Some 'where does this 'stuff' go questions'

[c.barber78]

Thanks, and now I have a few GTD questions.
Where do actions go that must be completed on a certain day and can only be completed on a certain day? e.g. talking to a person you will be in the vicinity of on Wednesday, etc. (Ticklers, Next, Calendar, Waiting for?)

What about actions that are waiting for the inevitable - ebay promotions, exchange rate fluctuations? Someday/Maybe or Waiting for?

And again, what about actions like listen to podcasts in my idle time, or actions like a daily jog?

Lastly, do you use a separate GTD application from your calendar application, and if so, do things like call jim at 9 am go on the cal or GTD app?

Would love to hear some input.

 

[Oogiem]

Here's how I would sort them:

Things that can only happen on a single day go in my calendar.

The waiting for something to happen ones are in Waiting for if as soon as the condition is met I will move forward on the project. Otherwise it's in Someday Maybe.

Listen to podcasts or jogs go in the context where I can do them. My closest would be Knit 1 row on dragon scales shawl in inside by myself context. It is the next physical action I can take on the project of learning to knit lace so it belongs on my lists. Lists should also have fun things not just work stuff.

Yes I have a calendar app iCal on The mac, and a GTD app, Omnifocus on the Mac and iPod Touch. An item like a specific time to call would show up in both places for me. As an action in my Omnifocus lists in the context of @Phone Business Hours with any notes I need and the phone number and a reminder with alarm on my calendar in my iPod touch to call jim only because I am likely to forget if I don't set an alarm.

 

[RuthMcT]

I'd add that things for talking to a specific person go into @agenda, with a list for each person - so I have something like

@agenda - the boss
@agenda - my secretary

When I finally manage to get hold of my boss long enough to talk to him, I get out his list and work through it. This is a system I've only been running properly for the last month, and it's working brilliantly.

I also use it for stuff I need to bring up in a specific meeting e.g.

@agenda - senior doctors meeting

though that could actually go in the tickler for the date of the meeting, but I've found it's quicker to write it in @agenda than get my tickler off the shelf. As long as you know where to look for it it's not a problem.

Ruth

 

[Roger]

Where do actions go that must be completed on a certain day and can only be completed on a certain day?

Three things go on your calendar:
* time-specific actions;
* day-specific actions; and
* day-specific information.​

What about actions that are waiting for the inevitable - ebay promotions, exchange rate fluctuations?

That's... sort of a weird situation. If it's something like "Things I want to do if the euro falls to 100 yen" or "What to do if my house burns down" then I'd be inclined to file those sorts of checklists in the general filing system.

what about actions like listen to podcasts in my idle time, or actions like a daily jog?

Contexts might work for that; for something like jogging, it might be worthwhile to schedule it into the calendar.

Cheers,
Roger

 

[c.barber78]

Here's how I would sort them:

Ah okay, thanks very much that makes a lot of sense. I like what you said about the waiting for actions as well.

I'd add that things for talking to a specific person go into @agenda, with a list for each person - so I have something like

Yes that makes sense as well, that example could go in tickler or an agenda.

Three things go on your calendar:
* time-specific actions;
* day-specific actions; and
* day-specific information.​

Okay, thanks for clearing that up. I can see why now, because looking at your next list shouldn't include things that can be only completed on wednesday at 3pm
Hopefully my house burning down isn't inevitible, but the checklists idea is an interesting one. I might be inclined to put it in the waiting for as suggested by another person, that way I can check if the criteria is met during the weekly review. - the post-house burning down I probably would put in reference though, whereas the exchange rate is more action oriented like order 1000 xxx (Waiting for: e/r to hit US$1.05)
Yes I agree with you on scheduling jogging into the calendar, and the other things could possibly have a context such as '@idle'.

 

[TesTeq]

I would automate this.

What about actions that are waiting for the inevitable - ebay promotions, exchange rate fluctuations? Someday/Maybe or Waiting for?

I would automate this - use some kind of web application that would send me an e-mail when the inevitable happens.

 

[ellobogrande]

I would automate this - use some kind of web application that would send me an e-mail when the inevitable happens.

And if you can't automate it, put a note in your tickler file and keep moving it forward (even one day at a time, if needed) until you no longer need the reminder.

 

[c.barber78]

Thanks again.
The only remaining conflicts I now have are whether time specific actions should go on the calendar and GTD system as suggested by some, or only the GTD system as suggested by others; and also whether the waiting for an event like exchange rate (for this assume that it cannot be automated) would become a weekly tickler, or a waiting for that is reviewed with the weekly review. I would say I am inclined to make it a tickler.......... Opinions?

I asked this question at a few other sites as well, and have compiled the results here: http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AWQsCliUjhCHZGZtd3NwZDZfN2hybXp3bmM0&hl=en

 

[harringg]

How about this situation?

Using GTD for Outlook

Have an out of town meeting and it's on the calendar.

Got an email from a collegue who would like me to call them when I am there. Is this an Action (Task) or Defered (calendar) item? I will add their email to my Meeting Project, but still new and learning GTD. It makes sense to me to make it a Task, but since it's tied to a specific event already in the calendar, is this the proper thing?

Thanks

 

[kelstarrising]

I would put this on the Calendar as an untimed all day event on the day you are in town to see/call that person.