Check the available slot

An afternoon without commitments appears and, all of a sudden, possibilities pile up: reading, going for a walk, watching a movie, finishing something pending, or doing nothing in particular. Before deciding, it can help to check the real context: how much time is left? Where will you be? What do you feel like doing now?

This way of choosing takes as a reference the explanation by David Allen Company on how to consider context, available time, energy, and priorities when deciding what to do within the GTD flow. Here we adapt it to personal time: not to turn leisure into another obligation, but to see which options fit the moment. There is no need to classify one activity as more valuable than another.

Separate ideas by practical conditions

A short list can serve to recognize options without turning them into commitments. For example:

  • At home: read a few pages, put on a movie, or rest.
  • Nearby: take a walk or go to a place you fancy.
  • With reservation: save an idea that needs to be reserved for another day.
  • With company: note down who you would like to propose a plan to.

These are examples, not a fixed formula. You can change the categories or write only the essentials to remember each option. If an idea requires a long trip and the afternoon is not enough for it, you can save it for another occasion; it does not mean that things went wrong.

Consult before assuming a plan is agreed

The fact that an activity appears on a list does not mean that a shared plan already exists. If you want to do something with other people, consult them before assuming it is agreed upon. The list can collect a pending invitation, but it does not replace the response of those who would participate.

Leave space unscheduled

You can also leave part of the afternoon unassigned, or not plan it at all. When reviewing the list, ask yourself if it helps you choose or if it starts to look like a collection of chores. You can delete ideas that no longer interest you, keep fewer alternatives, or leave a single invitation for later. None of these decisions demonstrates a lack of consistency.

This adaptation does not summarize all components of GTD nor does it intend to prove that a template improves well-being. Its utility here is more modest: making time, place, and preferences visible before choosing. To learn about the original approach, consult Choosing what to do, by David Allen Company.