Capture every open loop
Move commitments, ideas, follow-ups, and concerns from memory and scattered surfaces into one processing queue.
Cal Newport's Planning System
From Cal Newport. Watch here or open it on YouTube .
During the course primer, listen for ideas that change how you approach “Capture every open loop.” Pause once to capture a useful point, then apply it while producing a complete first capture inbox, capture rule, and daily processing appointment.What this lesson is really solving.
Move commitments, ideas, follow-ups, and concerns from memory and scattered surfaces into one processing queue. This is lesson 1 because later decisions depend on a complete first capture inbox, capture rule, and daily processing appointment. Capture is an inbox, not a plan; first collect, then decide. Use your own numbers, files, environment, and constraints so the result survives outside the course.
Understand the idea before touching the steps.
Capture is an inbox, not a plan; first collect, then decide.
Follow these steps in order.
Take the action in each step; then use the deliverable below to prove the lesson is finished.
- 1
Sweep email flags, messages, notes, browser tabs, paper, calendars, downloads, desks, and memory for unfinished or possible work.
- 2
Write each item in plain language without trying to organize during collection.
- 3
Choose one fast capture method for mobile, desktop, and offline moments.
- 4
Set a daily processing point so the inbox does not become a second forgotten list.
See the standard in context.
Imani sweeps six apps and two notebooks into one temporary queue, then pins a single quick-capture shortcut to the phone. The learner saves a complete first capture inbox, capture rule, and daily processing appointment and notes the evidence or assumption behind the choice so it can be reviewed and improved later.
Inspect before you move on.
- The finished work visibly includes a complete first capture inbox, capture rule, and daily processing appointment.
- You tested the work against this common failure: Creating separate inboxes for every area and spending more time deciding where to capture than recording the thought.
- Another person could verify this mastery standard: A new commitment can be captured in seconds and will reach a scheduled decision point without relying on memory.
Your deliverable
A complete first capture inbox, capture rule, and daily processing appointment.
Watch for this
Creating separate inboxes for every area and spending more time deciding where to capture than recording the thought.
Prove it—don’t just recognize it.
A new commitment can be captured in seconds and will reach a scheduled decision point without relying on memory.
Quick knowledge check
Answer from the lesson—not from confidence alone. Score at least 2 of 3 to unlock completion.
This curriculum-aligned check is scored automatically and stored with your account when signed in. It is an objective learning signal, but it has not yet been independently validated as a standardized assessment.
Tools, templates, and references
Pass the knowledge check above first.
Completion unlocks after a score of 2 out of 3. Then confirm that you produced the lesson deliverable.
Go to the knowledge check