I did a video on the Getting Things Done (GTD) trigger list a while back. (And why I love it so!)
These days, the verb “trigger” has taken on a negative connotation. Nobody wants to be triggered, and triggering others is considered bad form. But there is a good kind of triggering: triggering yourself to remember tasks and projects that have just slipped out of your mind.
The GTD trigger list is a long list of items you can easily read over to trigger memories about things you need to do.
You can download the trigger lists here.
It’s a simple and effective tool for managing your tasks.
- Projects you’ve committed to
- Projects not yet undertaken
- Todo items that slipped your mind
- Correspondence to send out
- Things you wanted to look into
And as you scan over that list, you’ll be amazed by how much slips your mind over an ordinary week. The GTD trigger list is a powerful tool that can significantly enhance your productivity and ensure that nothing important gets lost in the shadows.
How can you use the trigger list to marshal your important tasks? Download the PDF from the link I shared above and start reading the triggers. You’ll be amazed by how many tasks and commitments come to the front of your mind.
Then write down the items that come to you. (You can organize them into their proper contexts later.)
Honestly, it’s easier to forget these kinds of things. And there’s a reason these chores fall out of your head: it seems easier in the moment to walk around in a fog and think you’re being productive. Don’t let your life linger in the shadows.
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