Why is the weekly review so hard to start?

[chris345]

I have a file folder labelled "GTD" where I keep a weekly review checklist. It's the checklist from the book plus my own checklist items. I don't do weekly review on my paid job as it's interrupt-driven and there's nothing to review on a weekly basis. But I try to do a weekly review for my home projects in my home office. My only problem is interruption and it's hard to find two solid hours to sit down and actually do the review. But it feels great when you do it and you know you are on top of things.

[ihunter]

On one of the podcasts, I forget who said it, but the point was made that if you don't schedule your weekly review, you'll wind up doing it ad hoc all week.

[Noel]

Remember, it's not about planning every step that needs to get done on every project. Focus first on only the very first concrete action. You will feel a great relief just doing that properly. If after you've done that for every project you notice that something in particular is still on your mind then focus on just those projects a little further, but that part can be done later when you notice you still need to clarify a project a little more. And definitely don't put yourself in a box with an arbitrary deadline, that just creates more stress and resistance to the Weekly Review.

The Weekly Review should be fun because if you do it right because you'll know how great it feels when you're done.

One other thing that others have mentioned already, definitely have a checklist that walks you through the process. Oh and for heaven's sake, don't DO anything during your weekly review, even two minute things should get organized. I would say that during the review the cut off for doing something should be around 30 secs or else the review can take much longer. I take the 2 min rule to be for when stuff happens during the week, for those it's definitely worth doing them on the spot but during a review avoid doing at all costs.

[productivity]

I had a similar problem when I first started GTD-ing - I didn't know where to start on my Weekly Review. As mentioned above, if you follow the plan in the book, that makes things much much easier.

I actually agree with you there. But the hardest thing in following a plan is sticking to it all throughout. Discipline is the key.

[TesTeq]

I do not think it's difficult to start the first Weekly Review. The key is to start the second, third, fourth and so on - weekly.

[smithshn]

GTD stands for the Getting Things Done.
It is just a resistance feeling.
It seems too huge to be useful in a reasonable amount of time.
And also split up my review and do one of the items at a time.