Getting Things Done - Ep 348: Review the Review (Feb 4, 2026)

Host: John Forester
Guest: Ana Maria Gonzalez

Episode Overview

In this episode, John Forester and Ana Maria Gonzalez take a deep dive into the "Weekly Review"—a core component of the Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology. Rather than guiding listeners through a review step-by-step, they examine the thought process behind each stage, practical nuances, and common struggles. The tone is conversational, practical, and full of insights, with encouragement to customize the practice to fit one's own reality.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Purpose of the Episode and the Weekly Review

• The aim is to deepen listeners’ understanding of the weekly review, making completion easier by examining the "why" behind each step.
• The weekly review isn’t meant to be rigid but can be adapted to current circumstances and personal needs.
• Life circumstances change, so every weekly review may look different.

2. Step 1: Get Clear

(Beginning at 03:40)

• "Get Clear" is seen as a just-in-case safety net for tidying up your physical, digital, and mental inboxes.
• If everything is already tidy and up-to-date, don’t force yourself to find something to process—move ahead.
• Quote (05:57):
  John: "Generally, in GTD, there's no reason to torment yourself about anything, period."
• The weekly review can reveal if your day-to-day GTD habits (like getting 'in' to zero) are working.
• If you’re pressed for time, it’s better to jump straight to "Get Current" rather than spend all available time clarifying and organizing.
• "Get Clear" includes:
  • Gathering loose physical materials (desk, car, bags, entryway surfaces)
  • Consolidating digital 'in' items (multiple email inboxes, voicemails, social media, photos, etc.)
  • Emptying your head (mind sweep of anything unprocessed)
• Quote (10:57):
  John: "Your car, glove compartment ... tend to collect things."

3. Step 2: Get Current

(17:58 onwards)

• The "Get Current" portion isn’t strictly ordered—pick the sequence that works for you.

• Review Next Actions List

  • Mark off completed items and add any forgotten actions.
  • Ensure each next action reminder is clear, complete, and starts with an actionable verb.
  • Quote (20:21):
    John: "Most people we know ... want to mark off what they've done as soon as they do it. Just because immediately it recovers that kind of energy ... Way to go. You did great."
  • Use example verb lists for clarity.

• Review Calendar (Previous and Upcoming)

  • Check for incomplete actions from the past week and prep appropriately for future commitments.
  • Looking ahead reduces last-minute rushes and stress.
  • Quote (33:24): Ana Maria: "It's to make sure that week ... doesn't have any residual behind. Everything was completed, everything was done or was reorganized or was renegotiated."

• Review Waiting For List

  • Mark received items; follow up on outstanding deliverables.
  • Structure reminders with "who, since when, and what."
  • Add real due dates only when there's an actual agreement.
  • Quote (35:55): Ana Maria: "Typically during my weekly review my waiting for gets updated as in marking up a bunch of completed items."

• Review Projects/Outcomes List

  • Spend the most time here, ensuring every project has at least one next action.
  • Projects should be titled with an outcome-defining verb (e.g., "Finalize Q2 Report").
  • Quote (43:46): Ana Maria: "Your projects list is the driver of your weekly review. So if there's one list that you want to spend the most time and give it the most attention of all lists ... that's your projects list."
  • Next actions must be truly 'next'—not dependent on other incomplete tasks.
  • Quote (45:45): John: "There may be projects you have where you have more than one next action ... But ... make sure that each one of those truly is a next action."
  • Be flexible with how you phrase/structure project titles, but include completion clarity.

• Review Checklists

  • Checklists (packing lists, process lists, etc.) are tailored and evolve as you discover your needs.
  • Add forgotten items over time.
  • Quote (52:26): Ana Maria: "With checklists, this is the world to be discovered. You can have anywhere from one checklist ... to 100 checklists."

4. Step 3: Get Creative

(53:40 onwards)

• Creativity and new ideas naturally arise once you’ve decluttered and organized—don’t force it.
• The "Someday/Maybe" list is a powerful tool for dreams, ideas, and not-yet-committed projects.
• You can subdivide Someday/Maybe by category or timeframe for ease of review.
• Quote (57:12): John: "Doing the steps in the review leading up to be creative and courageous gives you so much room, so much space in your psyche for being creative."

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On making the review work for you:
  Ana Maria (05:57): “Not every week is the same week. So with Get Clear, I always like to remind folks … it's more of a step that it's thought of as a just in case.”
• On completing the review efficiently:
  John (07:21): “If you just get the habit of getting your INs to zero regularly, you find that developing the weekly review habit just is much easier for you.”
• On project vs. next actions lists:
  Ana Maria (24:12): “Not only want to mark off completed actions, but also add whatever it is that as you are looking at your list, you're being triggered or prompted ... the list reminds you of that whatever that you forgot.”
• On creative space:
  John (57:12): “You'll find that the more consistently you do the review, the more your creativity will have permission to show up because you'll know that you're complete and current with everything else you've committed to.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:10] Episode overview & approach to the weekly review
• [03:40] Introduction to "Get Clear" and its flexibility
• [05:57] Avoiding self-torment in GTD; mind sweeps; practical implications
• [10:57] Gathering physical materials (trouble spots: car, home entryways, bags)
• [17:58] Transition to "Get Current," flexible order of steps
• [20:21] Energy of marking actions complete; clarity in next actions
• [24:08] Crafting full, actionable reminders and kindness to your future self
• [28:12] Logic of reviewing Next Actions before Projects; but flexibility if you prefer otherwise
• [33:24] Deep dive into calendar review—previous and upcoming, for clearing and prepping
• [35:55] Waiting For list best practices; follow-ups; using due dates wisely
• [40:36] Project list as the "driver" of the review; importance of regular review to reduce peaks/stress
• [43:53] Benefits of stable project progress
• [45:45] Pitfalls of premature next actions; keeping lists 'next' and not 'someday'
• [49:25] Verbs and outcome phrasing in project titles; customizing for your brain
• [52:26] Checklists—ever-expanding, adaptable, and personal
• [53:40] Get Creative: The natural outflow of clear, current systems; optimized for new ideas
• [57:12] Creativity as the reward for regular reviews

Takeaways for Listeners

• The weekly review is highly personal and adaptive—make it your own.
• Focus on regular maintenance to reduce review overwhelm.
• Clarity, precision, and completeness in managing actions, projects, and commitments yield more reliable outcomes and lower stress.
• Being methodical about reviewing means fewer last-minute emergencies and more room for creativity.
• Your system evolves—review checklists and methodologies as needed.

Final Words:
Ana Maria (57:46): "Hopefully I gave you a little more color around the review. As I said, all of this includes an etc. Because I'm sure there's more."
John: "Just like the painting behind you, you've added a lot of color to the whole weekly review checklist."

For anyone seeking to master or refresh their GTD weekly review, this episode is a trove of real-life application, practical wisdom, and supportive encouragement.