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Getting Things Done (GTD) Workflow

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Build a low-maintenance, date-free action queue using local Markdown notes, context boards, and universal capture.

The GTD Philosophy in Phasoric

Classical Getting Things Done (GTD) by David Allen relies on a fundamental distinction:

  1. The "Hard Landscape" (Calendar & Forge): Reserved exclusively for events, meetings, and commitments that must happen at a specific date and time.
  2. Next Actions (Context Queues): Discretionary tasks grouped by context (@computer, @calls, @errands, @reading) rather than artificial due dates.

In many systems, task managers force artificial due dates onto every item, creating visual noise, missed-deadline guilt, and continuous rescheduling overhead. Phasoric allows you to operate a pure GTD workflow backed by standard Markdown files without changing your data architecture.

1. Quick Capture to a Dedicated Inbox

Instead of scattering tasks across dozens of daily notes, configure your quick-add target to write directly to a dedicated Inbox note:

  1. Go to the Tasks page (/app/tasks).
  2. In the task creator panel, click Target: Daily Log to open destination settings.
  3. Switch the destination mode to Dedicated Inbox Note (GTD Date-Free).
  4. Set your target note path (for example, GTD/Inbox.md or inbox.md).
  5. Tasks added with the quick creator will now append directly to your inbox note without requiring dates or generating calendar entries.

Tip: You can also send thoughts, links, and snippets from mobile share sheets, browser extensions, or private inbound email directly into the Capture Inbox (/app/capture).

2. Setting Up Your Core GTD Notes

A standard Phasoric GTD structure consists of four plain Markdown notes in your vault:

GTD/Inbox.md

Your raw capture staging area. Capture thoughts, unprocessed ideas, and action candidates here during the day:

# GTD Inbox

> Quick capture staging area. Triage unprocessed items regularly.

## Unprocessed Items
- [ ] Review launch telemetry feedback
- [ ] Research standing desk converters
- [ ] Ask finance about travel stipend

GTD/Next.md

Your active, date-free Next Actions list organized by physical context headings or tags:

# Next Actions

> Date-free next physical actions organized by context.

## @computer
- [ ] Draft client architecture review #focus
- [ ] Update build dependency lockfile

## @calls
- [ ] Call dentist to confirm appointment #calls

## @errands
- [ ] Pick up hardware package from parcel locker #errands

## @reading
- [ ] Read distributed systems consensus paper #reading

GTD/Waiting.md

Tracks items delegated to others or blocked by external dependencies:

# Waiting For

> Delegated actions and pending external responses.

## Delegated & Blocked
- [ ] Awaiting security audit report from third-party auditor #waiting
- [ ] Awaiting contract signature from vendor #waiting

GTD/Someday.md

Incubating ideas and prospective projects that you are not actively committed to right now:

# Someday / Maybe

> Non-active ideas and incubating projects for future review.

## Ideas & Exploration
- [ ] Explore WebAssembly SQLite compilation #someday
- [ ] Plan summer hiking trip #someday

3. Using the GTD Context Action Board

Switch between standard date-filtered views and the GTD Context view right on the Tasks page:

  1. Open the Tasks page (/app/tasks).
  2. In the top bar, click the GTD Contexts toggle.
  3. Your tasks are dynamically organized into context buckets based on their #tags (e.g. #calls, #errands, #focus, #waiting, #someday) and section headings.
  4. Artificial "overdue" alert styling is subdued, allowing you to choose actions based on your current physical context, energy level, and available time.

4. Building Dynamic Task Quarries

In addition to the built-in GTD view, you can use Quarries (/app/quarries) to build tailored views over your task catalog:

  • Next Actions Kanban: Filter rowType: tasks, status: Pending, grouped by section.
  • Waiting For List: Filter rowType: tasks, tag #waiting, sorted by recent updates.
  • Someday / Maybe Table: Filter rowType: tasks, tag #someday.

Once saved, any Task Quarry can be selected directly from the Filter & Task Quarries dropdown on the Tasks page to instantly transform your task board into a focused custom queue.

5. The Low-Maintenance Weekly Review

GTD relies on a regular Weekly Review to keep your queues trustworthy:

  1. Empty Your Inboxes: Process items in Capture Inbox and GTD/Inbox.md. Decide if each item is actionable, delegable, deferrable, or archival.
  2. Review Next Actions: Check off completed items in GTD/Next.md and clarify new next physical steps.
  3. Audit Waiting For: Follow up on items in GTD/Waiting.md.
  4. Use AI Intelligence: Run the built-in tasks-decisions task or a custom Prompt Recipe on project notes or meeting transcripts to extract next actions automatically.

1-Click Starter Setup

To automatically create the four GTD notes (GTD/Inbox.md, GTD/Next.md, GTD/Waiting.md, GTD/Someday.md) and preconfigure the saved Task Quarries in your vault, click Setup GTD in the Tasks page filter panel or install the GTD Next Actions pack from the Pack Library (/app/packs).