## Start to Get Organized: The Mind Sweep
Source URL:: <https://facilethings.com/blog/en/the-mind-sweep>
### Highlights
> [!quote]+ %%Updated on Wed Sep 13 2023 17:18:07 GMT-0400%%
>
> However, at the first time—when you decide that enough is enough, that it’s time to start organizing your stuff—, you should perform a complete (or nearly complete) capture of everything that exists in your mind. This is called The Mind Sweep in GTD, i.e. a overall scan of everything holding your attention right now. It consists in identifying anything concerning your work or your personal life which you consider should be different, and put it all in one single place, which we can call the in-basket.
> [!quote]+ %%Updated on Wed Sep 13 2023 17:18:07 GMT-0400%%
>
> This is the “incompletion triggers” list that David Allen recommends you to review every time you need to do a mind sweep:
>Professional stuff:
>
> Projects started, not completed.
> Projects that need to be started.
> Commitments/promises to others (boss, partners, colleagues, subordinates, customers, organizations, professionals…)
> Communications to make/get (phone calls, e-mails, letters, memos, etc.)
> Writing to finish/submit (reports, proposals, articles, promotional materials, instructions, etc.)
> Meetings that need to be set.
> Decisions that have to be made. Who needs to know?
> Significant read/review.
> Financial stuff (budgets, forecasts, statistics, credit line, cash flow, etc.).
> Projects formal planning (goals, targets, objectives).
> Travel.
> Banks.
> Administration (legal issues, insurance, procedures, etc.)
> Customers.
> Marketing.
> Promotion.
> Sales.
> Systems (computers, phones, office equipment).
> Supplies.
> Waiting for… information, delegated tasks, replies, petty cash, ordered items, decisions of others, etc.
> Professional development (training, things to learn, skills to practice.)
> Research.
>
>Personal stuff:
>
> Projects started, not completed.
> Projects that need to be started.
> Commitments/promises to others (spouse, children, family, friends.)
> Communications to make/get with family and friends.
> Upcoming events (birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, travel, social events, cultural events, sporting events, etc.)
> Things to do (places to go, people to meet.)
> Administration (bills, banks, investments, loans, taxes, insurance, legal affairs.)
> Waiting for… orders, repair, loaned items, etc.
> Home/household (plumbing, electricity, decoration, furniture, etc.)
> Computers (software, hardware, connections, internet.)
> TV, VCR.
> Music, CDs.
> Cameras, film.
> Phones.
> Sports equipment.
> Closets/clothes.
> Garage/storage.
> Vehicle repair/maintenance.
> Pets.
> Health care.
> Hobbies (books, music, movies.)
> Errands (drugstore, market, bank, stationer, etc.)
> Community (neighborhood, schools, local government).