I’m lucky to be able to set my own schedule most of the time, and I love to have a regular getting things done day (or even part of a day) to get nagging things off my to do list.
TCOYOS Revisited
Many years ago, before COVID times, some friends and I would get together for a weekend in the woods where we would write or work on whatever needed to be done that wasn’t getting done at home.
I started writing one of my books at one of these retreats. Minimalist Crafter started at another.
This magical time was known as TCOYOS, the family-blog translation of which would be “take care of your own stuff.”
We shared meal prep but otherwise you were on your own to do what needed to be done. It was amazing.
And I miss it, but I don’t have the mental energy to organize a whole weekend away.
What I need is a TCOYOS day, or a getting things done day.
What Is a Getting Things Done Day?
I think it’s pretty clear from the uncreative name I’ve given it, but in case it’s not, a getting things done day is a day, or a couple of hours, where you deal with the things that have been sitting on your to-do list or in your mind for a long time, not getting done.
Recently, for example, I needed to call like four different doctors’ offices for various things. I hate the phone so I decided one Friday morning it was going to be the day to do it. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, and after 20 minutes or so I had four fewer things to think about. Amazing.
A getting things done day works for running errands, doing Amazon returns or going to the post office, even working on projects around the house that you just haven’t been able to get started.
How A GTD Day Can Help with Decluttering
I generally will put some kind of decluttering or clearing task on my list when I’m doing a getting things done day because it’s nice to have that shift in energy that comes from getting things done continue into the physical world. Even just moving five things or setting a timer for 10 or 15 minutes can make a difference.
If you have a space you want to clear but haven’t been making the time to do it, adding it to the GTD list can be a way to kickstart the project, even if you can’t finish it all in one day.
Getting Things Done Day Rules
I generally will make a list through the week leading up to a getting things done day of things that I need or want to do. If you have a big task list (which I sometimes do) you can also star or highlight a few things from that list to do.
Don’t pick more than four or five things at most to do on your GTD day. I always fall victim to the idea that I can get a lot more done in a day than I actually can, and we don’t want this day to be about stress.
It’s meant to be about feeling a sense of accomplishment for the things you are able to get done, not guilt for not getting everything on your list done. Aim low, especially if this is your first time.
And when you get all those things done, celebrate your accomplishment. I like to take myself out to lunch, but you could also go for a walk or take an hour off and read a book or make some art or do something else you would find fun.
How often should you have a GTD day? I try to do it once a month, generally on Friday mornings, all day if I can manage. I feel like enough things pile up over a month to give me things to do, but not so much that it’s overwhelming.
For me, a getting things done day gives me a place to put those things I’m not excited about doing so I don’t forget to do them, but also reminds me that the things I’ve been dreading (or just not doing) won’t take as long as I imagine they will.
Do you have a getting things done day practice? I’d love to hear about it!
