Was thinking about doing the 43 folders setup but was resistant to it for some reason and then I think I realized where that resistance came from and now I think I may have a modified solution that might well fit my workflow. Wanted to bounce my thinking off you guys.
I’ve posted on another thread about my workflow, about how many of my NAs have due dates. Essentially I'm using OmniFocus both as my NA repository and as a digital tickler file. Works great for me (most of the time). What I do is keep a folder both at home and at the office called “Action”. If it’s something I'm going to act on, like a bill I need to pay, something I need to review and act on, etc..., it goes in there. Then when I see that task show up requiring me to act on it today, I go to the action file and know I'll find what I need. Works fine.
Except, I'm starting to get materials that won’t require action for several months. Just got one yesterday that requires I act in 9/10. I don’t want that cluttering up my action folder. I guess it should be more appropriately named “imminent actions”. So I think the 43 folder setup would be helpful here.
But, I don’t want to be reviewing each day’s folder for items of what to work on that day. I’d rather have that stuff in my action folder. I know if I used the 43 folders setup as specified I'd probably stop using it after going a few days in a row checking the folder and finding it empty for that respective day. So, here’s the compromise process I’m considering:
I setup the month folders but not the day ones. I’d put the action I referenced above in the September folder. When the new month rolled around I would take anything in that (now) current month’s folder and put it into my Action folder so I just look there for my actions, knowing I have date-related placeholders in OmniFocus to drive me there on the appropriate day, and then I move that month’s Tickler file back to the back of the 12 files. So now, instead of 43 folders I have 13, the 12 months and then this month’s actions with digital placeholders for all of it.
Thoughts?
I’ve posted on another thread about my workflow, about how many of my NAs have due dates. Essentially I'm using OmniFocus both as my NA repository and as a digital tickler file. Works great for me (most of the time). What I do is keep a folder both at home and at the office called “Action”. If it’s something I'm going to act on, like a bill I need to pay, something I need to review and act on, etc..., it goes in there. Then when I see that task show up requiring me to act on it today, I go to the action file and know I'll find what I need. Works fine.
Except, I'm starting to get materials that won’t require action for several months. Just got one yesterday that requires I act in 9/10. I don’t want that cluttering up my action folder. I guess it should be more appropriately named “imminent actions”. So I think the 43 folder setup would be helpful here.
But, I don’t want to be reviewing each day’s folder for items of what to work on that day. I’d rather have that stuff in my action folder. I know if I used the 43 folders setup as specified I'd probably stop using it after going a few days in a row checking the folder and finding it empty for that respective day. So, here’s the compromise process I’m considering:
I setup the month folders but not the day ones. I’d put the action I referenced above in the September folder. When the new month rolled around I would take anything in that (now) current month’s folder and put it into my Action folder so I just look there for my actions, knowing I have date-related placeholders in OmniFocus to drive me there on the appropriate day, and then I move that month’s Tickler file back to the back of the 12 files. So now, instead of 43 folders I have 13, the 12 months and then this month’s actions with digital placeholders for all of it.
Thoughts?
