Comments on: GTD Project Detail Form v1

By: Productivity in Context » Blog Archive » The GTD Setup for December 2007

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:27:11 +0000

[...] Storage – blank forms for the other sections, and a couple of Project planning sheets that I got from Corrie Haffly [...]

By: corriespondent

corriespondent — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:28:27 +0000

Hi Loom - I think there are a couple different ways you could approach this. One way is to write down action items for each assignment or specific task. That would give you the pleasure of being able to cross off each assignment or study session as you complete it. Another way is to treat each study session as a repeatable event. In that case, I'd probably use Remember the Milk (see my workflow post for more details) to schedule a repeating action that I could check off each day, or incorporate it as a bubble in my daily tracker sheet to make it part of my routine.

By: loom

loom — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:40:09 +0000

Hi there,
I would like to ask how would you organize projects that require constantly repeatable actions, for instance, studying a language.

Thanks in advance!

By: corriespondent

corriespondent — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 20:31:45 +0000

The reason why I went w/ RTM is because I started having pages and pages of “next actions” that weren’t all completely crossed out. Then I would recopy them to consolidate the list on a new page. This got tedious. But I think paper is a great way to start out, so good luck!

By: gilda

gilda — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 20:24:25 +0000

Hmm.. well I guess I’ll try what I gots. I think I want to go paper with the system. And then if I find a “grove” maybe I’ll look for an electronic gadget (and websites) to help me keep it more environmentally friendly.

Thanks for the help. I might be back asking you more question later down the road.

By: corriespondent

corriespondent — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 20:23:57 +0000

P.S. Here's my blog post about RTM and GTD.

By: corriespondent

corriespondent — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 20:22:02 +0000

Gilda – I actually use Remember the Milk for all my next-action stuff now. So all I have on paper are: 1) project list 2) project detail form 3) small project task cards (which overlap w/ RTM, but help me to visually prioritize projects for that week). I don’t have a separate @work action list, I just use RTM’s tags to help sort out special lists for work (which I don’t look at very often).

By: gilda

gilda — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 20:19:08 +0000

If I remember correctly I think you said you didn’t find you needed seperate folders/lists for @Computer, @Calls, etc. Do you seperate these at all on paper lists? Or just keep the Project details and do your next actions of those?

Maybe I implemented the “system” too far… because I don’t really have a separate @WORK and even though I feel like I have a million things to keep track of… after a brain dump, maybe it was only about 75. My 6 folders for next actions seem daunting and odd (with a few scraps of paper thrown in each).

Ideas? Advice? Encouragments?

By: corriespondent

corriespondent — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 19:59:23 +0000

Hey Gilda,

The Project List is more of an overall list that keeps tracks of your projects. There aren’t any “actions” on there. For example, my project list might have: 1) GearDesk logo, 2) Custom Shadow Box site, 3) recipes and photos. My project detail form keeps tracks of SOME of the “potential next actions” for each project (sketches, digital sketches, finalize logo). My actual “next action” list would have the full list of all next actions I’d need to take for all the projects and general stuff in my life: 1) logo sketches for GearDesk, 2) design brochure for Custom Shadow Box, 3) wash dishes, 4) call SPCA, 5) post photos.

Some people might not have enough “projects” to really warrant keeping a separate projects list, but it’s a good way to remember what you have going on even if you’re not actively working on it at that moment during your weekly review — for example, I might not have anything related to “GearDesk Logo” on my next action list (b/c I’m waiting for the client on something, in which case something is on my “waiting for” list), but seeing it on my project list during my review reminds me that I should follow up with the client… or, if I’ve dropped the ball, reminds me that I should add something to my Next Actions list!

By: gilda

gilda — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 19:51:53 +0000

Can I just mention again, I love your forms. Anyways, after all this GTD blogs I decided to also check out David Allen’s book from the Library. I have to say “I like”. So, I went out and got a labeler (it’s just fun) and stole back some trays from Ian and got a filing cabinet from craiglist.

I think I’m ready to really embark on the process (and hopefully this will keep my brain stressfree and organized, as baby brain has made me horribly confused all the time). One thing I’m unlcear on though is What’s the difference between the Project List and Next Action List? I think I might be putting whole Project detail lists into my Next Action Folder/Lists. Or maybe I just confuse the usage of the word “lists” with actual lists. So confused. E-mail me!!