Slow Yew Down - Next Action Associates

I've been using GTD for over a decade, maybe two decades now. Clarifying the work that is in front of you is key. It is also something most people, including myself, struggle with regularly.

The solution is the same, however longstanding your practice or sophisticated your system; taking time to slow down and systematically clarify things, one-by-one. Believing that this time is a luxury for people who are ‘less busy than me’ is a thought that we can often sense lurking in the room when teaching GTD. And, yes, it might feel like you don’t have the time but the cold hard truth of the matter is that all the decision-making and thinking will have to happen eventually and you can either do it the easy way on the front end with clarity and ease, or on the back end where the inefficiencies will suddenly become apparent and painful.

Making the time and energy available for the review process is very important. The need for it is often predicted by steadily rising anxiety. The challenge is recognizing "planning versus doing" as a solution for that anxiety.