Implementing GTD does not require a weekend retreat or a special tool. It requires three things: a place to capture inputs, a regular habit of processing those inputs, and a weekly review to keep the system honest.
Start with a Brain Dump
Before you can implement GTD, you need to get everything out of your head. Sit down with a blank document or notebook and write down every single thing that has your attention. Every task you need to do. Every commitment you have made. Every idea nagging at the back of your mind. Every project, personal or professional, that is in any state of progress.
This will probably take 30 to 60 minutes. You will likely end up with 50 to 200 items. That number might feel overwhelming, but remember: all of these things were already in your head. Getting them out is the first step toward clarity.
Process Each Item
Go through your brain dump one item at a time using the GTD decision tree.
Is it actionable? If not, trash it, file it for reference, or note it as a someday/maybe item. Be aggressive with trash. If something has been sitting in the back of your mind for weeks without action, there is a good chance it does not need action.
If it is actionable, identify the next step and route it appropriately. Under two minutes? Do it now. Delegate? Send it off and track it. Defer? Put it on your action list with the relevant context.
Set Up Your System
Your GTD system needs a few components. An inbox (or multiple inboxes) for capturing new inputs. An action list for next steps. A waiting list for delegated items. A project list for multi-step outcomes. A calendar for time-bound commitments. And a reference file for information you might need later.
Nix It can serve as your primary GTD system. Your email inbox is one capture point. Manual card creation is another. The canvas organizes items by state (Owned for actions, Delegated for waiting, Pending for blocked items), and triggers handle the timing aspect — the same logic that powers the three-stage workflow.
Commit to the Weekly Review
This is the most important habit. Set a recurring 30-minute block each week (Friday afternoon works well for many people) and review your entire system.
Process any lingering inbox items. Review your calendar for the past and coming weeks. Go through every project and verify it has a clear next action. Scan your action list and update anything that has changed. Review your waiting list and follow up where needed.
In Nix It, the weekly review is also where you apply elimination pressure. For each item on your canvas, ask: does this still deserve to be here? The older it is, the harder it should be to justify. If it has been sitting for weeks without movement, consider whether it can simply be removed.
The First Two Weeks
The first two weeks of GTD are the hardest. You are building new habits while also dealing with the backlog from your brain dump. Be patient with yourself. The system takes time to become automatic.
Focus on three things during this period: capture everything (do not let things live in your head), process your inbox daily (even if imperfectly), and do your weekly review (even if it feels clunky).
By the end of the second week, you should start feeling the relief that GTD promises: a clearer mind, less anxiety about forgotten commitments, and a reliable external system you can trust.
Nix It is a work management system that supports GTD and other productivity methodologies. Learn more and try it free.
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