Your Next Actions list should motivate you to take action, not repel you.

In this episode, Meg Edwards explores a key insight from Getting Things Done, Chapter 12: when it comes to next actions, there is no neutral territory. Through real coaching conversations, she explains why even experienced GTD practitioners avoid their lists and how clearer next action thinking changes that.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
👉 Why next actions either attract or repel you
👉 How unclear next actions create resistance and avoidance

Timestamps:
00:00 – Why even experienced GTD users still need coaching
00:48 – Why there are no neutral next actions
01:50 – How unclear or weak verbs affect your next actions
03:19 – A real example of this breakdown in practice
04:27 – The hidden reason your next actions list gets ignored
05:06 – What to adjust after watching this

▶️ GTD Gems Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRH9fEmS3ZFu5YBGGEdIg6ZKJtvhR2STp
▶️ Check out Meg's other video on Next Action thinking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpbpYP2bDsI
📄 Project and Next Action Verb Sheet:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E9krHpmXtg8kLiGJikc-Y0BLFXKUEpvI/view?usp=sharing

🔔 Subscribe and hit the notification bell to catch every episode.
💬 Comment below: Which next action on your list is repelling you, and why do you think that is?

🌐 Explore GTD coaching programs and resources: gtdfocus.com
📩 Email us at [email protected]

Follow Us on Social:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gtdfocus/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gtdfocus/
🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/gtdfocus

GTD Focus is the exclusive provider of GTD® one-to-one coaching in the U.S. and Canada. Our coaches have logged tens of thousands of hours working with global leaders, scientists, engineers, creatives, and entrepreneurs, helping them bring clarity to their complex lives.

For more GTD resources, visit DavidCo.com or subscribe to @GTD.

#gettingthingsdone #nextactions #productivitytips

Your Areas of Focus and Responsibilities are one of the most overlooked parts of GTD and may be the missing link behind unclear priorities and lingering stress.

In this episode, Meg walks through where Horizon 2 appears throughout the Getting Things Done book, how it functions as a trigger list, and why reviewing your roles and responsibilities often reveals which projects deserve your attention, especially after major life transitions.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
 👉 Why Horizon 2 clarifies priorities when nothing on your lists stands out
 👉 How to use Areas of Focus as a trigger list for projects and actions

Timestamps:
00:00 – Where Horizon 2 Shows Up
01:57 – Using Areas of Focus to Prioritize
02:49 – New Roles and Responsibilities Examples
04:12 – Areas of Focus Don't Get Checked Off
05:12 – How Meg Uses Horizon 2
06:21 – Parting Thoughts

▶️ GTD Gems Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRH9fEmS3ZFu5YBGGEdIg6ZKJtvhR2STp
🔔 Subscribe and hit the notification bell to catch every episode.
💬 Comment below: Which role or responsibility do you look to when you need clarity on what to work on next?

🌐 Explore GTD coaching programs and resources: gtdfocus.com
📩 Email us at [email protected]

Follow Us on Social:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gtdfocus/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gtdfocus/
🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/gtdfocus

GTD Focus is the exclusive provider of GTD one-to-one coaching in the U.S. and Canada. Our coaches have logged tens of thousands of hours working with global leaders, scientists, engineers, creatives, and entrepreneurs—helping them bring clarity to their complex lives.

For more GTD resources, visit DavidCo.com or subscribe to @GTD.

#gettingthingsdone #higherhorizons #projectplanning

The three-fold nature of work gives you language for what is already happening in your day so you can tell the difference between defined work, unplanned work, and defining work.

