Do I List my second, third fourth, etc actions for a project on my Next Actions list?

[apenney]

I have been searching for this answer. Say I am doing a mind map or outline for a new project. I have determined the core project and now im brainstorming my actions, in order, for the project in my outline document. I have determined that there are 10 physical actions associated to the project. So I put the very next action on my action list organized in the proper context category. Now, what about the 2-10 action steps remaining? Do these actions go in my Next Action lists or do they stay in my outline, which could be considered project support material? Thanks

 

[Myriam]

those are not NA's

hi there,

the answer is pretty simple: your NA list should only contain actions that you can perform right now (of course given the context and time etc).

So, the answer is no... if you would put those actions 2-10 on your NA list, you wouldn't have a NA list anymore, because it would be cluttered up with "future stuff".

So yes, only action 1 belongs on your list right now. The day you start that action, you have throo possibilities:
- you stop right after action 1: you then write action 2 on your NA list
- you go on working with action 2, 3, ...: when you stop, you write the NA following the one you finished on your NA list, for example action 7
- you go on working till the project is finished: you don't have to put anything on your NA list

Myriam

 

[kissa]

But they can be NA if they don't have to be done in a specific order right?

 

[Oogiem]

I have determined that there are 10 physical actions associated to the project. So I put the very next action on my action list organized in the proper context category. Now, what about the 2-10 action steps remaining? Do these actions go in my Next Action lists or do they stay in my outline, which could be considered project support material? Thanks

If they are independent actions, i.e. can be done without any other action needing to be completed then they can go on your next action list in context as appropriate. If they are dependent, require one or more preceding actions to be completed before you can do them then they are project support material.

Some systems allow the inclusion of future or dependent actions and other project support material easily, some do not.

If you hate going to a separate location or application for your project support material and list of future actions then choose a list manager that allows for easy inclusion of that stuff. Omnifocus on the Mac allows all that in a very easy to use way.

 

[Myriam]

yes, they can be NA if they don't have to be done in a specific order

yes, indeed!