Quote Originally Posted by AlexanderChow View Post
One thing that makes GTD different from the rest worlds is that you process items before you deal with them.That sometimes put me in frustration. First off, I don't really have the mood to think it through before I really get to it. Second, it gives me a clear goal, context, and fresh memory when I figure out what it is right before I do it. and then I just do it in a continuous way, which keep me good in terms of why I am doing it.
You look at something and think "I don't want to think this through now but once I do I bet I can do it in three hours." So your next action is "Find three hours in my schedule to think through and deal with xxx." That's all you have to do.

I prepare all my course lectures the night before if I can. Why? Because I know it will take me about that much time, and the material will be fresh in my mind the next day. On the other hand, I will have small next actions like "Jot down ideas for midterm" on a list because at some point I will look at that item, have an idea and jot it down. Effective doing is often the path of least resistance.