I have come up with an idea for a chart that combines the Next Actions for several contexts and the Projects list into one format, and I would like others' input on it. Attached to this post is a snapshot of it. Note that my Contexts are very simple because I work from home.
After letting my GTD get waaay behind (without review and processing, it doesn't do much good!), I decided to go back to basics with a 3-ring binders and 8 dividers a la GTD Fast. While preparing my Next Actions list, I found that I was grouping NA's related to one Project in a box on one part of a page. This is done for tactical reasons--it helps me to remember all of the tasks associated with a given project (usu there are 2-8 per Project).
In the left-most column, you write down the Project (if any) that a NA is associated with. Under that, you write the moving part (again, if any) that the NA is associated with. As you move to the right, you start writing the NA under the column associated with the proper context.
For example, the project "Paint HOUSE" (with the keyword in all CAPS) on the first line may have two moving parts: Removal & Prep, and Supplies. Under Removal & Prep, I may have the @Calls __Call rental yard 555-1212 re: pressure washer. Under Supplies I may have @Errands __Sears: buy paint, and under neither moving part: __Choose new paint color.
The idea is that, with a given hardcopy page, you could have about 50 NA's organized in a way that would be easy to "sort" or look up by Project, Moving Part, or Context. Because the NA is aligned with a column, you can quickly tell the context it belongs to.
I haven't even used this yet, folks, as it's hot off the presses. I'm still weighing whether it would increase efficiency or convolute my buckets.
Any input on reasons it might be good (or bad) to combine a Projects List with a Next Action list? Please note that the intention is not to replace my Project Plans (mind maps), which I'd keep elsewhere, but only to list the NA's by category (i.e. Project).
Thanks,
JohnV474
Attached files
After letting my GTD get waaay behind (without review and processing, it doesn't do much good!), I decided to go back to basics with a 3-ring binders and 8 dividers a la GTD Fast. While preparing my Next Actions list, I found that I was grouping NA's related to one Project in a box on one part of a page. This is done for tactical reasons--it helps me to remember all of the tasks associated with a given project (usu there are 2-8 per Project).
In the left-most column, you write down the Project (if any) that a NA is associated with. Under that, you write the moving part (again, if any) that the NA is associated with. As you move to the right, you start writing the NA under the column associated with the proper context.
For example, the project "Paint HOUSE" (with the keyword in all CAPS) on the first line may have two moving parts: Removal & Prep, and Supplies. Under Removal & Prep, I may have the @Calls __Call rental yard 555-1212 re: pressure washer. Under Supplies I may have @Errands __Sears: buy paint, and under neither moving part: __Choose new paint color.
The idea is that, with a given hardcopy page, you could have about 50 NA's organized in a way that would be easy to "sort" or look up by Project, Moving Part, or Context. Because the NA is aligned with a column, you can quickly tell the context it belongs to.
I haven't even used this yet, folks, as it's hot off the presses. I'm still weighing whether it would increase efficiency or convolute my buckets.
Any input on reasons it might be good (or bad) to combine a Projects List with a Next Action list? Please note that the intention is not to replace my Project Plans (mind maps), which I'd keep elsewhere, but only to list the NA's by category (i.e. Project).
Thanks,
JohnV474
Attached files
