Computer contexts and prioritization

[Tom_Hagen]

So in your case, "Pleasant things" is simply a category of your Next Actions. Many people have "Easy" or "Quick" or "Braindead" as a context, they're very common, and this is the same sort of concept. It makes it easier to find the right next action in a given moment.

[...[

I think you're mixing categories. Yes, each of them is a limitation, but they're not the same. For example, "Quick" is a "Time" category, not a "Context" category, and "Brained" is more of an "Energy" category.

 

[bishblaize]

I think you're mixing categories. Yes, each of them is a limitation, but they're not the same. For example, "Quick" is a "Time" category, not a "Context" category, and "Brained" is more of an "Energy" category.

As I say, you can define them however you wish, but you'll often end up talking cross purposes with other people who define these as contexts.

 

[fooddude]

I think you're mixing categories. Yes, each of them is a limitation, but they're not the same. For example, "Quick" is a "Time" category, not a "Context" category, and "Brained" is more of an "Energy" category.

I use the classics @computer, @errands, @home, @phone, @store, @work, and @waiting for.

 

[gtdstudente]

I suggest keeping “must-do” items separate from “can-do” items - this way, you might avoid the need for extra prioritization and you will shorten your primary to-do lists.

@Lucas W.

Along with 'intuition' and "where-do" . . . "must-do" might also be helped with 'when-do [calendar if very, very, very serious about it as a 'when-do' commitment]' ?

Thank you very much

As you see GTD fit. . . .

 

[Lucas W.]

@Lucas W.

Along with 'intuition' and "where-do" . . . "must-do" might also be helped with 'when-do [calendar if very, very, very serious about it as a 'when-do' commitment]' ?

Thank you very much

As you see GTD fit. . . .

Tasks that are more like "it’d be nice to do them" shouldn’t end up on your next actions list.

The same goes for tasks we haven’t fully come to terms with doing - like those that make us uncomfortable for some reason.

Putting these kinds of tasks on our lists isn’t a strategy that’ll magically make you start tackling them - and your calendar is also a kind of list.

This is why people have too long lists, procrastinate, have to additionally prioritize etc.

 

[Oogiem]

Thank you for your replies. I'm a bit puzzled by the lack of priorities. For example, at work I have projects that must be done and those that can be done. Priorities allow me to distinguish one from the other.

In the case of @Oogiem, it's almost begging for context: #Bear and the next action: Talk to the bear that he's behaving badly towards sheep. But that's just my suggestion

Yeah well we know how that goes. The proper deterrent for bear is lead applied rapidly and with sufficient force to permanently deter them from thinking our sheep are on the menu.

I'm a bit puzzled by the lack of priorities.

Priorities are too fluid. The priority when there is a bear attacking trumps anything I might try to set up in my system. Since they change so rapidly and are subjext to external inputs I see no reason to worry about or waste time tryng to set priorities. I am always better at interpreting the current priority in the moment compared to what I thought might be the priority before sheep happens.

 

[TesTeq]

I use the classics @computer, @errands, @home, @phone, @store, @work, and @waiting for.

@fooddude What's the difference between @errands and @store?

 

[fooddude]

@fooddude What's the difference between @errands and @store?

@errands are all out and about errands. It could be Post office mail packages, Pick up dry cleaning, and even go to lowes or walmart. I have the @store for when I'm at a store I can look at list and pick up the item there, if it can be purchased at that store. For example, I can pick up fix a flat at the auto store or Walmart maybe even the grocery store. Yes sometimes they overlap but not often enough to change. In errands i can make a quick note "Lowes" and know to look at store list when I'm there. I don't have to have an @Lowes, @Walmart, @Home Depot @Auto Zone @Kohl's etc. I do Have a Grocery checklist just because I compile that during the week and it is easier than re typing it every time. This keeps it as simple as possible. About 4 years ago I realized my system had grown to be unmanageable. I was working the system more than actually getting things done. So I went back and did just the basics and I guard it closely.

 

[Mike Taku]

Contexts are only partly about limitations. They're more broadly a process of categorisation, storing alike actions together. This makes it easier to organise your work in general.

Sometimes it's helpful to categorise because you can ignore contexts that you cannot do right now, that's true, but that's not the only benefit to it. Sometimes it allows you to do bulk processing of work, such as by rattling out several emails one after another. Or maybe you're logged in to your website, and while you have it open, you knock of the other three Next Actions that you have related to it. Or maybe you just feel like making some phone calls, nothing deeper than that, so that's what you do.

This is particularly true in the modern era, when many people will do 95% of their actions at the same computer. People still find contexts valuable, but it isn't about what they're limited to doing. It's about the increased ability to find the right task, for reasons beyond simple limitations.

So in your case, "Pleasant things" is simply a category of your Next Actions, by my definition. Many people have "Easy" or "Quick" or "Braindead" as a context, they're very common, and this is the same sort of concept. It makes it easier to find the right next action in a given moment.

Ultimately, if you want to consider your examples as priorities not contexts, then it doesn't really matter as long as your system works for you. However it might explain why you believe other people are not using priorities. They may be, by they consider them as contexts.

Hi there, I hope you are doing well,
Can you please tell me how can organizing tasks into categories, like Pleasant things or Quick tasks, help make it easier to find the right action at the right time, beyond just dealing with limitations?
Thanks in advance.
Mike Taku.

 

[Tom_Hagen]

Hi there, I hope you are doing well,
Can you please tell me how can organizing tasks into categories, like Pleasant things or Quick tasks, help make it easier to find the right action at the right time, beyond just dealing with limitations?
Thanks in advance.
Mike Taku.

Today's example: I had a short break at work waiting for the process to finish. I couldn't do anything longer or requiring high mental energy. Two economic articles quickly filtered out for me to read. Read.