In this GTD Gems episode, Meg walks through the three types of work and explains why distinguishing between them creates clarity, focus, and space on your calendar for the unexpected.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
👉 What the three-fold nature is and how to use it
👉 The importance of creating space in your calendar

David Allen’s Article on the Three-fold Nature of Work:
https://gettingthingsdone.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Threefold.pdf

Timestamps:
00:00 – Trouble Prioritizing
00:58 – Previous Episode Recap
01:45 – Three-fold Nature of Work
02:31 – Defined Work
02:57 – Unplanned Work
04:29 – Clarifying & Organizing Work
05:02 – Where Is Your Space?
06:56 – Recap

▶️ GTD Gems Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRH9fEmS3ZFu5YBGGEdIg6ZKJtvhR2STp
🔔 Subscribe and hit the notification bell to catch every episode.
💬 Comment below: How much space do you leave in your calendar?

🌐 Explore GTD coaching programs and resources: gtdfocus.com
📩 Email us at [email protected]

Follow Us on Social:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gtdfocus/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gtdfocus/
🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/gtdfocus

GTD Focus is the exclusive provider of GTD one-to-one coaching in the U.S. and Canada. Our coaches have logged tens of thousands of hours working with global leaders, scientists, engineers, creatives, and entrepreneurs—helping them bring clarity to their complex lives.

For more GTD resources, visit DavidCo.com or subscribe to @GTD.

#gettingthingsdone #threefoldnatureofwork #productivity

GTD isn’t about rigid rules or doing everything “the right way.” In this episode, GTD coach Meg Edwards explores why your system exists in the first place: to create freedom, clarity, and space for the things that truly matter in your life.

Key Takeaways:
👉 The real purpose of lists, Weekly Reviews, and a trusted system
👉 Why flexibility and a “good enough” mindset matter more than perfection

Timestamps:
00:00 – Why GTD isn’t “all or nothing”
01:05 – The big secret about lists
02:30 – David Allen’s example
03:30 – Knowing your system is “good enough”
05:05 – Meg’s example
07:00 – Coaching client success story
07:44 – Takeaways and what’s next

▶️ GTD Gems Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRH9fEmS3ZFu5YBGGEdIg6ZKJtvhR2STp
🔔 Subscribe and hit the notification bell to catch every episode.
💬 Comment below: How has GTD helped you create more freedom?

🌐 Explore GTD coaching programs and resources: gtdfocus.com
📩 Email us at [email protected]

Follow Us on Social:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gtdfocus/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gtdfocus/
🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/gtdfocus

GTD Focus is the exclusive provider of GTD one-to-one coaching in the U.S. and Canada. Our coaches have logged tens of thousands of hours working with global leaders, scientists, engineers, creatives, and entrepreneurs—helping them bring clarity to their complex lives.

For more GTD resources, visit DavidCo.com or subscribe to @GTD.

#gettingthingsdone #gtd #productivity #davidallen #gtdgems

Meg sets the stage for GTD Gems, a year-long series celebrating and reflecting on David Allen’s Getting Things Done books. 

Drawing on decades of coaching experience, she shares how she’ll explore chapters from Getting Things Done, Ready for Anything, and Making It All Work—focusing on reflection, relevance, and inspiration rather than implementation.

Key Takeaways:
👉 What the GTD Gems series is and who it’s for
👉 Why revisiting the GTD books still matters
👉 How Meg will reflect on and connect chapters across the books

▶️ GTD Gems Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRH9fEmS3ZFu5YBGGEdIg6ZKJtvhR2STp
🔔 Subscribe and hit the notification bell to catch every episode.
💬 Comment below: Which book or chapter are you most excited to see covered?

🌐 Explore GTD coaching programs and resources: https://bit.ly/gtdfocus
📩 Email us at [email protected]

Follow Us on Social:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gtdfocus/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gtdfocus/
🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/gtdfocus

GTD Focus is the exclusive provider of GTD one-to-one coaching in the U.S. and Canada. Our coaches have logged tens of thousands of hours working with global leaders, scientists, engineers, creatives, and entrepreneurs—helping them bring clarity to their complex lives.

For more GTD resources, visit DavidCo.com or subscribe to @GTD.

#GettingThingsDone #GTD #DavidAllen #Productivity #GTDGems