So how does GTD (getting things done) work?

This is a summarized version, but here it is, PowerPoint-style:

1. Identify all the stuff in your life that isn’t in the right place (close all open loops)
2. Get rid of the stuff that isn’t yours or you don’t need right now
3. Create a right place that you trust and that supports your working style and values
4. Put your stuff in the right place, consistently
5. Do your stuff in a way that honors your time, your energy, and the context of any given moment
6. Iterate and refactor mercilessly

So, basically, you make your stuff into real, actionable items or things you can just get rid of. Everything you keep has a clear reason for being in your life at any given moment—both now and well into the future. This gives you an amazing kind of confidence that a) nothing gets lost and b) you always understand what’s on or off your plate.