The GTD Method for Web Content
David Allen's Getting Things Done (GTD) transformed personal productivity. Here's how to apply it specifically to web content management.
The GTD Promise
"Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them." This applies doubly to web content—you can't remember 500 articles.
The Five Steps of GTD
1. Capture
Everything that catches your attention goes into your system:
For Web Content:
- Interesting articles
- Research materials
- Background reading
- Reference documents
- Inspiration
Use PageStash's extension: one click captures the complete page. No friction = consistent capture habit.
2. Clarify
Process your captures:
Is it actionable?
- Yes → What's the next action?
- No → Reference, Someday/Maybe, or Trash
For Most Web Content: It's reference material
Ask: "Why did I save this?"
- For current project → Tag with project
- For background knowledge → File in appropriate area
- For someday reading → Someday/Maybe folder
- Can't remember? → Delete it
3. Organize
GTD's organizing principle for reference material:
Projects: Active work (complete within year) Areas: Ongoing responsibilities Resources: Topics of interest Archives: Completed or inactive
Example Structure:
- Projects/Q4-Marketing-Campaign
- Areas/Competitive-Intelligence
- Resources/Design-Inspiration
- Archive/2024-Completed
Keep it simple. Complex hierarchies break down.
4. Reflect
Weekly Review (30-60 min):
Review this week's captures:
- Still relevant? Keep it
- Used it? Archive or delete
- Needs action? Create task
- Reveals pattern? Note it
Without review, your system becomes a pile of stuff.
Monthly Review (90 min):
- Clean up quick-capture inbox
- Archive completed projects
- Update your organization structure
- Celebrate what you've learned
5. Engage
Use your system with confidence:
Need something? Search and find it instantly Working on project? All materials in one place Making decision? All context at hand
Web-Specific GTD Techniques
The Inbox Workflow
Save everything to Inbox initially. Weekly review processes it:
- Open each capture
- Ask: "What is this? Why does it matter?"
- Tag and move to proper location
- Add context notes if needed
- Link to related items
Process to zero weekly.
The Reference System
Most web content is reference material:
Active Reference: Current projects, frequent access Background Reference: General knowledge, occasional use Archive: Historical, rare access
PageStash's search means deep archives stay accessible.
The Read/Review Lists
Read/Review folder for:
- Articles saved for reading
- Research to summarize
- Content to extract insights from
Process regularly—don't let it become a guilt pile.
Set realistic goals: 3-5 articles per week, not 50.
The Someday/Maybe Folder
Interesting but not urgent:
- Topics to explore someday
- Possible future projects
- Inspiration to revisit
Review quarterly. Delete ruthlessly.
GTD Horizons for Web Content
Horizon 5: Life purpose → What knowledge truly matters?
Horizon 4: Long-term vision (3-5 years) → What expertise am I building?
Horizon 3: 1-2 year goals → What research supports my goals?
Horizon 2: Areas of focus → What topics do I track ongoing?
Horizon 1: Current projects → What research do I need now?
Ground: Current actions → What needs processing today?
Align your web content system with your horizons.
The Two-Minute Rule
If processing a saved page will take less than 2 minutes, do it now:
- Quick read → Extract key insight, archive or delete
- Simple reference → Tag and file immediately
- Clear not relevant → Delete
Don't defer what's faster to do.
Staying Current vs. Collecting
GTD is about trusted system, not perfect system:
Collect freely: Zero friction to capture Process ruthlessly: Delete what doesn't serve you Organize simply: Find fast, not perfect categories Review regularly: System stays current Use confidently: Trust your system has what you need
Common GTD Mistakes
❌ Over-organizing instead of using ❌ Skipping weekly review (system becomes stale) ❌ Keeping everything (hoarder's guilt) ❌ Complex tagging schemes (simple wins) ❌ Not trusting your system (defeats the purpose)
GTD Tools for Web Content
For Capture: PageStash extension (frictionless) For Organization: Folders + tags (simple scales) For Search: Full-text search (find anything instantly) For Review: Weekly ritual (30-60 min blocked time)
Integration with Complete GTD System
PageStash complements your task manager:
Task Manager: Actions, projects, next steps Page Pouch: Reference materials, research, background
They work together—tasks reference saved content.
Start Your GTD Web System
Week 1:
- Set up PARA folders (Projects/Areas/Resources/Archive)
- Start capturing to Inbox
- Schedule weekly review
Week 2:
- Process Inbox to zero
- Tag and organize captures
- Refine your structure
Month 2:
- System becomes habit
- Trust builds
- Mind clears
The GTD Promise Fulfilled
When your web content system works:
✅ Clear mind (externalized into trusted system) ✅ Fast retrieval (find anything in seconds) ✅ Confident decisions (all context at hand) ✅ Stress-free productivity (no "what am I forgetting?")
Ready for Stress-Free Web Research?
PageStash is built for GTD practitioners: frictionless capture, simple organization, powerful search, and review-friendly workflows.
