GTD Gems

GTD coach Meg Edwards shines a light on one of the most important  steps in the weekly review — the checklists prompt — and why building  even a few simple checklists can save you from repeated mistakes and  forgotten details. What You'll Learn in This Episode: 👉 Why checklists keep getting pushed aside during the weekly review 👉 Where to store your checklists and how David Allen defines th...

GTD coach Meg Edwards takes a fresh look at the GTD the project list and why ignoring your "secondary" projects might be creating the very fires you're constantly putting out.  Featuring a reading from David Allen's  "Ready for Anything," chapter 7. What You'll Learn in This Episode: 👉 Why your B and C priority projects are quietly causing your biggest  problems...

GTD coach Meg Edwards unpacks one of David Allen's most powerful  concepts, the threefold nature of work, and why understanding it  can completely change how you experience your day. What You'll Learn in This Episode: 👉 The three types of work everyone does, and why most people only  recognize one 👉 Accepting unplanned work as a part of life 👉 How naming your work in the moment can ch...

GTD coach Meg Edwards explores how to have control without feeling  constrained. Featuring a reading from David Allen's "Ready for  Anything," chapter 3. What You'll Learn in This Episode: 👉 Why control doesn't have to mean restriction — and how to reframe it 👉 The two moves that give you both freedom and structure: concentration  and cooperation 👉 What these two concep...

GTD coach Meg Edwards tackles one of the most common traps in  productivity, spending so much time getting organized that you never  actually get things done.  Featuring a reading from David Allen's "Ready for Anything," chapter 41. What You'll Learn in This Episode: 👉 The difference between getting organized and actually getting things done 👉 Why micro-organizing everything...

GTD coach Meg Edwards introduces one of the most powerful concepts in  the Getting Things Done methodology, Open Loops, and why capturing  and clarifying them is the key to reducing stress and gaining focus. What You'll Learn in This Episode: 👉 What open loops are and why they pull at your attention 👉 How unmanaged commitments create stress, even when you don't feel stressed 👉 Two pow...

GTD coach Meg Edwards takes a step back from the mechanics of Getting  Things Done to explore the bigger question: why do some people take to  GTD instantly while others never quite get it?  Featuring a reading from David Allen's "Ready for Anything," chapter 50. What You'll Learn in This Episode: 👉 Why GTD attracted Meg when other productivity systems failed her 👉 The one co...

GTD coach Meg Edwards breaks down the third and final "no side" tool in the GTD clarifying and organizing process — Reference — and why getting it clean and current can change your entire work environment.  What You'll Learn in This Episode: 👉 Why reference has no psychological weight once you've decided it's not actionable 👉 How to think about your reference system as a...

GTD coach Meg Edwards explains what a Tickler file is, how it differs from the Someday/Maybe list, and why it's one of the most underused organizational tools in the GTD system. What You'll Learn in This Episode:  👉 The key difference between a Tickler and a Someday/Maybe list  👉 How to set up both a physical and electronic Tickler  👉 Real-life examples of what belongs in a Tickler Ti...

GTD coach Meg Edwards provides an overview of the Someday/Maybe List and how it helps prevent everything you say yes to from becoming an immediate next action. What You’ll Learn in This Episode:  👉 Why the Someday/Maybe list is not a “graveyard” for ideas  👉 Ways to organize your Someday/Maybe list  👉 The “infinite possibilities” causes stress Timestamps: 00:00 The Yes Side of Clarifying 00:39...

Feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to start with GTD? If your system feels like there’s too much to do, even after years of practice, this simple reset can help you regain clarity quickly. What You’ll Learn in This Episode:  👉 Why starting with your current reality beats starting with priorities  👉 How small, unfinished tasks create mental overwhelm Timestamps: 00:00 Where do you start with...

The 2-Minute Rule is one of the simplest ways to stop procrastinating, and start building momentum immediately. David Allen says: if something takes less than two minutes, do it now. This simple rule helps you find clarity, stay focused in fast-paced environments, rid yourself of unnecessary overwhelm. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 👉 What the 2-Minute Rule is and how it works 👉 How small ta...

David Allen shares a powerful insight: everything you do falls into one of two categories, create or complete.  What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 👉 The difference between “creating” and “completing” 👉 Why finishing tasks often sparks new ideas 👉 A simple mental model to guide your next action Timestamps: 00:00 Meg introduction 00:30 You're here to complete and create 01:49 Best practices...

