Deadlines, Ignored?

[radioman]

I use Outlook. I sort my NAs (Outlook tasks) chronologically by "due date." For those NAs that have a due date that is a due BY date, I make the Outlook due date, say, a week before (or whatever time I may need in advance to really get it done well). In the Notes field of the Outlook task, I put "due (insert real due date)." That way, I make sure that I see the NA near the top of the list with enough time to do it, but I also know at a glance (without digging through tons of material) what the *real* due date is. Not all of my NAs need the same amount of time to complete (could be just a day; could be 3 weeks), so, if I only use the real due date, I don't know how far down the NA list to keep looking for things that I might have to start today.

If I can't get to the item 7 days (or whatever) in advance, I know exactly how long I have until I really have to get it done. In most cases, I will just advance it by 1 day and try to get to it again the next day. I have found this approach useful for me. YMMV.

I'm not smart enough to know how using both "start date" and "due date" in Outlook will impact me. I just haven't thought to experiment with it. Maybe I should, and it can accomplish the same thing.

I hope this helps.

Joe

[LizH]

Putting the real due date in the task header should help me improve, thx Joe !

I sort my Outlook tasks by category. Todd Brown taught me to have a @tickler category, with the Due date making them show up in the calendar on the date. Nicely visible in the weekly review, but not cluttering my other action lists before that.

Liz

[cwoodgold]

When I set a due date myself, I have a hard time getting myself to take it as seriously as ones involving specific commitments to other people.

[TesTeq]

When I set a due date myself, I have a hard time getting myself to take it as seriously as ones involving specific commitments to other people.

Oh, for me it's exactly opposite.

I couldn't live without trusting myself!

How could I break a promise given to the most important person in the world (for me - it's me)?

It does not mean that other people are less important for me but I fundamentally disagree with treating my own commitments less seriously.

[Cpu_Modern]

I agree with TesTeq, if you have trouble to meet deadlines you are setting for yourself, something is wring with your level of commitment.

Maybe you haven't thought the issue through and the deadline is just a placeholder for your anger?

The truth is, you haven't changed your behavior until you have changed your behavior.

[Cpu_Modern]

Like others have mentioned already, the Tickler can be part of the solution. Granted, you don't want to carry a horse-carriage of folders with you in these days of the smart phones, but an digital implementation of the facilities the "Tickler" provides might be in order.

As far as I can see from here, many of the most common date and urgency related problems with GTD seem to stem from overlooking the Tickler! The strong and mighty Tickler.