Calendar / Action List confusion

  • Thread starter Thread starter iTISTIC
  • Start date Start date
I

iTISTIC

Guest
I am a little confused as to how to differentiate between items I should make Next Actions, and items that should go on the calendar, specifically items with set due dates.

I just purchased and read David's Outlook Implementation PDF. In there, it states all items that are date-specific, or have due dates associated with them should be placed on the calendar. This is a good idea. The problem, though, lies in the fact that you won't see it again until you get to the due date. The PDF suggests putting a reminder event on the calendar before the due date, but doing more than one of these seems a bit much.

Should I put these items on a Next Action list AND on the calendar? By doing this the action will be staring me in the face on the Next Action list until it is completed, and the due date will still be on the calendar, as well as being stored on the Next Action itself.

Just wondering how everyone else handles this.
 
iTISTIC said:
Should I put these items on a Next Action list AND on the calendar? By doing this the action will be staring me in the face on the Next Action list until it is completed, and the due date will still be on the calendar, as well as being stored on the Next Action itself.
Click to expand...
That seems like the best procedure to me.
 
I might put the event on my calendar with a reminder set for the day(s) before, then it goes to waiting or tickle. If there is some specific preparation I need to do for the event, I would make that another next action.
 
Within tasks in Outlook you can set both a start date and a due date. If you set the start date when you first want to see the task and the due date on when it's really due, this should solve the problem.
 
In my Weekly Review, I review my calendar 4 weeks in advance as well as two weeks past to see if there are things I need to review and/or take action on. This keeps me ahead of the curve on things like you mention.
 
I always review my calendar before reviewing my action lists to make sure that anything that needs to get done today or at a particular time gets handled before moving on to things that can be done during discretionary time. I put all deadlines and appointments on my calendar, but also assign due dates in the Palm's ToDo entries when they apply. I never assign fake, "motivational" due dates; only real deadlines.
 
I place the item in my calendar on the date it is to show up, during my weekly review I will check the upcoming week to see if there is anything that needs attention.

If it something like tickets for whatever, IIRC there would be a note / nextaction on the date that would allow enough time for followup or to have them 'FedEx'ed' to me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top