Inbox
A temporary holding place for capturing tasks that haven't been organized yet.
Definition
The inbox is where you quickly capture ideas, thoughts, and tasks without worrying about organization. It's the first step in the GTD workflow.
What Goes in the Inbox
- Quick thoughts and ideas
- Tasks you haven't organized yet
- Items that need clarification
- Anything that captures your attention
The Two-Minute Rule
TIP
If a task takes less than 2 minutes to complete, do it immediately instead of adding it to your inbox!
Inbox Processing
Processing is the act of going through inbox items and deciding:
- Is it actionable?
- What's the next action?
- Does it belong to a project?
- What tags should it have?
Inbox Zero
The practice of regularly processing your inbox until it's empty, ensuring all items are properly organized.
Recommended Schedule:
- Daily: Quick 5-minute review
- Weekly: Thorough clearing to zero