:

Why defining tasks is critical

How the Two-Minute Rule reclaims your time

The secret to delegating effectively

Quote of the Week

“You can only feel good about what you’re not doing when you know what you’re not doing.” – David Allen

Feel like someone you know is drowning in emails or juggling an endless to-do list inside their head? Share this newsletter with them.

Cheers,

GTD Focus

The post Get Clear for the New Year appeared first on Workflow Coaching GTD Focus written by admin

Are your reference materials up-to-date? - Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

2025-01-09T07:02:03.397Z

Are your reference materials up-to-date?
Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

This week, we tackle the art of staying agile—handling slippery deadlines, rethinking outdated systems, and cutting through the clutter.

Unclear Deadlines

We’ve all encountered projects with fuzzy timelines, but how do you plan when the deadline feels more like a moving target?

In How to Handle Unclear Due Dates (2-minute runtime), GTD coach Christina Armstrong shares a simple strategy that helped her stop wondering, “Is it time yet?”

Is It Up-To-Date?

We all have those systems we swear by, but what happens when the tools you’ve relied on for years no longer meet your needs?

In Reference Materials and Tickler File | GTD Set up (7-minute runtime), Christina Armstrong explores two organizational tools that have long been staples in her office—yet she’s beginning to question if they’re still serving her in the digital age.

Tired of the Clutter?

In today’s fast-paced world, staying organized isn’t just a preference—it’s a necessity. But if your filing system feels like a never-ending maze, it might be time to rethink your approach.

David Allen offers a simple yet powerful guide for general reference filing to help you declutter and stay organized.

Quote of the Week

“Chaos isn’t the problem; it’s how long it takes to find coherence that’s the real game.” – Doc Childre

Do you know someone struggling with fuzzy deadlines or cluttered reference materials? Send this their way.

Cheers,

GTD Focus

The post Are your reference materials up-to-date? appeared first on Workflow Coaching GTD Focus written by admin

New year, a fresh start for your GTD system - Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

2025-01-09T07:02:03.375Z

New year, a fresh start for your GTD system
Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

Are you ready to supercharge your productivity in 2025? Whether you’re fine-tuning your GTD system or just getting started here are some resources to help you on your journey.

Reviewing the Basics

Before revamping your system for the new year, it’s often helpful to revisit the fundamentals. Check out this 12-minute video that explains the most important aspects of GTD with clear visuals.

Know someone building their GTD system for the first time in 2025? This can be a great starting point for those who haven’t (or won’t) read the book.

Tips for Greater Efficiency

Want to take your trusted system to the next level? Explore this curated playlist featuring GTD coaches sharing best practices to help you get more out of each day.

Whether you’re new to GTD or a seasoned practitioner, this playlist is packed with valuable insights.

Need Some Help?

The GTD Focus Foundation Course is perfect if you’re looking to tailor your system to your unique needs or don’t know where to begin and want expert guidance.

In this 4-minute video, GTD coach Christina Armstrong shares her coaching journey and why she wishes she’d started sooner. It’s an excellent introduction to the course and answers many common questions.

Quote of the Week

“Progress means simplifying, not complicating.” – Bruno Munari

Know someone ready to kick off 2025 with greater clarity and focus? Share these resources with them.

Cheers,

GTD Focus

The post New year, a fresh start for your GTD system appeared first on Workflow Coaching GTD Focus written by admin

My End of Year Process - Bullet Journal - The Bullet Journalist

2024-12-20T20:56:05.710Z

Growing up in Japan, New Year’s was a BIG DEAL. There's a series of rituals, customs, and family traditions that take place on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. As a poster child of capitalism, what I looked forward to the most during this holiday was what is called “Otoshidama”: the money children receive from relatives as a sort of “new year bonus” that comes in special little envelopes with fancy designs printed on them.

I truly loved receiving Otoshidama not because of its monetary value, but because of what it represented, I think. To me, it felt like I was receiving a bouquet of possibilities and opportunities.

Alas, I am all grown up now, and no one hands me Otoshidama on New Year’s Day. But because I’m all grown up now, I can grant myself the feeling of possibilities and opportunities through the End-of-Year/New Year ritual.

Reflect

Advent Journaling

I use one prompt a day to reflect on the year gone by for 25 days. This fun-sized journaling exercise makes it a little less intimidating for me, not to mention it lifts up the holiday spirit!

This is the advent calendar I used last year.

