'my new rules' for habit of a daily 6 point list. version 1

"f you are that rare person who has only twenty-five next actions, a single Next Actions list might suffice."

I have ad hd symptoms

so I struggle with very long lists?

are you saying it would help if I used less lists Sarah?

have I missed something?

That quote is saying that it’s ok to have a short Next Action list and it doesn’t necessarily need to be categorized by context.

In GTD, daily to do lists are not encouraged (USA 2015 book page 9).

In GTD, we keep a master list of our Next Actions. It is important to make sure that all the items on this list are things to be done, and not ideas or thoughts whose next action is not yet clarified. (Page 19)

That quote, “If you are that rare person who has only twenty-five next actions, a single Next Actions list might suffice.” is from the section discussing contexts (or categories) for our lists (page 147) This quote contains actions that include @Errand, @Agenda, and @Work.

It’s saying that you don’t necessarily need to divide your Next Action lists by category (or contexts) if you only have a few items. However, I would say it’s essential to keep a list that contains only true Next Actions - not other thoughts or ideas that are not yet clarified.

For example, when I was preparing for my niece’s wedding, I considered all my other lists to be “someday/maybe” and focused only on my “Niece Wedding” list. It included errands, orders, and at-home Next Actions. By keeping all the actions on one list, I was better able to prioritize, plan, and efficiently complete those tasks needed to prepare for the wedding. That list had much fewer than 25 items on it.

I also want to mention that choosing three top actions to focus on is consistent with GTD and is different than a daily to do list.
 
Last edited:
That quote is saying that it’s ok to have a short Next Action list and it doesn’t necessarily need to be categorized by context.

In GTD, daily to do lists are not encouraged (USA 2015 book page 9).

In GTD, we keep a master list of our Next Actions. It is important to make sure that all the items on this list are things to be done, and not ideas or thoughts whose next action is not yet clarified. (Page 19)

That quote, “If you are that rare person who has only twenty-five next actions, a single Next Actions list might suffice.” is from the section discussing contexts (or categories) for our lists (page 147) This quote contains actions that include @Errand, @Agenda, and @Work.

It’s saying that you don’t necessarily need to divide your Next Action lists by category (or contexts) if you only have a few items. However, I would say it’s essential to keep a list that contains only true Next Actions - not other thoughts or ideas that are not yet clarified.

For example, when I was preparing for my niece’s wedding, I considered all my other lists to be “someday/maybe” and focused only on my “Niece Wedding” list. It included errands, orders, and at-home Next Actions. By keeping all the actions on one list, I was better able to prioritize, plan, and efficiently complete those tasks needed to prepare for the wedding. That list had much fewer than 25 items on it.

I also want to mention that choosing three top actions to focus on is consistent with GTD and is different than a daily to do list.
l L
 
The way I view it, is that my lists are important so that i don’t lose track of what i need to do. Then, on a weekly/daily basis, I review my lists to determine what I want to work on based on context, energy, and available time.
 
The way I view it, is that my lists are important so that i don’t lose track of what i need to do. Then, on a weekly/daily basis, I review my lists to determine what I want to work on based on context, energy, and available time.

right
but i have ADHD
and feel my life is hell

' i herd?
 
right
but i have ADHD
and feel my life is hell

' i herd?
@TimBourne

Most . . . perhaps all . . . have some intrinsic 'gift(s)' to overcome ?

While life can often 'feel' like mud . . . fortunately, even when it hurts, being able to plant something beautiful in one's mud is possible . . . get 'busy' and plant, plant, plant ?

Peace . . . Mind Like Water can be great for watering the plant(s)?

Thank you very much

As you see GTD fit. . . .
 
@TimBourne

Most . . . perhaps all . . . have some intrinsic 'gift(s)' to overcome ?

While life can often 'feel' like mud . . . fortunately, even when it hurts, being able to plant something beautiful in one's mud is possible . . . get 'busy' and plant, plant, plant ?

Peace . . . Mind Like Water can be great for watering the plant(s)?

Thank you very much

As you see GTD fit. . . .

?
get busy?

means what?

either checking or creating?

While life can often 'feel' like mud . . . fortunately, even when it hurts, being able to plant something beautiful in one's mud is possible . . . get 'busy' and plant, plant, plant ?

?
 
?
get busy?

means what?

either checking or creating?

While life can often 'feel' like mud . . . fortunately, even when it hurts, being able to plant something beautiful in one's mud is possible . . . get 'busy' and plant, plant, plant ?

?
@TimBourne

Thank you very much for your very good GTD post


1. Project: ADHD Mastering

2. Outcome: What Does Mastering ADHD look like ?

3. Nex Action: ?


Again, thank you very much

As you see GTD fit. . . .
 
"
2. Outcome: What Does Mastering ADHD look like ?
"

sort out my paper binder?
@TimBourne

" 2. Outcome: What Does Mastering ADHD look like ? "

For anyone who has ADHD difficulties and wants to overcome this particular difficulty, it would be help to know what that could mean

Perhaps a couple of worthy Outcome considerations ?:


To be able to Control one's Attention with greater Ease

To be able to Review Next Actions before starting any Next Action

To appropriately Complete started Next Actions to Completion

These are only examples that might be of interest . . . everyone needs to decide for themselves

Thank you very much

As you see GTD fit. . . .
 
