Originated by David Allen (Getting Things Done, 2001).
A personal system that captures every commitment outside the head, decides the next action for each, and keeps the lists current through a weekly review.
When to reach for it
Commitments are scattered across email, notes, and memory, and open loops are crowding out focus on the work at hand.
How it runs
- Capture every task, idea, and commitment in one trusted inbox.
- Decide what each item is and whether it needs action.
- File next actions by context and time.
- Review the whole system weekly.
- Choose what to do now by context, time, and energy.