Highlight of the Year
I Look through all the highlights and goodness I log every month (I pick three highlights each month). Then draw lines to connect entries that seem related to one another. This allows me to see that one thing leads to another and fosters a sense of self-efficacy and hope.

I learned this method from “The Meaning Note” created by Japanese entrepreneur Tomoe Yamada.

Identify Life Satisfaction Level

Now that I have a clear view of the year gone by, I rate my satisfaction level in seven areas: career, health, personal growth, money, relationships, hobbies, family, on a scale of 1-10. Having several areas of life to reflect on helps me create a more granular view rather than trying to reflect on my life in general.

Then I write what I want more of, what I want less of in terms of HAVE, DO, BE. What I want more (to have), what I want more (to do), what I want more (to be).

Having the “Have, Do, Be” tier helps me see what I want more of/less of in both concrete and abstract scope.

You can download this sheet for free from [here],

Plan

*I like to do the planing after New Year's when everything feels fresh and open.

I create a "Goals Collection" in a new notebook. I look at what I wrote in the reflection and write down all the dreams and aspirations that come to my mind, from the biggest ambitions to the teeny tiny ones, like “go see a movie at a theater” (This does seem like an ambitious aim when you have a baby).
Bring Dreams Closer to Reality: 5.4.3.2.1 Exercise
In "The Bullet Journal Method," book this exercise is introduced as a method for allocating goals based on a time period. I have been using this exercise to identify mid-term and short-term steps that support my vision (big goal) coming true. (This was also introduced in the "Writing For Being" course.)

5 years, 4 quarters (1 year), 3 months, 2 weeks, and 1 day. For example, if my goal in 5 years is to have a book published, here is what it could look like this.

I then migrate tasks to the appropriate places (Future, Monthly, Weekly, Daily Log, and so on). This process turns the dreams of "Someday...Maybe" into concrete plans for actions. (Of course, this does not mean that everything will go as planned, so we will continue to observe and ask ourselves questions in reflection and make adjustments👍)

Visualization of Dreams: Vision Board

A Vision Board is a collage of pictures or quotes, or anything strongly connected to your dreams. Some say that visualizing who you want to be and the life you aspire to lead, as vivid as you can, as often as you can, helps manifest those ideas (So-called "law of attraction" or “manifestation”).

You may be thinking, "That's just too... out there...", but, in fact, some neuroscience studies support this claim!

Well, science or mumbo-jumbo, I am a visual person who has a mild obsession with arts and crafts. I simply do this because it’s fun and exciting. (I actually hosted a Vision Board creating workshop, and it was SO MUCH FUN!)

My vision board for 2023.

Set Intentions

After completing all these steps, I'm usually so hyped, almost feeling intoxicated by the feverish excitement surrounding my new possibilities and opportunities. So, I ask myself this: Why?

Why am I doing this? Why is it meaningful to me?

This question is so sobering that it’s borderline offensive, in my opinion. But also, profoundly grounding. It allows me to connect with my underlying needs. What void am I trying to fill? What problems am I really trying to solve? What do I actually want?

(I wish I could tell my 9-year-old self that she doesn’t need to spend all of her precious Otoshidama on that dollhouse she didn’t even want to gain friends and feel like she belonged to her peers.)

As I conclude my New Year ritual, I discover not only a celebration of the past year and a hopeful embrace of the future but also a deep love for myself, right here, right now.

About the Author

Sakuraco Bryant (@sakuraco1989) is a Bullet Journal®︎ Certified Trainer who is passionate about learning, books, coffee, arts and crafts, designing safe and nurturing learning space/experiences for fellow language learners.

If Symptoms Persist Consult These Pages - Bullet Journal - The Bullet Journalist

2024-12-19T16:51:05.050Z

Life moves fast. Sometimes, I stop in the middle of my day and go “Huh! How did we get here?” or “Time is going so slow for me. I’m not sure if I’m actually growing.” When those thoughts happen, I either get really happy… or really scared. The future is a great unknown and I always feel like I’m hurtling towards it at lightning speed.

When that happens, I tap the sign (read: my Bujo) and tell myself, “You’ve done this before. Maybe it’s not the exact same thing, but you’ve done change before and you had a lot of fun.”

That’s why I make myself a Year In Review. My Year In Reviews aren’t about how many things I did (though there is space for that) or what I consumed. Instead, they are spaces for what stood out to me. What do I remember as having evoked strong feelings? What are the big lessons I learned?

