I am organizing my N/A lists and projects list using a simple outliner program. The way the outliner works is tempting me to combine the two lists into one. I think this would be possible because the result would be a list of things to work on, some of which would be discrete next actions and other items would be project titles. Clicking on any project title would pop open it's own list of actions and project's next action would then be immediately visible (along with all the following actions that have been planned). Since the elements of the project are visible at a click, this really combines the project planning support material into the same document as well, making it pretty comprehensive, but also hiding the levels of detail that are not needed at any time.
I realize this is a significant departure from the GTD method because I would not be looking at a list of discrete next actions, but rather a list of mostly project titles. I can see this being a disadvantage, but on the other hand, the projects are what have significance and maybe it makes sense to first pick out which project I should be working on and then, with a click, see what the next action for that project is. It would also save transferring actions to the N/A list.
The downside is that the list might then look like a bunch of undable stuff that would be demotivating. So I am wondering if this makes sense and if anyone else is doing anything similar. I am definitely not looking for a different software solution such as LifeBalance, etc. even though that may be a very good product. I have decided to implement GTD with whatever tools I already own and am comfortable with, which includes paper, a Palm PDA with a simple outliner (called "Progect") and a Desktop PC with standard Office applications.
Thanks for any comments or opinions.
I realize this is a significant departure from the GTD method because I would not be looking at a list of discrete next actions, but rather a list of mostly project titles. I can see this being a disadvantage, but on the other hand, the projects are what have significance and maybe it makes sense to first pick out which project I should be working on and then, with a click, see what the next action for that project is. It would also save transferring actions to the N/A list.
The downside is that the list might then look like a bunch of undable stuff that would be demotivating. So I am wondering if this makes sense and if anyone else is doing anything similar. I am definitely not looking for a different software solution such as LifeBalance, etc. even though that may be a very good product. I have decided to implement GTD with whatever tools I already own and am comfortable with, which includes paper, a Palm PDA with a simple outliner (called "Progect") and a Desktop PC with standard Office applications.
Thanks for any comments or opinions.