Set a timer for 20 minutes and write down everything that has your attention, work and personal, big and small. No editing, no organizing, no deciding whether something “belongs”, if it crossed your mind, it goes on the list. Include things you’re waiting on from other people (that report you sent for review becomes “follow up with them”). Don’t stop to judge or refine; just drain your head onto the page. Keep whatever you end up with. It’s the raw material for everything that follows. I would not be surprised if you can generate 50 to 100 items in this first pass if you try.

Write it on the task worksheet, the last page of the paper templates you can download in 4.4, or in the Tasks tab of the companion spreadsheet in 4.3 if you’d rather type. You’ll keep adding to the same sheet through Part 3, then load it into a tool in Part 4. Plain paper works too.