There’s no strict format to this. For me, my Year In Review is just me sitting down to talk to myself and writing down what comes to mind. Here’s a walk through of it in case you might find this helpful.

The Highlights

Image from my digital Bujo. I keep photographs of key moments I remember being simply grateful for being alive, like this art exhibit or the photo of flowers on this article's banner image.

I try to avoid anything that to me feels like a “for it’s own sake” list. So no big lists of everything I did or how much of xyz I managed to do. When I do that, I think I veer too close to making KPIs out of my experiences which is the last thing I want in something this personal.

Instead, I savor the moment and wait until the end of the year. Because so much time has passed, my emotions about then-current events have cooled, and I’m able to look back and see what still feels alive for me. Instead of trying to record and remember my highlights, I test them through time: If I don’t feel strongly about it, then it must not have touched my heart as much as I thought it did.

I flip to a clean page and write down, as fast as I can so I don’t give myself time to ‘remember’, what stood out to me this year in a bulleted list.

The Lessons

I feel that I have a hard time connecting with people sometimes and truly appreciating their perspective. Feel is the operative word because when I did this exercise, I discovered that I actually do notice and learn a lot from others. “The Lessons” section of my Year In Review is a list of lessons on how to live better that I learned from the people I had the pleasure of interacting with in a given year. I list down their names, the lesson they taught me, and an example of how they taught me this lesson.

The Things I Enjoyed

Onto the fun part. In this part of the Year In Review, I write down everything I enjoyed. Cafes I liked very much, mountain views that made me think “Wow, I can’t believe we’re here”, and even YouTube videos so well-researched I know I’ll keep coming back to them. Just like the highlights, this list is made off the cuff and entirely off the top of my head as I put it together. I think you can tell because my handwriting is a mess! A very joyous mess!

The Year In A Word

After completing The Highlights, The Lessons, and The Things I Enjoyed, I write down a few pages of my most truly personal thoughts about the year. What were my deepest fears, my most brilliant joys? What made me sad? Why? More and more, I am finding that no matter how melancholic I get during the year, I don’t remember any of the sadness when I make my reviews. The lesson here, I think, is that it can be overcome and is as temporary as a passing breeze.

Next, I read those pages and try to identify a common theme. Words like “I found out”, “realized”, “discovered”, “explored” kept coming up. To me, this meant my year was all about discovering the world and discovering more about myself (a few months difference can be surprising, and it can be scary to change this fast, but exciting too!). So, my 2024 Year In A Word is “Discovery.”

I hope this helps you think about your year in retrospect!

About the Author

Allia Luzong does content. Whether she's working as a content manager for Bullet Journal, writing, DMing campaigns for friends to enjoy, or forming groups around a niche interest, she views all of these activities as opportunities to cultivate experiences that foster a connection between her and the person she's creating an experience for.

Reclaim your focus this holiday season - Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

2024-12-19T07:01:23.719Z

Reclaim your focus this holiday season
Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

The holiday season can feel chaotic, pulling your attention in many directions. This week’s insights will help you realign with your priorities.

Feeling Overwhelmed?

Regain clarity and balance with a simple yet effective exercise. David Allen explains how revisiting your areas of focus and responsibility helps you reconnect with what truly matters—family, health, personal growth, and more.

Watch now: Areas of Focus, Responsibility and Interests | GTD® (2-minute runtime).

Beyond the Basics

Feeling like your GTD system is functional but not transformational? GTD client David Drake shares how the Strategy program helped him align his daily actions with a deeper purpose when he personalized his system to fit his unique goals and cognitive style.

Learn how Operating Out of the Areas of Focus (6-minute runtime) can transform your life.

Are Your Priorities Aligned?

Discover how honing your Areas of Focus can bring clarity and balance to your life. Learn to distinguish mid-level priorities from long-term goals and daily tasks with practical insights and exercises from this podcast.

Listen to Episode #265: Skills Lab – Areas of Focus (42-minute runtime)

Quote of the Week

“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and enjoy the dance.” – Alan Watts

Know anyone who might feel like their priorities are spinning out of control this season? Share this newsletter! Clarity and balance are gifts you can pass on.

Cheers,

GTD Focus

The post Reclaim your focus this holiday season appeared first on Workflow Coaching GTD Focus written by admin

Your favorite GTD videos of 2024 - Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

2024-12-12T07:01:06.291Z

Your favorite GTD videos of 2024
Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

As we close out the year, we wanted to highlight the videos our audience loved most in 2024.

