Tie Actions to Projects work-around
Markymark;67078 said:
Hi,
I got the GTD book and am trying to implement it. I currently have a list of all my projects and the task associated with each one. However, I'd like to clarify how to handle all the tasks for the projects using GTD. Where do I list all the task for a project, such as planning a conference. If I put the tasks under the groupings "Computer", "Errands", etc., how do I know what order they need to be completed in, which fall under this project and not another, and how do I know when it is complete?
Any help to better understand the system would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Mark
Hey Mark,
This is how I tie next actions to projects. I use Outlook on my desktop. Beyond Contacts on my Palm TX. I have Context names of *Projects, *Someday/Maybe, @Anywhere, @Calls, @Computer, @Errands, @Hangar, @Home, @Shopping, @Work.
When I create a project in Outlook I tag it with the *Projects. The Project looks like this in Outlook. (Camper de-winterization)
In the notes field under the project name I put the Next actions in the order that I want to complete them.
4/19/2009 (Camper de-winterization) De-tarp camper.
4/23/2009 (Camper de-winterization) Deliver battery charger to hangar.
4/23/2009 (Camper de-winterization) Charge battery on camper.
4/25/2009 (Camper de-winterization) Charge spare battery.
5/11/2009 (Camper de-winterization) Empty camper.
5/11/2009 (Camper de-winterization) Take waterhoses to hangar.
5/11/2009(Camper de-winterization) Clear anti-freeze from waterlines.
5/21/2009 (Camper de-winterization) Mop camper floor.
5/21/2009 (Camper de-winterization) Clean vinyl.
5/24/2009 (Camper de-winterization) Put tarp over camper.
(Camper de-winterization) Locate door clips for camper door.
I only have one next action per project showing at one time. I then copy paste the next action to the correlating context. In my example here, I have copy/pasted (Camper de-winterization) Locate door clips for camper door. to the @Computer context. Once I complete the next action I mark it as completed in the @Computer context, & then go back to the *Project (Camper de-winterization) Locate door clips for camper door & precede the Next Action with a date to show when it was completed. I then Add another next action or series of actions till I complete the project.
My *Projects will show each individual project sorted by alpha. My context categories will only show one individual next action per project also sorted by alpha.
I use a Markings (Moleskin clone) as my capture device. I can add new items quicker this way & sometime during the day I empty my capture device into Outlook & then sync it to my palm device.
Pablo