At the beginning of the day I review the agenda for the day all my context lists using the command C-c a H . This shows first of all any time specific activities for the day, then tasks scheduled for the day, followed by items for each tag. The custom command for this view is:

("H" "Office and Home Lists" ((agenda) (tags-todo "OFFICE") (tags-todo "HOME") (tags-todo "COMPUTER") (tags-todo "DVD") (tags-todo "READING")))

Next I can see the deadline warnings for upcoming events so I can decide to schedule the activity. For example, my home building insurance policy is due in 5 days time:

Financial: In 5 d.: NRMA Home Building Renewal due :OFFICE

I received the reminder notice about 4 weeks ago, but since it was not due until the 18th January, I created a task when I received the bill then placed the document in my bills to pay folder:

** NRMA Home Building Renewal due :OFFICE: DEADLINE: <2009-01-18 Sun>

Therefore I didn't have to worry about forgetting to pay the bill as I knew my system would remind me closer to the event. Now I can decide to pay this bill on Thursday, so I enter the command C-c C-s to schedule the event, and select Thursday's date by entering Thur then pressing Enter. The item will be updated as follows:

** NRMA Home Building Renewal due :OFFICE DEADLINE: <2009-01-18 Sun> SCHEDULED: <2009-01-15 Thu>

After reviewing the date specific items I review the items grouped by tag. The GTD system says you should work from context lists, so when I am at the office I should look at the OFFICE list and just keep working through that.

What I like to do is to select the items i feel I MUST complete today, then shedule them for today. This gives me a list of things I want to achieve today, and as I work through the day I cross off the items and can see progress being made. I strive to have no more than about 15 items on the list otherwise I feel overwhelmed.

Once I have reviewed my lists I create another agenda view which shows just the items scheduled for today but sorted by context. Sometimes I print this list to have a daily plan for crossing off completed items with a highlight pen. I can then carry this printout in my pocket when I am away from my desk, or commuting. This custom command is:

("D" "Daily Action List" ( (agenda "" ((org-agenda-ndays 1) (org-agenda-sorting-strategy (quote ((agenda time-up priority-down tag-up) ))) (org-deadline-warning-days 0) ))))