This second Q&A picks up where the previous one left off, continuing a conversation that began with a single email and grew into something more reflective than I expected. If the first post was about bridging the gap between intention and understanding, this one is more intimate: a dialogue between two people navigating productivity, recovery, and the quiet work of rebuilding systems — and sometimes ourselves.
This post revisits my OneNote GTD setup through the lens of a reader’s thoughtful email. What was clear to me alone—how the pieces connect—proved less obvious to others. In response, I shared screenshots and explanations to make the structure transparent. And thanks to T. S.’s generous permission, this private exchange now becomes a public resource. If you find clarity here, you owe a word of thanks to him.
Don’t let your email control you. Instead of letting my inbox control me, I have decided on a workflow that allows me to achieve inbox zero. Not only have I taken back control, but also the time I would otherwise have spent dithering about emails and/or searching for them.
Microsoft Outlook categories can help you organize your data with minimal effort. Granted, it may take a bit to set up your structure, but you don’t have to do it all at once. Microsoft makes it very easy to change things. And by using categories, folders, rules, etc., you can build an efficient workflow that suits your needs.
A bit!?
Organizing your inbox is paramount to keep you productive. In keeping with this idea, Inbox zero might be the elusive goal, but it can seem nearly impossible to get there with thousands of previous emails clogging up your inbox.
Where to start?
Daily to-do lists and simplified priority coding have proven inadequate in dealing with the volume and variable nature of the average person’s workload,
according to David Allen. He has a strong opinion on that matter: No More ‘Daily To-Do’ Lists on the Calendar.
What does this have to do with a dashboard anyway?
It can be an extremely functional tool, allowing you to in effect set up your own postal service and 'mail' things to yourself for receipt on a designated future date.
It is…? It is…? The Tickler file!
According to David Allen, a calendar has to be accessible. In keeping with this idea, nowadays, digital calendars are the norm, but are they without disadvantages? And what about the good old paper-based planners? Of course, the choice between a digital or paper daily planner ultimately depends on individual preferences and needs. What are mine?
The Notion GTD Dashboard is a comprehensive, customizable template that helps you manage tasks, projects, and goals using the Getting Things Done (GTD) method, leading to increased productivity and organization.
Looks nice indeed, but it ain’t free!
I managed to accomplish what the OneNote Setup Guide by GTD promised but did not deliver. I simplified my existing setup and turned OneNote into a real, standalone task manager.
