I’ve been interested in David Allen’s Getting Things Done for a long time. One of the concepts that drive the GTD system is processing the stuff you collect. That is, discerning what each item (email, meeting note, junk mail, or whatever else has your attention) actually is — and deciding what to do about it, if anything.
To that end, a few years ago I created a set of workflow diagram images to use as computer desktop “wallpaper”. Turns out, people still download and use these!
I included an empty space for your folders and files so you can actually see the diagram. And I left the background gray so your icons will stand out clearly against it. There are two versions — one more corporate, one a little funkier.
Go ahead and grab one or all of these. Feel free to share them or link to them, but please don’t publish or alter them without my permission. Many thanks to David Allen, Kelly Forrister and team for their enormous inspiration on a daily basis.
(These are the newer 1920 x 1200 pixel versions for bigger monitors. Let me know if they’re helpful!)
And here is the sans-serif (right well) version if you want to print this out at A4 or 8.5 x 11″
freePress 
Danke, ToolBlog!
Hi Josh,
thanks for the great flowcharts. I´ve created one myself, based on your simplified approach and copied more or less the structure of yours but created it from scrach and altered the look quite a bit.
Would you be ok with you if I published my chart on flickr and twitter, so that people can download and use my version? Ofcourse I can send you the flowchart I created if you wish to look at it before you decide.
All the best from Berlin,
Sebastian
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And flattery will get you ….. a link! Sebastian Scheerer’s version of this chart can be seen here: http://www.filedropper.com/gtdworkflow
Thanks Josh…this is a great background reminder to stay on track and organize decisively on the fly…it’s so easy to get distracted with these machines
Thanks for compliment! Funny…..I work on a Mac and have it set up “old school” I guess….I keep my volumes on the right (where they naturally appear) but move all my folders and stuff to the left side. I know that doesn’t work for people who automatically sort, etc. and if you don’t move the icons around, they do pile up on the right side of the screen. So I will make versions with blank space on the right for those who work that way, and maybe even try that setup myself!
Cool stuff. I plan on using the non-corporate version.
Merry, happy, jolly holidays!
Same to you! I’m glad you found it!
Josh,
This is a nice and useful wallpaper.
Do you also have it in a higher resolution/size?
Bill, the originals are vector files. (Illustrator for Mac.) Mind telling me what resolution you need, and what you need them for?
hi Josh,
I would like to use it as my desktop background but the resolution of my iMac is 1920 x 1200.
Ah. makes sense. As soon as I get a chance, I’ll post higher res versions. Very swamped at the moment so it will take a little while until I can get to it. Thanks! I’m glad you like them!
Nice work indeed !
Thanks Josh.
Bill (and friends), the new higher resolution versions of the GTD workflow diagrams are on the freePress blog and ready to download. Mmmm-mm. Good.
Hi Josh! Thanks for this great charts!
I want to print it for my workplace (non-commercial use :))
May you provide it in a little bit higher resolution for a printing on A4?
If you may do it, this one please gtd-processing-sans-r_1920x1200.jpg 🙂
If it’s not sutible to posting here, you may send it on my e-mail.
I’ll figure something out…probably set up a link to a PDF elsewhere on the web. Things are very, very busy at our firm right now so this may take a while to get to. I’ll post the links here when they’re available. Glad it’s helpful!
zergut, I’ve posted a higher res version on the blog site. Hope it’s helpful!
Josh, thanks a lot! It’s great 🙂
Thanks, Alexander. I’m glad you’re finding the chart helpful!