implementing GTD

[gusl]

I'm thinking I should implementing the GTD workflow in a small laptop that I can take with me everywhere. An alternative would be to use an Internet application ...and always carry paper with me, which I can copy into the system later.

I would like a super-ToDo-list program that classified items inside projects, and allows you to process each item with GTD actions, namely:

* Do it (mark item as "DONE")
* Defer it (whether 30 minutes or 30 days): integrate with a Calendar/scheduling system
* Delegate it (mark item as "WAITING")
* Dump it (send item to trash)

Ideally, the system would automatically go through the Next Actions (projects) one by one, and, for each one, I would be presented with these 4 big buttons.

Any ideas?


I would also like a process for the unstructured InBasket stuff. It would go through the items there, and for each item, you can:

* Do it (send item to trash)
* Dump it (send item to trash)
* Move it to a project (or create its own project)

Some use cases:

STUFF GOING INTO MY IN-BASKET

(i.e. stuff that happens without being part of a project plan. Note that some of these correspond to the theme of a project, into which they should potentially be moved.):

* emails to reply to
* research ideas to write down
* software ideas to write down
* blogs/news to read, blog entries to write
* unexpected work assignments
* bugs to fix
* homework (each homework should become a project in itself!)
* bills to pay (not exactly unexpected...)
* unexpected health symptom to visit a doctor about
* interesting people to talk to / hang out with

PROJECTS I COMMIT TO:

Research/Publication Projects:
* new ideas to think about
* worked out ideas to write down for publishing
* papers to read
* consult with experts
* present to peers / experts

Software Projects:
* software to design
* software to write
* bugs to fix
* techniques/patterns/commands to learn

Bureaucracy
* paperwork

Future Gigs (project)
* applications
* networking: go to conferences (subproject)

Health:
* exercise, stretch regularly
* regular check-ups: dentist, etc.

Social Life:
* go dancing
* invite people for activities



EMAIL

Emails about which I can act rightaway in less than "2 minutes" will not need to go into the system. The exception is when I need the reply. Given how easy it is, it is very tempting to use floating emails a replacement for entering the item into a project. But this way, you lose track of what needs to be done.

Comments

[peamasii.livejournal.com]

Paperwork is not a project. A project would be to transform any paperwork requirement into an automated process. Exercise is also not a project. It is simply an activity which needs to be incorporated into you daily routine. No planning or time management is needed for it. Same thing goes for social activities, since you cannot plan in advance to feel good and stay 4 hours, or feel bored and go home right away.

For actual projects which warrant planning, I'd use something like this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_workbench

Strangely enough, although I professionally work on several projects simultaneously, I haven't felt the need to schedule my work more precisely. Part of the reason for that is there's always more than plenty work to do. I charge hourly so there's no incentive for me to prioritize anything really, unless there is something really urgent and then I do it immediately.

For software development projects, I'd use something like CVS or subversion. There it's important that you can track a change you made 3 months ago for a spefici issue. Any project with a duration less than my short term memory span (which admittedly is getting shorter every day) I wouldn't even bother to track.