Weekly Review prompt lists

T

tominperu

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This is an important part of weekly reviews that is not covered enough on this forum. I've often been curious about what sort of prompt lists other people might have. I remember the example in David Allan's book but of course this may not be appropriate for everybody, certainly I have developed my own lists. So, here's mine, any other takers for the challenge of sharing yours. Obviously some personal stuff on them but then none of you know me anyway!

Attached files image_1083.doc (30 KB) 
 
It is great that you have created your own! I found the trigger lists in the books to be sufficient for most part. Though I do have added things like:
  • Clean computer files
  • Dust off computer
  • If I think I have time to read books, find six books and roll a dice to pick one (I got too many unread books to find the one immediately)
  • Wash car
  • Pay bills (though immediately after the Weekly Review)
3-5 year vision, 1-2 year goals, Areas of Focus and Responsiblity are also looked at while using the trigger lists. I don't use a Big Picture Review every review, nor do I necessary see at the 3-5 vision. It may be important for some to not think about 3-5 goals every Weekly review, for me it would be a bit of a waste of time since my 1-2 year goals are laid out to be in line with 3-5 year vision and I got plenty of stuff there already. Once a month for me is appropriate. Not that you are wrong in any way, just wanted to mention that small bit. Remember though to add a reminder (calendar for last Friday of the month if you do the review at that time) so you also can add it there. Essentially it comes down to, do I want to look at something each week and the answer essentially be "I don't know just yet". After two or three times you'll start to distrust it by something so simple.
 
Mine looks like this:

Task title: Review (weekly) (Lookahead 2M+ /// Project/AoR by Goal)

Description ("instructions to myself" in the text notes):
  • General
    - GCal ahead: anything that needs preparation tasks?
    - Scheduled, anything to prepare for? (High Effort tasks only)

    Goal by Goal: How to reach goal faster?
    - Project by Project (+ AoR): How to attain outcome more effectively?
    --- Waiting (all, especially turquoise)
    --- Someday (red + blue) + Subsequent (white Someday)
    --- Next (all, especially turquoise):
    - Projects/AoRs - split/fuse? active/inactive?

Checkboxes (subtasks to check off as I go):

- calendar/tickler
- "new business A" 30 k goal
- "new business B" 30 k goal
- "ongoing business" group of AoRs
- "non-profit" group of AoRs
- "private" group of AoRs

I am making use of my app's "goal" feature to represent not only GTD 30 K goals, but also GTD groups of AoRs. And I make use of my app's "priority" feature to distinguish between those tasks that I will check on an "everytime I look" basis, or on a daily basis, weekly basis, or more seldom, and I also use it as a workaround for being able to keep subsequent tasks within the app (instead of in an external project support file)
 
Mine looks like this:
  1. Get clear– inbox/email inbox/notepads/voicemail/mindsweep/purse/briefcase/backup databases
  2. Get current
    1. Calendar – Outlook, Google, paper – is there enough doing time in the upcoming week?
    2. NAs – Outlook, gmail, iPad
    3. Email folders – Action Support, Waiting For on Outlook, gmail
    4. Paper folders – Action Support, Waiting for Support, Left hand drawer
    5. Projects
    6. Barnacles & Albatross – any to move to Someday/Maybe? Any to add > four months? Estimate timelines.
    7. Someday/Maybe – Outlook, gmail, iPad
    8. Workplan scan – compliance calendar, look at dates, schedule staff review meetings
  3. Get creative
    1. 20K AofR (memos) – use as triggers to identify projects/NAs
    2. Brings me JOY (memos)
    3. Notes
    4. Anything to add to Positive Work Journal – Learning Journal?
    5. Meditation podcast to close – any last thoughts?

I don't always do a complete Someday/Maybe scan (I have a lot of S/M!!) - I let my feeling guide how often, but it's always an option so I am choosing to review or not.

I suppose the other thing to note is the importance that the Get Clear phase not take more that 5 or 10 minutes. If I have a lot of unprocessed paper or email I do not do it as part of the review. I just move on to the next part of the review. Processing happens throughout the week not as part of the weekly review.
 
Perhaps I need to add for clarity that the fact that email etc is missing from my own weekly prompt list above is not because I do not do them, but because It do them every single day, even on the day that I do my weekly review (before I even start the weekly review). My daily review focuses on keeping context lists and project actions etc current, and it includes a calendar check, too, but only for 2-3 weeks ahead, whereas I look 2-3 months ahead during my weekly review.
 
OneCoffePlease said:
It is great that you have created your own! I found the trigger lists in the books to be sufficient for most part. Though I do have added things like:
  • Clean computer files
  • Dust off computer
  • If I think I have time to read books, find six books and roll a dice to pick one (I got too many unread books to find the one immediately)
  • Wash car
  • Pay bills (though immediately after the Weekly Review)
Click to expand...

I would never add such physical actions to the Weekly Review. The GTD Weekly Review is a time of reflection - the opposite activity to "doing".
 
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