use 43Things with GTD in mind

I really like 43T and I really like GTD but I’m not sure how to match them up. Right now 43T is a mix between lifestyle goals (ongoing, no next actions), some short term goals, and some things that are probably someday-maybe goals.

OVer the coming week I want to get some clarity around these categories and think about where I’m putting my energy and effort, and revamp 43T to fit within that construct.

Currently I feel like I’m running on a road to nowhere. I can’t slow down my brain and relax, and at the same time I can’t get ANYthing done. It’s been a while since I crossed an item off my list.

Perhaps I’ll take a few days off from 43T. It’s good to know that my lists are here, and will be waiting for me when I feel like getting things done again!

I want to establish a morning ritual, where I sit down with my cup of coffee, my 43T list, my next actions list and my diary and set specific dates for doing specific things.

Includes 20 items

... and got 3/14 done in a day.

I need to update it once a week and take it with me everywhere I go!

Update: COMPLETED 5/14

I have finally found a way to sort out my papers and other stuff in a way I find meaningful and manageable, AND I finally have an in-tray.
I don’t want to work on the GTD project before June is over, as I’ve other half-finished projects, but I plan to use the in-tray regularly again, AND empty it daily.

I want to get done is simply enormous.
I’ve tried the GTD system before, but my to-dos (wanna dos – oughtta dos – gotta dos) seem to be endless and overwhelm me.

So, I will be using this site a bit differently than I originally thought.

- My 43 things includes the things I am currently working on or want to start working on and are very important to me

- The I Give Up tab is for the things I want to do but not just yet. Maybe, someday, next year…

- As for the I’ve done … things tab, I want every single item on this list to be something I wanted badly, a thing that was meaningful, and life-changing or -defining. Even if it’s not obvious to others, I will know why.

After some heavy brainstorming, I have basically categorized my goals by type, and by area of responsibilty:

• (long-term) 5 goals
• (short-term) 19 goals
• (someday/maybe) 12 goals
• (on-going) 7 goals
• productivity 10 goals
• health 8 goals
• fun 6 goals
• adulthood 5 goals
• coding 5 goals
• knowledge 4 goals

I had previously said I would consider this complete when some other condition was satisfied. Well, I think this is more on par with using 43T with a productivity mindset.

Both the sum of the parenthesis and the non-parenthesis should yield my total number of goals, meaning every goal has a type and an area of responsibility.

Now I can even draw upon this categorizing to aid in my proper GTD setup in rmilk.com

I’m in the very fun process of implementing my GTD system. Rememberthemilk.com is my main pillar for getting things done.
Once I finish setting up projects and goals there, I’ll start linking them to 43T.

When I get THAT done, I’ll consider this goal fullfilled, even though I’ve been pretty much using it with a GTD oriantation already.

I’ve read a lot of articles about different self-development and organization techniques. They all have one common property – if you don’t have a set of clearly defined goals, you cannot control your life.
So, i haven’t decided yet which technique is better for me (right now i’m trying to practice GTD), but it’s seems like building list of goals is a good idea. And 43Things seems like a convinient application to do that.