next-actions-list vs projectactionlist/projectlist vs projectportfo/review after task

[SiobhanBR]

But as you describe, I ask myself that question ("what on this list would I be most happy about having completed") every time I've finished a task and then check the complete list.

You should ask yourself this question only 1 or 2 times a day and then isolate the tasks.

Working with a shortlist is what I want to do.
But I wonder why this list is not a part of the GTD-method?

As I understand it, shortlists are not part of the GTD-method because for many people, things change too quickly to rely on a shortlist. The concept is to use your intuition and knowledge of what you have on your plate to make in-the-moment decisions. For many, the shortlist gets tossed out the window by coffee and everything on it gets rewritten to the next day.

Try using a shortlist and see how it works for you. My advice would be to not take the items off your NA list though. That way, if a phone call at 9:30 changes your entire day, you can toss that shortlist without worrying that you are losing something.

[tom.depoorter]

Thx for your many answers!
I'm also glad that my thread is giving some answers to other people.

@ellobogrande:
yes this makes a lot of sense. I'm also working with what I call seperate projectactionslist. During weekly review I'm moving some of those actions to my next-actions-list.
Again, I was surprised that in the book projectactionslists (or whatever they can be called) aren't mentioned.


@artsinaction, @Oogiem, @PatinSC:
so there's clearly a difference between what are called projects in GTD and something bigger. so I keep in mind that it's a good idea to have two lists for these two kind of things.

@SiobhanBR:
I'm not taking of any actions of my next-actions-list.
What I do is making a view on it. I've added a checkbox to my outlook-task-list.
During daily review of my next-actions-list, I check the actions I want to do that day.
In-the-moment decisions are difficult to me. I will read another book for that.


Best regards

Tom

[Suelin23]

No real difference for me, I only have 7 areas of focus for both work and home, and a work project that takes 5 years is still a GTD project. All the subprojects/active open loops are listed in my project plan, so I have a long list of next actions and that works fine. There doesn't seem to be any need to have differentiation between them, as all the NA end up on the context lists irrespective of how you define a project.

[mthar1]

yes this makes a lot of sense. I'm also working with what I call seperate projectactionslist. During weekly review I'm moving some of those actions to my next-actions-list.
Again, I was surprised that in the book projectactionslists (or whatever they can be called) aren't mentioned.

In the book, this is called project support material which can contain not only well defined next actions, but any information related to the project.

@artsinaction, @Oogiem, @PatinSC:
so there's clearly a difference between what are called projects in GTD and something bigger. so I keep in mind that it's a good idea to have two lists for these two kind of things.

Yes, and the rest of the horizons of focus extend higher, and having separate lists for that too is also very helpful.

But I would also add that there isn't, as I understand it, anything wrong with having projects containing other (sub)projects. After all, there is a difference in the definitions of project and area of focus that is not simply that of time frame or scope.

[tom.depoorter]

Hi

I've read the e-book "Zen-to-Done" written by Leo Babauta.
His method is a light version of GTD, mixed with some of the "7 habits of Succesful People" of Stephen Covey.

In his book he explains that long next-actions-lists are a problem: the focus disappears.

Stephen Covey one of methods proposes that you select, during the weekly review, the most important nextactions that you want to do next week (for instance one for each day). He calls this big rocks.
He also proposes that you plan which big rock will be done on which day.

Every day you've got to plan your big rocks (the big rock you've selected during the weekly review + some others you didn't plan), which he calls Most Important Tasks (MIT) and some small actions, which he call small rocks.
This big en small rocks could be written down and a small to-do-list. This can help you to focus.
He also proposes that you start your day by doing the big rocks and end with the small rocks.

Best regards

Tom

[mthar1]

Hi

I've read the e-book "Zen-to-Done" written by Leo Babauta.
His method is a light version of GTD, mixed with some of the "7 habits of Succesful People" of Stephen Covey.

In his book he explains that long next-actions-lists are a problem: the focus disappears.

Stephen Covey one of methods proposes that you select, during the weekly review, the most important nextactions that you want to do next week (for instance one for each day). He calls this big rocks.
He also proposes that you plan which big rock will be done on which day.

Every day you've got to plan your big rocks (the big rock you've selected during the weekly review + some others you didn't plan), which he calls Most Important Tasks (MIT) and some small actions, which he call small rocks.
This big en small rocks could be written down and a small to-do-list. This can help you to focus.
He also proposes that you start your day by doing the big rocks and end with the small rocks.

Best regards

Tom

I too keep a short list of Most Important Things, as I understand many GTDers do. I update this at least every weekly review and use it as a way of reminding me which big ticket items that most need my attention and which projects that I will want to make quick reviews of daily or almost daily, to make sure I move on those as quickly as possible. I would never dare to make a daily MIT list though, as I don't have that degree of control over my days, so I would just set myself up for disappointment if I did that.

[tom.depoorter]

I would never dare to make a daily MIT list though, as I don't have that degree of control over my days, so I would just set myself up for disappointment if I did that.

I understand your point of view. ZTD proposes to choose just one MIT a day (the one you selected during the weekly review). The additional MIT's (that you choose that day, not during the weekly review) should only be selected if this is possible.

I'll see where I end up ...

[TesTeq]

ZTD proposes to choose just one MIT a day (the one you selected during the weekly review). The additional MIT's (that you choose that day, not during the weekly review) should only be selected if this is possible.

Really?

Here http://zenhabits.net/zen-to-done-ztd...tivity-system/ Leo Babauta wrote:

3 plan. Habit: set MITs for week, day. Each week, list the Big Rocks that you want to accomplish, and schedule them first. Each day, create a list of 1-3 MITs (basically your Big Rocks for the day) and be sure to accomplish them. Do your MITs early in the day to get them out of the way and to ensure that they get done.

I use 3 MITs (or even more!).