Get clear
Collect loose papers and material, and empty your head
Collect all the business cards, receipts, and other paper-based materials you have accumulated and place them in your inbox. Take the time to document and handle any new projects, action items, things you are waiting for, or ideas for future reference that haven't been captured yet.
What do you want to capture?
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Get Inbox to zero
Thoroughly process all the remaining paper materials, including journal and meeting notes, voicemails, dictations, emails, and any other items in your inbox. Make sure to address each item and take the necessary actions or file them appropriately.
Get current
Review tasks
Check off any completed actions from your list. Take a moment to review the remaining items and look for any reminders or prompts that require further action. Make sure to record any additional steps or tasks that need to be addressed.
Review previous calendar data
Thoroughly review your past calendar, examining it in detail for any remaining action items, reference data, or any other relevant information. Transfer these items into your active system to ensure they are properly recorded and accounted for.
Review upcoming calendar events
Take the time to review both your short-term and long-term upcoming calendar events. Carefully examine each event and capture any actions or tasks that are triggered by these events. Make sure to record these actions in your system for future reference and follow-up.
Review Waiting Fors
Review the tasks and items that require follow-up and ensure that appropriate actions are recorded for each of them. Additionally, mark off any actions that have already been received or completed. This will help you stay organized and track the progress of your tasks effectively.
Review projects (and larger outcomes)
Perform a thorough evaluation of the status of your projects, goals, and outcomes one by one. Make sure that each project has at least one current action item associated with it. Take the time to browse through project plans, support materials, and any other work-in-progress materials to trigger new actions, identify tasks that are completed, and determine items that are waiting for further action. This process will help you generate new actions, track completions, and identify any dependencies or pending items that require attention.
Review any relevant checklists
Utilize this review process as a trigger to identify any new actions that need to be taken. As you evaluate the status of your projects, goals, and outcomes, keep an eye out for any opportunities or areas that require further action. This review should serve as a catalyst for identifying and recording any new tasks or steps that need to be initiated.
Get creative
Review Someday / Maybes
Take the time to review your "Someday/Maybes" list and consider if any of the projects listed have now become active or relevant. If you identify any such projects, transfer them to your "Projects" category or folder for better organization and immediate attention. Additionally, remove or delete any items from the "Someday/Maybes" list that are no longer of interest or relevance. This will help you maintain a focused and updated list of projects and ensure that your attention is directed towards the most meaningful and actionable items.
Be creative and courageous
Are there any new and exciting ideas that have sparked your creativity and imagination? Take a moment to capture these wonderful, hare-brained, thought-provoking, and risk-taking ideas into your system. By adding them to your system, you can ensure they are recorded and not forgotten, allowing you to explore and potentially act upon them at a later time. Embrace your creativity and let your ideas flourish!
What do you want to capture?
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Next weekly review
Verify whether you have already scheduled the upcoming weekly review in your calendar or if it still needs to be added. Make sure to check your calendar and ensure that the next weekly review is appropriately recorded. If it is missing, take the necessary steps to add it to your calendar to maintain your regular review routine.
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