Zen Productivity System: ZTD (Zen to Done)

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Leo Babauta, author of the productivity blog Zenhabits, has released a new Zen to Done book on productivity. In it, he emphasizes simplicity, which focuses us on action "here and now," rather than on the system.

It's about habits and actions, not systems and tools.

The main theme of the book is the 5 GTD problems that most people face. The ZTD in this case is a kind of tuning fork that helps to customize the GTD individually for each person.

Leo, as always, tries to simplify the existing system and make it convenient for completely different people. He sees five main problems with the GTD system.

5 GTD problems

Problem # 1. GTD is a whole series of habit changes. This is one of the key reasons why people begin to adjust to the system and end up leaving it anyway. Not everyone is able to simultaneously change several habits at once (especially bad ones).

Solution. If you have read at least one of Leo's articles, then you probably know his "religion" - we change one habit at a time. The ZTD suggests focusing on changing just one habit at a time. Then change the next one. It takes a little longer than the standard GTD system offers, but the chances of achieving the desired results are increased.

Problem # 2. GTDs don't focus enough on action. Most GTD books focus on the collection and processing of stages, while there is little space for specific actions.

Solution. ZTD focuses on action - how to truly complete tasks in an accessible and relaxed manner.

Problem number 3. GTD is too unstructured for a lot of people. On the one hand, the lack of a clear structure for making decisions “right now” and deciding what to do next is one of the key things of standard GTD books. On the other hand, this may also be his main problem, which confuses many people. How many people - so many opinions and styles of work.

Solution. The ZTD system suggests using several habits to solve this problem - the planning habit (planning three tasks a day and basic tasks for the week), and the standard habits that you are used to doing every day. All of these habits, like most ZTD habits, are optional - some will work and some will not. You are free to choose, and the habits you choose will be a great asset to your GTD system.

Problem # 4. The standard GTD system tries to do too many tasks at once. As a result, everything ends with another stress. GTD tries to exclude from life everything that is not particularly important, so that a person can work as productively as possible. But do not forget that all these little things that interfere with productive work are an integral part of life and can bring great pleasure. Therefore, many try to fit into their list everything - important and not very important, trying to fulfill the compiled lists, bloated to unimaginable sizes. It's not a GTD problem - it's a human problem (how they try to implement what they read).

Solution. ZTD focuses on simplifying the system. Choose the main tasks, remove everything unnecessary and focus on completing the main thing.

Problem # 5: GTD is not focused enough on core goals. The main goal of GTD is to fulfill the incoming tasks. That is, all incoming, without focusing on the main goals.

Solution. ZTD suggests focusing on core tasks. Every day you choose what's important. Every Monday you revise the basic plans for the week and thus keep the basic plans in sight throughout the year, without deviating from the set trajectory. GTDs contain elements of a similar system, but ZTD extends.

10 ZTD Habits

1. Collect. Habit: constant absorption of information. Always carry with you something in which you can write down important information or new thoughts.

2. Processing. Habit: process all incoming messages, do not postpone them on the back burner. Not a single chance of procrastination. Check your inbox at least once a day and reply to messages sorted by importance.

3. Plan. Habit: Schedule major goals for each day and your biggest goals for the week.

4. Do (focus). Habit: Complete one task at a time without distractions.

5. STS (simple trusted system). Habit: Make simple lists and check them daily. No complicated lists. You may not even need special programs - everything is simple and clear. Full focus on the main tasks of the day and week.

6. Organize. Habit: All things should have their place. Try to keep your desk and home tidy. Things clutter up not only the space in the room, but also in the head.

7. Review. Habit: Review your system and core goals every week. During this weekly review, you have the opportunity to track how the goal is progressing and which methods are most conducive to it.

8. Simplify. Habit: Reduce your to-do list and goals to high priority. There cannot be many main goals. Cut off all unnecessary things.

9. Consistency. Habit: Establish and maintain a consistent routine. Establish certain daily rituals for yourself to help you tune in to work, and try to maintain them by doing nothing daily.

10. Find your passion. Habit: Find a job that you really fall in love with. No comments.

In this post I have described everything very briefly - just a cursory content of the book. If you've read Leo Babauta's books before (the same "Focus"), Zen To Done: The Ultimate Simple Productivity System [Kindle Edition] can be purchased on Amazon for $ 5. I'm not sure if it will be available for free anytime soon.