How and when to do pruning?

[cwoodgold]

Deleting steps from projects or goals because they're no longer necessary or
relevant: is this part of Processing, Organizing or Reviewing? When do you
usually do this? How can I conveniently demote a step so it's not getting in the
way every time I look at that project or goal, but still keep it somewhere in the
system for occasional review in case I decide to put it back in?

 

[Gardener]

I sometimes create an "agenda" list for a project, where I can stash thoughts that aren't the next action, but that I don't want to lose. In my case, I tuck them inside an action in OmniFocus (almost the only use that I make of the multilevel hierarchies that OmniFocus supports) but I consider them, in GTD terms, to be project support material.

I'd consider this Organizing if I do it after saying, "Sheesh, this is a mess; let's clean it up." If I do it while working on actions and realizing, "Um...no, can't do that, but let's put it somewhere" then I consider it part of ...uh... what _is_ "working on actions" called?

 

[OF user]

Weekly review

I would typically do this as part of my weekly review when I "Get current" with my projects and next actions list.

 

[TesTeq]

Weekly Review.

I would typically do this as part of my weekly review when I "Get current" with my projects and next actions list.

I agree, Weekly Review is a pruning time (cancelling or moving to Someday/Maybe).

 

[cfoley]

Actions that aren't next go on a project plan, not an action list. Since I don't see the plan every time I scan my list it's not a problem.

 

[mcogilvie]

I generally delete (and probably replace) a next action whenever I realize I should; it takes under two minutes.

 

[cwoodgold]

... then I consider it part of ...uh... what _is_ "working on actions" called?

I think the technical term for that within the "Getting Things Done" system is ..."Doing".

Thanks for your answers, everyone. You've helped me see things a bit more clearly.