Why GTD Still Works (And How to Implement It)

"Getting Things Done" by David Allen revolutionized productivity when it launched in 2001, and its core principles are even more critical today. In our age of infinite distractions, having a trusted system to capture and organize commitments isn't optional—it's survival.

The Five Steps of GTD

Allen's methodology breaks down into five steps: Capture, Clarify, Organize, Reflect, and Engage. Most people fail at step one.

Your brain is for having ideas, not storing them. Every open loop—that thing you need to remember, that project you need to start, that person you need to email—consumes cognitive resources. It's like having 47 browser tabs open, except the tabs are in your head.

Capture Everything

"Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them." — David Allen

KeyResults serves as your universal capture system. Goals become projects, key results become next actions, and tasks become the granular steps. The system automatically tracks what's in progress versus what's waiting, giving you the mental clarity Allen promises.

The Weekly Review Ritual

GTD's secret weapon is the Weekly Review—a dedicated time to process your inbox, update your lists, and plan the week ahead. Most people skip this step and wonder why GTD "doesn't work" for them.

With KeyResults, the weekly planning feature guides you through a structured review: What did you accomplish last week? What's your focus for next week? Which goals need adjustment? The health metrics show you which projects are thriving and which need attention.

Project vs. Next Action

Allen's distinction between projects and next actions is crucial. A project is any outcome requiring more than one step. A next action is the specific, physical thing you can do right now to move that project forward.

KeyResults handles this naturally—your goals are projects, your key results are milestones, and your tasks are next actions. The system prevents orphaned actions by requiring every task to connect to a larger objective.

Context-Based Organization

GTD emphasizes organizing by context (@computer, @phone, @home) rather than by project. When you're at your desk, you want to see all possible desk-based actions, not dig through multiple project lists.

Use KeyResults' project and tag system to organize by context. Create projects for each context, then use the filter features to see all actions available in your current situation. The health score helps prioritize which contexts need attention first.

Trust the System

The ultimate goal of GTD is a "mind like water"—responding appropriately to whatever arises without anxiety or overwhelm. This only happens when you completely trust your system.

KeyResults builds this trust through consistency. Every commitment lives in one place. Nothing falls through the cracks. Your momentum and velocity metrics prove the system is working, giving you confidence to let go of mental clutter and focus on executing. ```