Short question about project list Weekly Review

B

baleks

0
Hello all,

Short question is: if i don't 100% intent to make progress on some project next week, should i move the project to SOMEDAY list or i can leave it on PROJECTS list ?

Longer explanation and background here:
I have about 20-30 projects in my list (here i'm talking about Private projects&next actions lists, for work i have separate lists and separate review), and about 90% of projects are medium-priority (means: i might do some things for them this week, if i'll have time, but most likely no). In fact, i usually make progress each week only on 3-5 most important projects for me.
For this reason, while doing Weekly Review, i'm reluctant to define next actions on less-important projects, but at the same time don't want to move it to SOMEDAY list, because i might still do something for these projects, if i have time/inspiration/etc.
(also i have to admit that Review is done not very regularly, because it's hard for me - i often switch to "doing" and review takes indefinite time - until something interrupts me)
 
baleks;107843 said:
Hello all,

Short question is: if i don't 100% intent to make progress on some project next week, should i move the project to SOMEDAY list or i can leave it on PROJECTS list ?

Longer explanation and background here:
I have about 20-30 projects in my list (here i'm talking about Private projects&next actions lists, for work i have separate lists and separate review), and about 90% of projects are medium-priority (means: i might do some things for them this week, if i'll have time, but most likely no). In fact, i usually make progress each week only on 3-5 most important projects for me.
For this reason, while doing Weekly Review, i'm reluctant to define next actions on less-important projects, but at the same time don't want to move it to SOMEDAY list, because i might still do something for these projects, if i have time/inspiration/etc.
(also i have to admit that Review is done not very regularly, because it's hard for me - i often switch to "doing" and review takes indefinite time - until something interrupts me)
Click to expand...

It's OK to let it stay as an active project, even if you can't make progress on it in the coming week. The key is that you at least have a next action, waiting for, or calendar next action identified for it when you can take action. I have a current project that doesn't have a next action until a meeting about it on my calendar in the middle of July. So I will just keep seeing that on my Projects list during my Weekly Reviews, and know that I'm idle until that meeting. It will stay on current Projects list though.

Hope that helps,
Kelly
 
You can leave them but be aware

Absolutely you can leave them on your projects list, although as Kelly says you need to have at least one next action/calendar/waiting-for. The reason is that if you find yourself in the right context and that next action is available for you to do, you will be in a much better space to choose to do that. (As opposed to having to go look at your projects list and then define a next action that may or may not be appropriate for the context you find yourself in.)

Try to gauge your feeling during the weekly review as you consider each project and think about the following:
1. Do I have to do something about this this week?
2. Do I intend to do something about this this week?
3. Would I like to do something about this this week, if I have time?

For me, a yes to any of the above and it (along with the next action) stays on my list. But I have a lot of personal interests and I do not like to limit my options so I'm comfortable with seeing a lot of projects and a lot of next actions. Some people get overwhelmed if their lists are too long. Everyone has a different threshold - you may do better by selecting only 5 or so personal projects to keep active. So try moving something to someday-maybe and see how it goes.

Don't forget that someday-maybe is not a punishment! Also, just because something is on someday-maybe does not mean that you can't do it should the stars align and opportunity arise. If you wanted to golf every golf course in the city and found yourself being invited to that private course you've never been to, you don't say no because it's on someday-maybe. If buying some new knitting needles is part of a someday-maybe project and your favourite craft store has a super-sale you can still go buy those needles. The trick with this is to review your someday-maybe list often enough to know that you'll recognize these opportunities when they show up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top