How to Use Contexts and Tags in GTD
“Getting Things Done” – more commonly known as GTD – is a productivity methodology designed to help you streamline whatever it is that you need to get done. GTD is the brainchild of David Allen, who literally wrote the book on the subject, entitled "Getting Things Done." GTD is a little more complicated than creating your average to-do list; it uses tasks, projects, contexts and tags to help you organize. Creating the correct contexts and applying appropriate tags is essential to fully maximizing the GTD process.
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Instructions
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Create contexts based on their physical location or the tools you need to complete your tasks. For example, answering emails and finishing work on your computer can use the context “@Computer”; grocery shopping, going to the pharmacy and picking up dry cleaning in a similar location can use the context “@Out” or “@Downtown.”
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Separate contexts if you do most of your work in the same place. For example, if virtually everything you have to do is confined to your computer, “@Computer” is a useless context because it applies to everything. Think about how you do work on your computer and create contexts accordingly, such as “@Word Processing” and “@Online.”
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Create people-based contexts if you work with others frequently. Team projects, work done for your boss and favors handled for friends are all examples of tasks that benefit from people-based contexts. These contexts are especially useful for separating tasks that require the presence of another person to complete.
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Use tags to distinguish between tasks within contexts. For example, if you have several tasks within your “@Online” context, use tags such as “Blog,” “Website” or “Social Networks.” Another example would be tagging personal to-do items with “Personal” regardless of their context. You can use tags to find your tasks within the GTD application you use.
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Limit your tags and contexts to what you really need. It’s easy to create a context for anything but think about where you actually do things. For example, “@Commute” can be a useful context if you work on the train or handle phone calls in your car. However, if you know you’ll be reading a book or listening to music, don’t bother to create it as a context. With tags, stick to a few relevant words to help you find what you need instead of tagging a task with every descriptive word that comes to mind.
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Tips & Warnings
The GTD application you use to keep track of your tasks can have a profound effect on how much you actually get done. Look around for several apps compatible with your computer or mobile device and compare the features before committing to one.
