Someday / Maybe | GTD®
Why It Matters
Applying these GTD practices helps professionals eliminate hidden mental clutter, turning vague aspirations into actionable projects and freeing capacity for strategic work.
Key Takeaways
- •Define projects as multi-step outcomes within a year
- •Keep an external projects list to avoid mental distraction
- •Review projects weekly to prevent ambient stress and missed deadlines
- •Use a “Someday/Maybe” list for ideas not yet committed
- •Mine current activities, higher horizons, and “others” for hidden projects
Summary
The GTD® webinar hosted by John Forrester and Ana Maria Gonzalez walked participants through the fundamentals of managing a Projects list and a Someday/Maybe list, allocating 45 minutes to a mix of instruction and hands‑on work.
The presenters defined a project as any multi‑step outcome that can be completed within roughly a year, emphasizing that the exact horizon is less important than having an external anchor. They argued that without a trusted list, projects linger in the mind, creating distraction and ambient stress, which is why weekly review of the Projects list is mandatory.
Participants echoed the definition, noting the “one‑sitting” shortcut to decide if something is a project. The speakers cited typical list sizes of 30‑100 items and described the Someday/Maybe list as a “graveyard” for ideas not yet committed, a guilt‑free space that lowers the weight of the active Projects list.
By systematically mining current activities, higher‑horizon goals, and the loosely‑named “others” category, users can surface hidden projects and decide whether to move them to the active list or the Someday/Maybe list. The framework promises clearer focus, reduced mental load, and more reliable progress on both short‑term commitments and long‑term aspirations.
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