I use three-column list..can anyone suggest an improvement?

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vkk

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I use a three-column list (paper based) which works for me like this. I find that everything I do is related to a Responsibility or Project. Hence Column 1 is the responsibility or the project the next action is linked to. It has a one line description of the outcome (if it is a project) or a one line depiction of the responsibility.

Column 2 is my next action...it is written agains a specific Project or Responsibility mentioned in Column 1

Column 3 is my waiting for...it is also linked to my project or responsibility

Against every project or responsibility there is either a Next Action or a Waiting for item.

And it is all written in pencil, so I keep erasing it and updating it as I complete each action, or I get a response from my 'waiting for' person.

It works for me, because it helps me to keep looking at things in a wider perspective instead of just getting busy with my activities. It is a constant reminder that there should be a purpose or objective

My Problem: I still get stuck on items of low priority, and feel guilty for not tackling jobs of higher priority. I am looking for some way to dynamically prioratise and re-prioratisie my jobs as I go through my working day.
 
vkk;81560 said:
I use a three-column list (paper based) which works for me like this. I find that everything I do is related to a Responsibility or Project. Hence Column 1 is the responsibility or the project the next action is linked to. It has a one line description of the outcome (if it is a project) or a one line depiction of the responsibility.

Column 2 is my next action...it is written agains a specific Project or Responsibility mentioned in Column 1

Column 3 is my waiting for...it is also linked to my project or responsibility

Against every project or responsibility there is either a Next Action or a Waiting for item.

And it is all written in pencil, so I keep erasing it and updating it as I complete each action, or I get a response from my 'waiting for' person.

It works for me, because it helps me to keep looking at things in a wider perspective instead of just getting busy with my activities. It is a constant reminder that there should be a purpose or objective

My Problem: I still get stuck on items of low priority, and feel guilty for not tackling jobs of higher priority. I am looking for some way to dynamically prioratise and re-prioratisie my jobs as I go through my working day.
Click to expand...

Not sure if this is appropriate for your situation, but have you considered placing your papers in plastic sleeves and using colored markers to prioritize tasks? You should be able to get markers that will wipe off the plastic, making reprioritization a bit easier.
 
vkk;81560 said:
My Problem: I still get stuck on items of low priority, and feel guilty for not tackling jobs of higher priority. I am looking for some way to dynamically prioratise and re-prioratisie my jobs as I go through my working day.
Click to expand...

I like the simplicity of your system as you describe it. And it sounds like it works for you. Could your problem be due to lack of clarity of your goals or some kind of conflict at a higher level? If so, maybe it would help to make a list of goals, your life purposes, etc to expose any inconsistencies.

Your brain is the ideal tool to deal with the dynamic prioritisation you mention. In my opinion, the simplicity of your GTD list ensures that your brain has enough info to prioritise effectively, without getting "bogged down" with the system.
 
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