@TimBourne

" 2. Outcome: What Does Mastering ADHD look like ? "

For anyone who has ADHD difficulties and wants to overcome this particular difficulty, it would be help to know what that could mean

Perhaps a couple of worthy Outcome considerations ?:

what?
To be able to Control one's Attention with greater Ease

To be able to Review Next Actions before starting any Next Action

i should review all next actions?

but I probably have a total of maybe
10 -20 different places physically
or digitally which done next actions - i wouldn't be able to review them all?

To appropriately Complete started Next Actions to Completion

would be hard?
These are only examples that might be of interest . . . everyone needs to decide for themselves

Thank you very much

As you see GTD fit. . . .
right?
 
what?


i should review all next actions?

but I probably have a total of maybe
10 -20 different places physically
or digitally which done next actions - i wouldn't be able to review them all?



would be hard?

right?
@TimBourne

It's your Next Action list to Review as you see fit

At first it might take a 'extra' time to Review your Next Action list . . . however if you were to do it might help with ADHD for focusing . . . if that's what you want to do

With practice, it will likely take less-&-ess time with the added benefit of not wondering about what is not getting done

As you see GTD fit. . . .
 
I personally wouldn't put "do the dishes" on a reminder list because I don't need a reminder for that. Folding the laundry on the other hand... I do have a to-do list of things that need to be done today, but they can be done at any time today. It's one list but organized by context "errands today, house today, phone calls today, etc..."

I have 2 exceptions to the rule of only putting things on the list that I need to be reminded about.
1) If I have my day planned down to the minute. Then I likely can't do it at any time, and dishes may go on the calendar
2) If I'm sick or otherwise unwell. Then I will have written down everything I need done. That way, it's easier to delegate if I have people to help.

It sounds like you are describing a system that isn't working. I would write out every part of the system in that case because I need to figure out where the pain points of the system are and what I can change about it.
 
sort out my paper binder?
You might need to be more specific. Do you know what your binder will look like when it is sorted? If you do, what is the very next action?
"Sort out paper binder" becomes a project on your project list
The very next action to move this project forward goes on your next action list. (in context preferably)
You have just done GTD.
 
i should review all next actions?

but I probably have a total of maybe
10 -20 different places physically
or digitally which done next actions - i wouldn't be able to review them all?
Your next actions should be in one place. Like this example easy to go through during weekly review I probably have 10-20 next actions on each context list (note).1750550414529.png
 
@TimBourne

It's your Next Action list to Review as you see fit

At first it might take a 'extra' time to Review your Next Action list . . . however if you were to do it might help with ADHD for focusing . . . if that's what you want to do

With practice, it will likely take less-&-ess time with the added benefit of not wondering about what is not getting done

As you see GTD fit. . . .

' I could try to list all the places "where i have all /any lists


"
your Next Action list to Review as you see fit"

daily habit for my paper not book
and paper binder?

then

Review as you see fit"

- One note # 1st place i think off where i write daily digital notes - is very crammed with data

'i feel overwhelmed



At first it might take a 'extra' time to Review your Next Action list . . . however if you were to do it might help with ADHD for focusing . . . if that's what you want to do

With practice, it will likely take less-&-ess time with the added benefit of not wondering about what is not getting done

As you see GTD fit. . . .


?

IC
 
' I could try to list all the places "where i have all /any lists


"
your Next Action list to Review as you see fit"

daily habit for my paper not book
and paper binder?

then

Review as you see fit"

- One note # 1st place i think off where i write daily digital notes - is very crammed with data

'i feel overwhelmed



At first it might take a 'extra' time to Review your Next Action list . . . however if you were to do it might help with ADHD for focusing . . . if that's what you want to do

With practice, it will likely take less-&-ess time with the added benefit of not wondering about what is not getting done

As you see GTD fit. . . .


?

IC
@TimBourne

Slow-&-Small to reduce Becoming-&-Being overwhelmed ?

Thank you very much

As you see GTD fit. . . .
 
@TimBourne

Slow-&-Small to reduce Becoming-&-Being overwhelmed ?

Thank you very much

As you see GTD fit. . . .
' right you know nothing about one note?
or any ideas to improve the digital problem i wrote above?

erm

'Slow-&-Small to reduce Becoming-&-Being overwhelmed ?' so starting with physical lists first is the way to go?
 
' right you know nothing about one note?
or any ideas to improve the digital problem i wrote above?

erm

'Slow-&-Small to reduce Becoming-&-Being overwhelmed ?' so starting with physical lists first is the way to go?
@TimBourne

On this end, have found particular applications waste too much time

Thus, for optimal Control-&-Flexibility have found Copy-Paper, Docs, and sometimes Sheets to be sufficient

Thank you very much

As you see GTD fit. . . .
 
@TimBourne

On this end, have found particular applications waste too much time

Thus, for optimal Control-&-Flexibility have found Copy-Paper, Docs, and sometimes Sheets to be sufficient

Thank you very much

As you see GTD fit. . . .
by sheets you mean google sheets?
i don't have word docs on my laptop

cpy-paper - you mean printing paper

his end, have found particular applications waste too much time' - so i should try to remove them?
 
Top