Context lists are one of the simplest ways that GTD can meet you where you are. By organizing next actions based on your current energy, tools, and environment, you can cut through the clutter and focus on what’s actually doable. This week, we’re diving into how to create context lists that fit your world.
Where the personal and professional meet
When your living room is your office, your kitchen is the break room, and your phone is always within arm’s reach, the line between work and home blurs fast.
That’s why many GTD® users find traditional location-based context lists (like “@Home” or “@Office”) less useful in today’s flexible work environment.
In this short video, GTD Coach Robert Peake offers a fresh take on context lists in a world where “place” is no longer the main anchor. He explains why tools, energy, and attention now matter more than physical location and offers simple, practical strategies to help you stay focused and take effective action, wherever you are.
Ensuring your contexts lists have quality next actions
Is your next actions list filled with vague intentions rather than clear, actionable steps?
In this video, GTD Coach Meg Edwards walks you through the first step of the Weekly Review’s Get Current phase: reviewing and refining your next actions lists. You’ll learn how to identify weak actions and replace them with clear, verb-driven tasks (like Call, Email, or Draft). Plus, Meg shares how creating a “Next Actions: On Hold” list can help you reduce overwhelm and keep your active lists focused.
If you want your context lists to inspire action, not avoidance, this one’s worth a watch.
Still using one giant next action list?
If your to-do list feels overwhelming or directionless, this video with GTD Coaches Morten Røvik and Lars Rothschild Henriksen could be the reset you need. They dive into the importance of contexts and explain how situation-based lists help you zero in on what is doable in the moment.
They also explore:
- Why analog tools can sometimes outperform your favorite productivity app
- How a simpler project structure can bring greater clarity to your work
- The hidden cost of mindlessly consuming productivity tools, systems, apps, books, or content without actually improving your output or effectiveness
Quote of the Week
“Winners make a habit of manufacturing their own positive expectations in advance of the event.” – Brian Tracy
Know someone drowning in an endless to-do list? Share this newsletter with them.
Cheers,
GTD Focus
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