OmniFocus and GTD

GTD Coach Meg Edwards takes a deep dive into how she uses OmniFocus to manage her personal and professional commitments.

Whether you’re an OmniFocus user or just exploring tools to elevate your GTD practice, How a GTD® Coach Uses OmniFocus (12-minute runtime) is packed with practical tips that will help you on your productivity journey.

Weekly Review Walkthrough

Get a full understanding of the GTD Weekly Review® in this comprehensive step-by-step tutorial. By the end of this video (1 hour and 17 minute runtime), you’ll have the confidence to conduct your own Weekly Review, ensuring your system stays clear and current.

What If It’s Not Actionable?

Meg Edwards shares how she manages the non-actionable side of her GTD system using OmniFocus.

She explains how incubating and referencing items helps prevent overwhelm and shares personal insights on setting up a digital tickler file, organizing “Someday/Maybe” lists, and differentiating between next action lists and reference material.

Learn how you can optimize your own system in Tracking Inputs That Aren’t Currently Actionable (10-minute runtime).

Hybrid Systems

GTD Coach Janet Riley offers insights on building a hybrid system tailored to your needs.

Combining electronic tools like calendars and email with a paper planner for next actions, she shows how to create a system that works for you in Walkthrough of a GTD® Coach’s Hybrid System (6-minute runtime).

Trello and GTD

GTD coach Mary O’Malley reveals how she uses Trello to capture, clarify, and organize tasks effortlessly. This behind-the-scenes look highlights how Trello keeps her system lean and effective in How a GTD® Coach Uses Trello (9-minute runtime).

Quote of the Week

“As to methods there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Know someone who could benefit from these GTD insights? Forward this to them—these tips and tricks might be just what they need to elevate their productivity game in 2025.

Cheers,

GTD Focus

The post Your favorite GTD videos of 2024 appeared first on Workflow Coaching GTD Focus written by admin

Get your Weekly Review® back on track - Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

2024-12-05T07:01:03.329Z

Get your Weekly Review® back on track
Workflow Coaching GTD Focus

Do you feel like your Weekly Review® is taking up too much time lately? Whether it’s finding ways to speed it up or getting back into the habit, today’s newsletter is all about helping you regain control of your Weekly Review—so it works for you, not against you.

“It Takes Too Long”

Ever find that your Weekly Reviews® are starting to drag on and on? They used to take an hour, but now it feels like you’re stuck for two, or even three hours without making the progress you need. If so, you’re not alone.

Watch How to Get Your GTD Weekly Review® Done Quicker (2-minute runtime) featuring GTD coach Christina Armstrong to learn why your reviews might be hitting a bottleneck—and how a small change could get you back on track.

Getting Back on the Wagon

Even David Allen knows that getting back on track with the Weekly Review can feel daunting after you’ve fallen behind. The good news? You don’t need extra hours in the day or a perfect system to make progress.

In Tips for the Weekly Review (4-minute runtime), you’ll get practical strategies for easing back into the habit—even if you’ve been off the wagon for weeks or months.

It Only Takes 30 Minutes?

Struggling to find time for a full Weekly Review? You’re not alone. Many busy managers feel overwhelmed by their to-do lists and end up skipping this essential productivity practice.

In this LinkedIn article, Dan Silvestre breaks down how you can get the benefits of the GTD Weekly Review without the time commitment you dread.

Quote of the Week

“What makes a river so restful to people is that it doesn’t have any doubt–it is sure where it is going, and it doesn’t want to go anywhere else.” – Hal Boyle

Who do you know who could use a faster, more efficient Weekly Review? Go ahead and forward this to them.

Cheers,

GTD Focus

The post Get your Weekly Review® back on track appeared first on Workflow Coaching GTD Focus written by admin

Are you giving from love or for love? - Bullet Journal - The Bullet Journalist

2024-12-04T22:41:32.026Z

This article first appeared on the Weekly Log newsletter.

"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."

- Winston Churchill

During the holiday season we can get so wrapped up with what we’re gifting, that we can forget about how we’re giving.

Giving is a skill. Yes, some people are great gift givers and some…not so much. Some chalk this up to a matter of taste, but I think it goes deeper. I’ve received awful gifts that have moved me. I’ve received great gifts that have left me cold, or worse. The difference lies in the spirit in which the gift was given.

