I keep all of mine in a separate system away from my active projects. I find it easier to review that way.
Yes. When a project, perhaps even one that has been active for a while, is moved into Someday/Maybe I also move all the actions that relate to it. Otherwise my next actions lists get cluttered with irrelevant stuff. My list manager tool makes that easy.
If I ahve other project support material in my system. I will move that back into the general reference filing system. I will put a link to that location in my S/M list so I know there is more stuff elsewhere. Those links may reference electronic data in a computer file or folder, or physical data or items that are located elsewhere.
A deferred action is, to me, separate from a someday/maybe. So I do not use the above system for deferred actions.
Not for me but that is because I don't ever think to look at Someday/Maybe for actions for current active projects.
I’m using a tool (Things 3) where a Project is a self-contained object with notes, next actions, scheduled actions, someday/maybe next actions inside. If I had project support material stored stored externally, then I would move next actions out of project support when the project was activated. I think those are your two best choices.
I don’t think so. I have someday/maybe stuff for projects all the time. They are not next actions because they are neither next nor necessarily well-formulated next actions. They are just ideas for how the project might proceed. I might buy tires from Firestone but maybe I‘ll see if I can do better at Costco. Not an area of focus.
It may be helpful to start with what goes on Someday/Maybe. For anything on that list, you have made no commitment to do it. The only commitment is to review the list regularly to see if you want to delete or activate any item.
That to me is still someday/maybe. I plan to do it someday but not now. That's how I interpret made no commitment to do it. I am not ready to do it now. Commitment to do it means I am ready, able and willing to do it now.
I'll describe what I do, but please adapt to what works for you. The main thing to observe is whether your system gets stuff off your mind.
If you are using a list tool that has both start dates and sequential actions, then you should strongly consider using those features. What somebody else does with a different tool is not so relevant. However, changing the tires is DUE before you have to pick up your sister. Because changing tires takes time, you should consider scheduling time to do it. Picking up your sister goes on your calendar because it’s a time-bound commitment to another person that you want to be aware of when you look at that part of your calendar.
The master question for situations like that is "How do you want to be reminded/made aware of this?" This is not a question of bells going off or little notification boxes. The question is "How would you like this to enter your conscious awareness?" By looking at your calendar, checking ticklers, during the weekly review, message in a bottle? Some people have a dashboard or hotlist where they go to check for the urgent and/or important. That's them, and you're you. You have to try different approaches and see what works best for you.
I asked a similar query and was advised the next actions you can't do right now go in the project support materials, that way when you finish the current action you can look at the support materials for what the next actions might be. Works well for my projects that have a very defined list of next actions, that way I can work through these without them all cluttering up my next actions list. I might do a couple in a row, so when the project is done for the day I mark off all the ones I have done and select the next one to add to the next actions list. Hope this helps.
If you can't do the NA right now (if context/energy/time is OK) then it's not a NA.
An Action that is not a Next Action yet is a Project reference item waiting to become the Next Action when circumstances will allow.
)Sort of, but the framing (must/may and want/don’t want/can’t) is not something I would use. It lacks agency, and a big part of GTD is relaxed control of one’s life. Some specific comments:I start to see the light, well I hope.
If I resume my vision :
- an action that I must do and I can do right now, if context/energy/time are ok, goes to my NA list.
- an action that I must do and I can't do right now because of date goes to :
- my calendar if I must do it on a specific date.
- my tickler system if this action goes to my NA list at this date (like a start date).
- an action that I must do and I don't want to do right now, goes to my tickler system for futur review (I guess this one is different for everyone).
- an action that I must do and I can't do right now because of other tasks goes to my project references (and when it's a standalone task ?
- an action that I may do and I don't want to do right now, goes to my SMB list.
