Views & perspectives
Horizons
GTD uses horizons (or "altitudes") to connect daily work to what matters. Ground level is tasks. Above that: projects, areas of focus, goals, vision, purpose. Horizons let you see whether your next actions are aligned with your bigger picture—or just busywork.
The hierarchy
| Level | What it is |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Your overarching "why." Why you do what you do. |
| Vision | Long-term outcomes. Years. "Where do I want to be?" |
| Goal | Medium-term objectives. Months, quarters. |
| Area of focus | Life or work areas. Health, Career, Family, Clients. |
| Project | Concrete initiatives. Outcomes with 2+ actions. |
| Task | Individual next actions. |
Why horizons matter
Without horizons, you can be productive and still feel off. You're doing lots of tasks—but are they the right tasks? Horizons connect the dots. When you create a project, you can link it to a goal and area of focus. When you review, you can see: "Is this project aligned with what I care about?"
Linking projects and tasks
- Projects can be linked to a Goal and Area of focus.
- Tasks can be linked the same way.
That creates traceability: task → project → area → goal → vision. You can filter views by horizon—e.g. "Show me everything for Health" or "What's aligned to Q1 Launch goal?"
Using horizons
- Define purpose, visions, and goals in the Horizons view.
- Create areas of focus (personal, professional, etc.).
- When creating projects, assign a goal and area of focus.
- Use horizon-based views to see work aligned to each goal.
Eisenhower matrix
The Eisenhower matrix (in Views) uses importance and urgency. Importance can tie to your goals—tasks aligned to key goals are "important" even if not urgent. Horizons help you decide what's important.