Applying GTD to emotions.

I was looking over Vox this morning for the chapter of Clear Blogging I'm writing this week and I came across an excellent post about a way to use GTP in no way I'd never thought of. Emotions can be as destructive to productivity as open loops and mind clutter. And emotions can be processed using the GTD system.

For example, being angry with the client who blew you off for meeting. Or some little spat that you may have had with your Significant Other this weekend. Or just the number of different daily frustrations that using a PC entails. All of these can get in your way as you try and work, let alone have a productive and happy life.

Bobby Anderson's post about applying GTD to the emotions that come up as you work makes a lot of sense. If you've never thought of applying GTD to all of the petty and not so petty and emotional upsets that may be getting in the way of you getting things done, give this a read.

Bobby calls this system the emotional Getting Things Done system. Here are the main points:

1. Start by writing down every negative emotion that still isn't unresolved issue.

2. During the day write down each meaningful amotion that grabs your attention.

3. Process. The good emotions need no further action. The negative emotions need some resolution.

4. Take, plan, or schedule action to resolve negative emotions. For example, if you're beating yourself up because you haven't gotten something done, schedule time to look at that task and decide what's keeping you from finishing it.

I think one of the weaknesses of David Allen's Getting Things Done is ignoring all the internal dialogue that happens in each of us in the course of our daily lives. I think that Bobby is onto something here.