I do use Things but there are many ways to use it for GTD. I’m in the middle of simplifying my setup, so right now work and personal are set up a bit differently. The important thing is how you think you should set it up, and whether that way works for you. So please tell us how you’ve got Things set up, what’s going wrong, and what’s right.I'am using Things 3 for my GTD setup (todo, projects, waiting for, recurring). Works great but I'am having trouble getting my 'Projects' in order and overview my next actions. Can you share your Things 3 'Projects' setup for inspiration?
I started from using Things Projects functionality as Projects and tags for contexts. But as volume grows I found 2 main issues:
The idea is that possible future actions can be stored with the project as project support. You can also store information with the project. This is a bit clumsy, but it does give a clean next actions list, organized by context. I’ve used this set-up, and it’s workable, but I no longer use it. Currently, I use Things pretty much the way Cultured Code recommends, which is close to the “alternative set-up” in the GTD guide.Hello !
I’m pretty new to the GTD system and I’m currently reading DA’s book.
By the way I’ve also read the GTD Setup guide for things 3.
In things 3 if you create a “project” you can add “activities”. For each activity you have the possibility to:
- add a textual note
- add a bullet list
In the things 3 setup guide it’s suggested to add projects as things 3 activities inside a things 3 project called “Projects”.
Then one can use the note/bullet list for the given project plan/support BUT NOT for current next actions or waiting for which need to be tracked under the proper context list.
If one has to create a next action related to a project it assigns the same tag both to the project and to the next action, and then has to place the next action inside the proper context.
HeSo, it’s not clear to me why bothering using the bullet-list at all since I have to create the next actions in other places.
Can someone clarify better on that ? It seems the projects are just placeholder.
Thanks
F.
Hey !The idea is that possible future actions can be stored with the project as project support. You can also store information with the project. This is a bit clumsy, but it does give a clean next actions list, organized by context. I’ve used this set-up, and it’s workable, but I no longer use it. Currently, I use Things pretty much the way Cultured Code recommends, which is close to the “alternative set-up” in the GTD guide.
Link: Getting Productive with ThingsHey !
thanks, for your input ! What do you mean by “the way cultured code recommends” ? Could you please point me to any document/website related to that ?
thanks again
f
One of the things I did which made everything a lot easier in Things was to reduce the number of Areas I use in Things to four: Work, Us, Me, Everyone. I have around 10 Areas of Focus (level 2), so for example Us (my wife & I) includes travel. household, and finances. I also push projects into the future, either someday/maybe or a later scheduled start. Much easier to see what I’ve said “Yes, Now” to, and to spot things that need some TLC.For my Projects, I group 'em by areas of my life (like "Work," "Personal," "Hobbies"). Within each, I break it down further. For next actions, I always tag 'em and review daily. Helps me stay on track.
Do you mean that each project has a tag applied to next actions? Or that projects and next actions get area tags? Or something else?Put contextes at the top like DA proposed
Then areas contening projects as it is usually set by cultured code
and use tags for linking the next action to the project
Then you have the best of the 2 worlds
I found it
Faster than using tags for context
Intuitive
It makes the following of project easier.
The very next action goes into the context list eg Call + There is a tag about the project eg Project xDo you mean that each project has a tag applied to next actions? Or that projects and next actions get area tags? Or something else?
I’m frustrated by the way Things displays your tags/contexts on mobile. I like the fact that OmniFocus has perspectives that allow for a context list without having to take so many steps. I know these lists are contained within things and Todoist for example, but it’s the hassle of digging for them.If I compare the way I work with Omnifocus and Things 3 there is no real difference. It is really a question of feeling.
However there are some core differences :
- Things is better for organizing stuff into project planning and doing stuff and very friendly on daily use.
- Omnifocus is better for managing datas and Context list are easier for GTD. Omnifocus needs more effort to maintain but is indeed more powerful thanks to its perspective eg Getting a project list sort alphabetically, see all what was created today or yesterday or even before... See a list of all done items and when... It is more complicated than things but it is also more professional.
Things is an incredible software very well thought and intuitive too. If you make it simple it is very easy to maintain.
I still have a problem about using and making widget. It seems to be possible to make some automation which could make what I made with OF
However, I really can't move to Things. Omnifocus is really great for my use even if it is sometime cumbersome and non intuitive...
I think most people would like to see tags on at least iPad, but it hasn’t happened. I keep checking on the Omnifocus 4 beta, but so far I don’t feel much attraction. Although filtering by tag (context) only takes 3 taps in Things, it somehow seems like a lot of work. So we have choices, but not perfect ones.I’m frustrated by the way Things displays your tags/contexts on mobile. I like the fact that OmniFocus has perspectives that allow for a context list without having to take so many steps. I know these lists are contained within things and Todoist for example, but it’s the hassle of digging for them.