GTD Dictionary: Contexts

June 13th 2007

GTD Dictionary

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Context

The circumstances in which an event occurs; a setting
That which surrounds, and gives meaning to, something else

GTD encourages the use of contexts to break down long and expansive to-do lists. Without them where would you start? What would you choose to do at any particular time? By breaking down your lists according to different settings and situations, it becomes a simple matter of selecting a list appropriate to your current context. For instance, if you are near a phone, you only need look at those next actions that require you to make a phonecall.

This also means that it stops you from being distracted by next actions that are not relevant to your current circumstances, for instance, you don’t have to look at home contexts when you are at work.

Contexts can be as simple or as complicated as required. The basic @computer (GTD contexts are typically represented with a @ symbol) can be further split down to @internet and @email contexts if necessary.

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