GTD Mind Sweep
Empty your head in 15 to 30 minutes. A trigger list walks you through work, studies, life, home and your devices; you write down every open loop, then sort each one with the Getting Things Done questions. Free, no sign-up: your list stays in this browser.
Capture
Projects started but not finished
Reports, plans, launches, anything half-done
Clarify
Your lists
Do now 0
Takes less than 2 minutes: do it and tick it off.
Next actions 0
Single steps you can start any time.
Projects 0
Outcomes that need more than one step. Decide each one's next action.
Waiting for 0
Delegated or in someone else's hands. Note who and when to follow up.
Someday/Maybe 0
Not now, but worth keeping. Review it weekly.
Reference 0
Not actionable, but useful information to file.
Trash 0
Not needed. Let it go.
GTD Mind Sweep · focuscommit.com/gtd-mind-sweep ·
Keep the system running in FocusCommit
A mind sweep only helps if the lists live somewhere you trust. FocusCommit has a GTD inbox, projects and next actions on a Kanban board, plus a Pomodoro timer to work through them, on iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows. The free plan covers up to 3 tasks.
How a mind sweep works
In Getting Things Done, David Allen calls anything unfinished that has your attention an open loop. A mind sweep (or brain dump) gets every open loop out of your head and onto a list, so your mind can stop reminding you of them. A trigger list helps you remember the ones you'd otherwise miss.
- Capture. Go through the prompts and write down everything that comes up, one item at a time. Don't decide anything yet.
- Clarify. For each item ask: is it actionable? If not, drop it, file it as reference or park it under Someday/Maybe. If someone else is handling it, it goes on Waiting for. If it is yours and takes less than two minutes, do it now. If it needs more than one step, it is a project; otherwise it is a next action.
- Organize and review. Put next actions and projects where you will see them, and review the lists once a week so nothing slips back into your head.
The trigger list
The 16 prompts this mind sweep walks you through. Pick one to jump to it.
Work
- : Reports, plans, launches, anything half-done
- : What did you say you would do, send or check?
- : Replies you owe, people to follow up with
- : Things to prepare, agendas, slides, reviews
- : Answers, approvals, deliveries, refunds
- : Expenses, timesheets, filing, IT problems, contracts
Areas of focus
- : Birthdays, visits, calls, favours, gifts
- : Appointments, prescriptions, check-ups, exercise plans
- : Bills, taxes, insurance, subscriptions, savings
- : Assignments, exams, applications, group work, reading
- : Courses, books, skills, side projects
Physical environment
- : Bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, garage, garden: repairs, cleaning, things to organize
- : Repairs, service, shopping, returns, pick-ups
Digital environment
- : Updates, backups, old files, photos, apps to remove
- : Email inbox, cloud storage, passwords, social media, tools you pay for
Someday
- : Trips, projects, things to learn or try
More on the method: the GTD trigger list explained and GTD templates for personal productivity.
Frequently asked questions
What is a GTD mind sweep?
A step in David Allen's Getting Things Done method: you write down every open loop (anything unfinished that has your attention) so your mind stops holding on to it. A trigger list of prompts helps you remember the loops you would otherwise miss. Afterwards you clarify each item and put it on the right list.
How long does a mind sweep take?
Usually 15 to 30 minutes. The first one takes longest because years of open loops come out at once. After that, a quick sweep during your weekly review is enough.
What is the two-minute rule?
If an actionable item takes less than two minutes, do it right away instead of tracking it. Writing it down and coming back to it later would take longer than doing it. These items land in Do now.
Where are my items saved?
In this browser, on this device only. Nothing is sent to a server and there is no account. Clearing your browser data removes the list, so use Copy as text or Print or save as PDF when you are done.
What should I do with the lists afterwards?
Move next actions, projects and waiting-for items into the place you check every day, and review all lists once a week. In the FocusCommit app they go into the GTD inbox and projects, next actions sit on the Kanban board, and tasks from Microsoft To Do or Google Tasks can be imported. See how to use FocusCommit as a GTD system.