Was this given from love or for love?

Giving for love creates expectations. We do the dishes with the expectation that they do the laundry. We compliment someone with the expectation that they return the favor. We pick up the kids with the expectation that our partner will cook dinner. Our gift is coming from an empty place. It’s an attempt to fill an unmet need. This reliably backfires in one of two ways:

First, though the expectation in our gift may be clear to us, it often is not to the receiver. It’s not that they won’t meet our expectation, they simply cannot. Then, when they don’t read our mind, we often give them more in hopes they get the hint. When they still don’t, and don’t appreciate our added efforts (or even worse, start asking us for something else on top of all we do), that empty place deepens. It’s easy to forget that we’re acting according to our needs which are often very different from theirs.

If our expectation is clear to the receiver, it can be even worse. It’s hard to appreciate a loaded gift. It transforms whatever object, experience, or gesture -- no matter how generous -- into a source of shame, an insult, or even a threat. No thank you.

In German, the word “gift” translates to “poison.” When giving for love, we risk poisoning everyone involved with our “generosity.” Giving with expectation is the most reliable road to disappointment, frustration, and, worst of all, resentment.

Then there’s giving from love. This is when the act of giving is intrinsically motivated. We give because the act of giving itself excites us, not the outcome. Though it may seem like there’s a bright line between the two, there often isn’t.

I’m not proud to confess that a lot of suffering in my personal and professional relationships has come from not exploring the spirit of my giving. Of course it was very clear after the fact. Either I wouldn’t forget what I had done for them, or I wouldn’t remember until they mentioned it. Ironically it was the gifts I can’t remember giving that were ultimately most rewarding.

Allow me to share a simple trick to surface the spirit of a gift. It’s helped me quickly get clear on whether or not I’m about to give for or from love, and has quickly removed much of this suffering from my relationships: Intoku.

Intoku is a Japanese term which translates to “hidden virtue” or “secret good deed.” It refers to the act of doing good or giving selflessly without seeking recognition or praise. For me, the trick to giving a gift truly from love -- material or experiential -- is taking yourself out of the equation. When you want to give someone something, ask yourself:

Would I do this without getting any credit for it?

The answer can be sobering. It was for me. I realized how much of my giving was a misguided form of asking for something in return. No matter how expensive, or elaborate, these were not gifts, they were burdens. So in some ways, I’ve become less “generous.” I no longer give from empty places. I give from love or not at all…as long as I remember to ask. So the next time you’re getting something for someone, just check in, and ask: Are you giving for or from love?

Thank you for taking the time,
Ryder

Why untie your shoes? - Bullet Journal - The Bullet Journalist

2024-12-04T01:37:40.619Z

This article first appeared in the Weekly Bujo Newsletter.

Vienna, Austria

My parents have been happily married for over half a century. As I’ve gotten older and realized just how rare that is, I look to them for clues as to what magic is needed to cultivate such a functional, let alone playful, long-term relationship. Though there are many elements required, two of the most important are no mystery:

Learn what makes them feel loved, appreciated, and supported.
Keep doing those things for the rest of your life together.

Both are required because knowing someone's “love language” is very different from speaking it.

There are many ways each of us can make those we care for feel like we’re on their team. Let’s call them Acts of Care. Many are very small. Maybe it's kind words, maybe it's flowers, maybe it's notes, or simply doing the dishes. These Acts of Care may be small, but they build big trust — showing them, through our effort, that not only do we care for them, but that we’re really in this with them and have their back.

When these Acts of Care are absent or removed and someone feels like the other is no longer on their team, it reliably results in a relationship becoming dysfunctional or falling apart. This leads to a related question: Why are these small acts of care often absent from the longest relationship we’ll ever have: the one with ourselves?

Though we’ll spend the rest of our lives with ourselves, we rarely conceptualize this relationship like we would a long-term relationship with another. We often limit our consideration for our future self to what we want. We fail to consider what our future self will need, especially in the immediate future of tomorrow, or next week, like space, rest, or support. That’s where we tend to take shortcuts, and leave a mess.

Let’s take untying our shoes as an example. You come home rushed or exhausted and simply slide off your shoes. Now your future self will have to deal with the inconvenience of untying them when they’re trying to get to work in the morning. This may seem like a really small inconvenience, but this is just one of many sprinkled throughout your life.

