One of the most difficult demands that David Allen’s Getting Things Done (GTD) makes on its followers is to set aside a couple of hours each week for a weekly review. This part of the GTD system is often overlooked or not given enough attention, despite its importance. In his new audiobook set, GTD > Weekly Review, Allen addresses this gap and provides a comprehensive discussion on the subject.

So, what exactly is a weekly review? According to GTD, the purpose of a weekly review is to build in time for capturing, reevaluation, and reprocessing to keep you in balance. It allows you to step back from your day-to-day tasks and focus on your important projects. Allen outlines several steps for a weekly review, including collecting loose papers, processing notes, reviewing previous and upcoming calendar data, emptying your mind, reviewing project and next action lists, and being creative and courageous to dream up new ideas.

GTD > Weekly Review dedicates two and a half hours over three CDs to a discussion on what a weekly review is and its potential. The audiobook features a three-way conversation between David Allen, and two professional organizers from DavidCo, Marian Bateman and Meg Edwards. They draw on their experiences working with clients to expand on the concepts presented by Allen. The set also includes a weekly review cheat sheet for quick reference.

Throughout the audiobook, Allen, Bateman, and Edwards offer useful tips and tricks for conducting better weekly reviews. They emphasize the importance of scheduling the review at a time that works best for you, allowing for uninterrupted and peaceful reflection. It is crucial to commit to a weekly review and not treat it as catch-up time for tasks you’ve fallen behind on during the week. Additionally, the review is not the time to deal with a large backlog of emails. Instead, schedule dedicated time during the week to clear your inbox.

To get current during the review, Allen suggests reviewing your calendar as far back and forward as necessary. The distance in the future when events start to require immediate action is unique to each individual. Projects, or outcomes, should also be reviewed to ensure they are on track. It’s important to think about the next action needed to move towards each outcome.

One underutilized aspect of the weekly review is creating checklists for routine tasks. Checklists help ensure that nothing is missed and save mental energy by not having to constantly think about next actions. Reference lists are also valuable for storing information that needs to be referenced frequently, such as login credentials or book recommendations. Checkser and Gibb are two online apps that can assist in creating and storing checklists.

Lastly, the weekly review is the time to get creative. This is where the magic happens. Having cleared your mind of immediate tasks, use this time to dream up new ideas and take risks. The weekly review is an opportunity to explore where you are and where you’re headed.

In conclusion, the weekly review is a crucial component of the GTD system and should not be neglected. Allen’s GTD > Weekly Review audiobook set provides a comprehensive discussion on the topic, offering valuable insights and practical advice to improve the effectiveness of your weekly reviews. By committing to regular and focused weekly reviews, you can stay organized, balanced, and move towards your important projects and goals.