Next Actions, Someday/Maybe...what about Definitely, but not today?

[kewms]

Also, I am now coming to the realization that, during the weekly review, I am just not in a position to determine how much time/energy I am going to have on Thursday afternoon when I am in my @Home context. If I have not spent the up-front time to determine and record a next action for a large portion of my projects just because I wasn't sure whether I'd have time to do something about them this week, then I have actively denied myself the opportunity to move something forward that I really want to do at some point.

Maybe someone here can talk me out of my madness; but at the moment, I think it is best to just keep the project in "Active" status, record the next action, and use DA's 4-fold approach to determining what you'll do next.

Balance in all things.

Often, people post something like "I have 500 active projects! There's no way I can just pick actions out of my NA lists!" In that case, trimming the list down to something manageable is essential. Especially since these people are often new to GTD, and generally overwhelmed by whatever mess inspired them to try GTD in the first place.

Once your life is more under control and you are more comfortable with the system, then you're the best judge of what a manageable load is. If you're comfortable with a longer project list, go for it. Just make sure you aren't becoming overwhelmed, and take action to trim back if needed.

Katherine

[Cpu_Modern]

they eventually came to the point where I would completely gloss over them when going through my lists to pick a next action; I simply wouldn't see them. I still don't know how to properly combat this problem, but hiding the next actions is not going to make them go away;

What worked for me:
1. I work my context lists from top to bottom. Just do it.

Sometimes there are exceptions, but these do not come out from "mhm, which da#?+ thingie do I do next....? ponder, ponder, ponder, look out of the window, mhm maybe... or.. yes, oh, no". General rule for exceptions: I almost have not even to look at the list.

2. Schedule some "hot"-items, a few of them, not half your list.

3. Write NAs pertaining to projects with a (near) deadline in a diferent color.

4. Review often. Reviewing and processing ar partly thinking. Thinking is part of your work.

[Brent]

Most of the permanent residents of Someday/Maybe have not moved to Active Town solely because there was not some iminent due date. The reality is, though, that I probably could have completed most of them if I had just had the next action in my context lists; then, instead of surfing the net or watching TV or trolling around this forum, I could have been moving other stuff forward.

I completely agree. At times, we need to force things into our immediate attention, and that's fine.

However. I may be wrong, but I think it's an unhealthy long-term practice. That's all.