Introduction
Getting started
Task Analyst is built around Getting Things Done (GTD)—David Allen's method for stress-free productivity. Capture everything, clarify what it means, organize it into a trusted system, review it regularly, and engage with confidence.
Inbox
Your capture point. Get everything out of your head and into the system.
Zen modes
Capture, Clarify, and Engage—three focused modes for the GTD workflow.
Projects
Outcomes that need more than one step. Organize next actions by project.
Weekly review
The habit that keeps your system trusted. Clear the decks, get current, get creative.
The GTD workflow
GTD works because it separates capturing from doing. You're not trying to remember things while you work—everything lives in a system you trust.
| Phase | What you do |
|---|---|
| Capture | Get it out of your head. Inbox, quick-add, email—anything that has your attention goes in. |
| Clarify | Process each item. What is it? Is it actionable? If yes, what's the next action? |
| Organize | Put it where it belongs. Projects, contexts, due dates. So you can find it when you need it. |
| Review | Weekly (or whenever). Get inbox to zero. Review projects. Update lists. Keep the system current. |
| Engage | Do the work. Pick a context, see your next actions, and execute. |
Task Analyst gives you tools for each phase. The Inbox is your capture point. Classify and Clarify help you process. Projects and Labels (contexts) organize. Review keeps you current. Engage mode (and Views) lets you focus on doing.
Why a trusted system matters
When you don't trust your system, your brain keeps reminding you. "Did I follow up on that?" "What was I supposed to do for the launch?" That mental chatter drains energy.
A trusted system means: if it's not in the system, it doesn't exist. You capture everything. You process it. You review it. So when you're in Engage mode, you're not wondering what you're forgetting—you're doing.
GTD + project management
Task Analyst blends GTD with project management. You get:
- Next actions – The GTD staple. What's the very next physical step?
- Projects – Outcomes that need 2+ actions. With milestones, Kanban, Gantt.
- Contexts – Where or how you can do it (@computer, @phone, @errands).
- Weekly review – The ritual that makes it all work.
So you can run GTD for your personal workflow and track project progress, deadlines, and dependencies when you need to.
Next steps
- Set up your Inbox and start capturing. Get everything out of your head.
- Try Zen modes—Capture, Clarify, Engage. They map directly to GTD.
- Create projects for outcomes that need more than one step.
- Schedule your weekly review. It's the habit that keeps the system alive.