Getting Things Done in Notion

Getting Things Done methodology is based on 6 horizons of focus. While the majority of methods are built around first two horizons, this templates includes and connects 5 of them:

GTD has two essential components: 📥 Inbox and 📚 References. Let's explore how each of them works and how they work together.

Inbox is an entry point of everything. Regardless it’s an startup idea, a book you’ve heard or an urgent task you’ve missed - all of it starts here.

Adding items

Another benefit of adding items in list instead of database is offline access: databases work clumsy without a network. Instead, page content is stored in your app and can be easily accessed without an internet connection

Processing inbox

Let’s remember what tot do with items in your inbox.

The first question is whether the item requires action. If no, you have 3 options: delete it, save as reference or mark it as you may get back to it someday. Let’s see how to make every of those operations.

Adding and organizing items right away

If you have some time and already know where the item should be, a better solution for you might be to put it in the right place initially.

Add action to an existing project

There is a Project template available for each page within 🗃️ Projects database. Applying it, you are creating a linked database of ✅ Actions, that connected to current project. This way you are able to swiftly add new actions for specific project.

Processing projects

Let’s see what to do when you answered “Yes” on “Is it actionable?” question. When you defined what exactly needs to be done. If its more than one-step process, you are dealing with a new project. To create a project from a list, simply move list item to the table in the Projects view.

Processing actions

If what needs to be done consists of only 1 actions, you have more options to do next:

This database is a heart of this template. It combines ✅ Actions, 🎯 Goals, and 📌 Responsibilities and builds a bridge between next actions and long-term plans.

This database has 5 main views serving different purposses.

Active

Finished

Some day

Needs review

By category

Master

This is a database of all your next actions you need to do. First thing to keep in mind is that action may or may not be assigned to a project, so it’s important to track both of them.

Besides project, actions have other properties that could help you determine what is the best possible next action at each moment of time:

Here are views that will help you navigating through all of them.

By project

By context

Calendar

By stage

By energy and By time

Awaiting

Master

Vision is a big picture of what you want to accomplish in your life. This is your dreams - write down everything what describes your life as you want it to see.

The next step is to divide into smaller achievable steps - Goals.

Since goals came from your vision, the first column correspontds to it. Since goal needs to be measured in order to track progress, Current and Target number are here to help you.

It may not be obvious, but everything can be measured. For instance, if you want to spend more time with your family, define what exactly you want to improve: instead of 1 hour a day → 3 hour a day.

Some p

We won’t speak a lot about a dashboard, since everyone has its own preferences. I like to use 3 components:

Yet I recommend to set up the dashboard for your own preferences. Check this guide on how to integrate template parts to your workspace.

Notion is a perfect match to organize your work and life using Getting Things Done method. Here are keypoints of using this template:

So here it is! Try it out, I’m sure this template will greatly help you with reaching Getting Things Done goal - the stress-free productivity. Good luck!