Trying to keep everything in your head? If you’re using your brain as a to-do list, this insight from David Allen may change how you work. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 👉 Why your brain is a “crappy office” for managing tasks 👉 The hidden cost of trying to remember everything Timestamps: 00:00 Meg introduction 00:47 Building an external brain 01:50 Your mind is sneaky 02:19 You are not your...

Are you finding it tough to stay consistent with your GTD Weekly Review? Do you sometimes feel guilty for not doing it “the right way” as it’s written in the books? In this episode of GTD Gems, GTD coach Meg Edwards shares how to make your GTD Weekly Review work for you through customization. What You’ll Learn in This Episode:  👉 Why the Weekly Review isn’t one-size-fits-all  👉 How to “get off y...

When is a problem actually a project? In this episode of GTD Gems, GTD coach Meg Edwards explores how shifting your perspective from “problem” to “project” can dramatically reduce stress and create forward momentum. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 👉 Why every problem can be reframed as a project 👉 How identifying a successful outcome creates clarity 👉 How embracing friction can actually impr...

Have you ever captured a project in your system… but it still stays on your mind? 🤔 The difference between horizontal focus and vertical focus may explain why some projects need more thinking before they feel under control. In this episode of GTD Gems, GTD coach Meg Edwards explores how horizontal vs. vertical focus in GTD works, and when it’s time to use the Natural Planning Model to gain clarit...

Is checking your inbox the same as actually processing it? In this episode of GTD Gems, GTD Coach Meg Edwards explains the difference between scanning and clarifying, and why emergency scanning your inbox isn’t the same as processing it. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 👉 When emergency scanning is helpful 👉 How to move through your inbox one item at a time 👉 The clarifying questions that red...

Struggling to keep your GTD system working? In this GTD Gems episode, Coach Meg Edwards explains how ‘hard edges’ in your system keep your lists and folders distinct, reduce overwhelm, and restore clarity. What You’ll Learn in This Episode:  👉 What “hard edges” mean in GTD and why they matter  👉 How to clarify and organize your lists for maximum effectiveness  👉 Real client examples of restorin...

Struggling with what to capture in GTD? In this episode of GTD Gems, GTD Coach Meg Edwards explains why you should capture everything that has your attention, even seemingly small or “unimportant” things, and how separating capturing from clarifying and organizing reduces overwhelm. What You’ll Learn in This Episode:  👉 The difference between capturing, clarifying, and organizing  👉 How to stop...

Meg sets the stage for GTD Gems, a year-long series celebrating and reflecting on David Allen’s Getting Things Done books.  Drawing on decades of coaching experience, she shares how she’ll explore chapters from Getting Things Done, Ready for Anything, and Making It All Work—focusing on reflection, relevance, and inspiration rather than implementation. Key Takeaways: 👉 What the GTD Gems series is...

GTD isn’t about rigid rules or doing everything “the right way.” In this episode, GTD coach Meg Edwards explores why your system exists in the first place: to create freedom, clarity, and space for the things that truly matter in your life. Key Takeaways: 👉 The real purpose of lists, Weekly Reviews, and a trusted system 👉 Why flexibility and a “good enough” mindset matter more than perfection Ti...

The three-fold nature of work gives you language for what is already happening in your day so you can tell the difference between defined work, unplanned work, and defining work. In this GTD Gems episode, Meg walks through the three types of work and explains why distinguishing between them creates clarity, focus, and space on your calendar for the unexpected. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 👉...

Your Areas of Focus and Responsibilities are one of the most overlooked parts of GTD and may be the missing link behind unclear priorities and lingering stress. In this episode, Meg walks through where Horizon 2 appears throughout the Getting Things Done book, how it functions as a trigger list, and why reviewing your roles and responsibilities often reveals which projects deserve your attention,...

Your Next Actions list should motivate you to take action, not repel you. In this episode, Meg Edwards explores a key insight from Getting Things Done, Chapter 12: when it comes to next actions, there is no neutral territory. Through real coaching conversations, she explains why even experienced GTD practitioners avoid their lists and how clearer next action thinking changes that. What You’ll Lear...