How to implement GTD on a Palm: Projects vs. Tasks

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4ster

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Hi everyone.

I have used Palm devices since 1998, but I am a GTD newbie. Here is my question:

Using the built-in To Do application in GTD, how do you show which Next Actions are connected to which Projects? Right now, all of my To Do categories are named according to context (@Home, @Desk, @Computer, etc.).

As it is right now, I can see what I should be doing and where I should be doing it. However, I am still having to keep in my head what task is associated with what project, and the whole point of GTD is to get it out of your head, right?

Also, I am currently syncing with Outlook, which I have configured for GTD using David's instructions.

Any advice would be welcomed. Also, Merlin, I love the site.

Grace and peace,

Doug
 
Linking tasks to projects

One of the ways to link taks to projects on your Palm is the so-called PigPog method (http://pigpog.com/node/1031).

Other people prefer to give each project a short code, and add this code to the description of all connected tasks.
 
This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

One more question: I am wondering if Palm users assign due dates for next actions on their ToDo list, or if something has to be done on a particular day, if it is added to the calendar.
 
I use the due date feature and give every item a due date. In addition, I quickly scan my lists daily and when I see items that absolutely must be done the following day, I remove the category from that task. That way, it goes into the "unfiled" category on my Palm which syncs to the "none" category on Outlook, putting it right at the top of the Outlook task list. That gives me all of the urgencies together at the top of the list.

Frank
 
I write the name of the project at the front of each task, i.e., "[Blog] Post about new macro". I have ways in Outlook to parse the project name out, and show it in it's own column, but I don't actually use that view much. However, I do like knowing at a glance if a particular NA is part of a specific project, or just a one-off.

I also make use of pigpog, but I think that's a separate concept. PIGPOG just means that I write a bunch of sequential actions in an NA's notes and move through them. The project's name is still in the subject, which always contains the next NA in the pigpog list.

Finally, I do give due dates (and even start dates) to some of my NAs, not all of them. I have basically expanded my definition of "hard landscape". If I'm looking at my Outlook program, and I can see the calendar with it's hard landscape items, i.e., appointments, and I can see the task view with the NAs that are due this week, I say this is a hard landscape. The best way to get this information in one view is to make use of start and end dates, and customize the task views. I still put some NAs into the calendar, usually ones that are very far away. I mark them as +ToDo categories, and when they get closer, I tend to turn them into tasks.
 
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