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Getting Things Done

Ep. 227: Slice of GTD Life - Melissa Garner

Oct 4, 2023
Melissa Garner, the Director of IT Governance, Policy & Strategy at the Oregon Department of Education, shares her passion for productivity. She highlights the importance of shared calendars for family coordination and enhancing remote work communications. Garner discusses her unique GTD system in OneNote, adapting productivity techniques to navigate life changes after overcoming leukemia. Additionally, she dives into blending digital and paper organization for optimal task management, emphasizing how motivation plays a crucial role in workplace productivity.
35:40
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Episode guests

Melissa Garner

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The importance of regularly updating and adapting the GTD system to meet changing needs and circumstances.
  • The value of using Microsoft OneNote for organizing work and personal life, including capturing handwritten notes and incorporating bullet journaling.

Deep dives

Melissa's Approach to GTD

Melissa, the director of governance policy and strategy for IT at the Oregon Department of Education, discusses her approach to GTD. She talks about how she schedules time to think, but often gets interrupted by collaborative work. She emphasizes the importance of keeping her team status updated so that her staff knows when they can interrupt her. Melissa also mentions using Microsoft Teams for communication and shares her experience with transitioning to Microsoft 365 suite. She highlights the need for adaptability and regularly updating her GTD system, including archiving and starting anew after a stem cell transplant. Melissa mentions how she encourages a GTD-friendly culture among her staff, but acknowledges that change must come from within each individual.

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