Over the years, they add up. Also, we know our past self didn’t innocently forget, they simply couldn’t be bothered. It becomes easy to treat ourselves poorly when it feels like we’re stuck eternally cleaning up after our past self. So what can we do?

When we take some time to look, we can find simple ways in which we can show our future self that we are on their team. Ask yourself: What insignificant shortcuts am I taking that make life harder for the person I’m trying to be? What can I do now to make their life just a little easier then?

It begins by avoiding shortcuts like untying your shoes. This is not hypothetical. The few seconds it takes in the present to simply untie my shoelaces after training has had an outsized impact on my future self. I look down every morning now and remember my past self taking that time to do this for me when he was exhausted. He did this because he wants to support who I’m becoming, what I’m doing. I feel like he wants me to win, and I can’t help but appreciate the effort. It inspires me to be more like him, so I will be by doing something to support my future self.

A lot of the baggage that we carry about ourselves accumulated over time. We took small shortcuts that led to unfavorable conditions for who we are and our relationship to ourselves. The good news is we can use the reverse strategy for repairing that relationship.

Just as we’re keenly aware of all the shortcuts we take, we can also be aware of all the shortcuts we don't take when we easily could have. We drank water instead of Coke. We laid out the gym clothes before we went to bed. We cleaned up the kitchen before the next morning. We untied the shoes instead of sliding them off. We are acting out of care, over and over again.

This week, I invite you to think about three small ways in which you can show your future self that you care about them, that you’re on their team, and you want them to win.

What do we actually own? - Bullet Journal - The Bullet Journalist

2024-12-04T01:37:40.595Z

This article first appeared in the Weekly Bujo Newsletter.

Vienna, Austria

In spring I feel compelled to purge what I own. This year, this impulse was amplified by the passing of a relative. I spent the first months of 2024 sifting through a life’s worth of things. This is what she owned (or was it her late husband?). We kept asking ourselves: who owned what? Did it matter? Over time that question shifted to: what do we really own?

We define ownership by what is ours. Yet, here was a stark example that nothing is ours given enough time. At best we are the temporary custodians of all objects -- including our bodies. How can we truly own something that will be taken away from us? Is there anything that can’t be taken from us? I believe there is.

We can’t truly own things, places, people, even our bodies. What we can own is our relationship to those things.

We can own our care, indifference, kindness, our cruelty. These qualities are unique to us. There is no one like us. No one cares like we do. No one resents like we do. We are singular expressions of different ways of being. These can’t be taken from us, but they can be cultivated by us. It’s our choice.

We can choose to define ourselves through owning external things. However, we risk feeling valueless, because without the house, money, or family that define us, we don’t exist. We often see this play out when celebrities or the wealthy fall from favor.

We can also choose to define ourselves by the qualities we intentionally cultivate. Then we become invaluable, because without us, they don’t exist. This is what happened with my relative. We packed away countless objects we’ll never remember for people we’ll never forget.

So for this week, I submit this for your written reflection: What if you already owned the most valuable things you will ever have? What would they be? What can’t be taken from you? What will you do to take care of them?

The time between "when" and "then" - Bullet Journal - The Bullet Journalist

2024-12-04T01:37:40.573Z

This article first appeared in the Weekly Bujo Newsletter.

Vienna, Austria

In our quest for productivity and mindfulness, we often juggle between digital and analog worlds. On one hand we have notebooks— writing by hand helps us be more intentional. On the other, we have digital calendars— their connectivity and speed is undeniable. This tension prompts a fascinating question: How can our Bullet Journal practice coexist with digital calendars? That’s what I explore in my new video.

Digital calendars can serve as our planning backbone. They offer a clear view of our commitments and schedules. They're quick, shareable, and accessible across devices. However, they often fall short in providing space for reflection and review. It’s through reflection that we learn. It is through learning that we grow.

Our Bujo practice takes our plans, our selves, offline. It offers space for reflection. By putting pen to paper, we externalize the internal. On the page we see our thinking, feeling, doing, living. This can reveal patterns hiding in plain sight. We learn which patterns to cultivate or prune. We learn from the past to be intentional about our future.

Meanwhile, the present keeps on changing. As the ink dries, plans shift. This can make analog scheduling impractical. This tension between the tradeoffs of analog and digital is what we consistently try to resolve.

Join me as we explore how to make the most of both worlds.

This is the first part of a mini series exploring digital vs analog productivity.