I just want to say thank you. You have helped me so much in my life about organizing everything. I felt so overwhelmed and was giving my self panic attacks at work and home and now I can finally feel relaxed thanks to you and your videos. They’re really funny and informative youre the best!
Dear Sarah Wow! You are so VERY WELCOME! Thank you so very much Sarah for the generous comment! If you have any questions or challenges on GTD or Organising in general, please feel free to ask them. It helps me with ideas to create videos. Warmly Arif
@@CalmAchiever I'm actually uploading a video shortly about how excited I am! It's just 3:09 AM EST and I'm too excited from the inspiration you gave me. Thank you so much. I will try to remember in 1 week to get back to this, my current situation is problematic
I know this is an older video but it would help to update the bookmarks so they are more accurate. They all seem to jump after the topic is started. For instance Context starts around 1:45 not 2:01, projects starts at 3:04, not 3:19
Hey Alan, You're so welcome! So glad you find this helpful. Do I organise projects list by Areas of Focus? Well, currently I sort of do. Since I'm involved in various Companies, I have a Project list for each of my Companies and one for Personal. That said, I'm currently trying to reduce the number of Project lists that I have. Because they are too many to review. You could start with a single split of Projects list. One for Personal the other for Professional. See if that gives you mental peace to see those separately. The guideline around this is, organise your Projects lists such that: - it stays out of your mind. - you are able to review and update it once a week. So that it reflects just your Current Projects.
Glad to have found your videos! Thank you! What if I have several next action steps on a project but I only want to do one action step for this week, where do I put the rest of other action steps I've identified for that same project?
Hello Cindy That’s an intelligent question! It shows you’re really thinking through and implementing GTD. Here’s the answer: You put the immediate very next action into your Next Actions list (is Agendas, Calls, Home, Office etc. ). The remaining subsequent Actions go into a separate list/category called “Project Support”. It’s in the Project Support list/category (or folder), that you can put any subsequent action, thought, idea plans you have for the Project. This works best in a Digital system. Say in an app like Microsoft To Do, you create a new list called Project Support. Within that the first entry could be your project, say “Get admission to college”. Within the notes-section of that entry, you can put your subsequent actions, thoughts, ideas etc. You would review your Project Support lists once a week as part of your Weekly Review, as explained in the Weekly Review video. *phew* long answer. Hope that helps! Happy New Year!
Hi Arif. Thanks for explaining GTD so understandable and simple. Now, I have a question for you. When I'm working on a project, let's say thesis, I have to write steps to do that project before writing the next actions. for example, choose a Topic, Writing a proposal, writing articles, ... after that, I have to split any of those steps into next actions. I understand where to write the next actions. They can be in the notes section of the projects. but, where do I write the big steps so I could sometimes look at them and see where I really am? Thank you.
Hello Mohammad Rafiee Great Question! If I were you this is how I would organise my Project. If my Project is to “Write Thesis”, in my project list I would put: “Write and Submit Thesis”. In the notes section of my Project, I would write both: - Steps to do the project (Choose topic, write proposal) - As well as the Next actions (Google for ideas, Speak to Professor). From the list of above Next Actions the ones I can move forward on, I would put that in my relevant Next action list. So the Project and The Notes section of my Project would look like: Project: Write ans Submit thesis Notes: - Research topic * Google for topic ideas * Speak to colleagues on topics they chose. * Browse Amazon for ideas. - Write proposal * visit website for Proposal templates - Write articles. ---------------- In the notes section of my project, my code for Steps (or sub-projects) is a “-“ And for next actions is “*” Hope that helps!
@@CalmAchiever thanks Arif for this, I would love to see you make a video on how to tackle projects with multiple steps and the natural planning method.
Hello Saransh, Great question! The "Final Outcome" or "Project" stays in the Project list. You keep vising the Project list (say once a week) and check if there is an active Next Action for it in the respective Next Action list. Then as and when you do the Next Action, you strike it off and add the Next Action, after that. Eventually, you'll be done with the "Final Outcome" or "Project" and you strike that off in the end. Hope that helps!
@@CalmAchiever Thanks for quick response! Your videos are a great resource thanks ! So basically each project has a next action list ? I was under the idea that we put all the next actions into a single list and maybe categorize them based on context from there (home, office, computer etc) If we maintain different list for each project, don't you think it would be hard to navigate to them automatically(no cue) ? like I'll automatically ponder upon home list when I'm at home. Example : Say I have several office related projects that are going along at the same time at a fast pace. Say I have to bring each one of them to end in the next few days and say I have a common list for all the projects including work related projects, how will I go from there to effortlessly managing it? That seems like the biggest hinderance for me as of now.
Hey, you’re welcome! No, each project does not have a next action list. You’re initial understanding is correct. All the Next Actions are in a single list. If the number of Next Actions go beyond 15 or 20. Then that Next Action list can be divided/categorises into Contexts (home, office, computer etc). Now if you have several Work Related Projects that are ending in a few days, I would put them all into a list called “Projects”. If I really want to focus on some of the Projects from that list, then I’d highlight those with a star or an asterisk. When in doubt which are my imp or key projects that I should be moving on. I would just glance at that list and I’m good. However you must do a thorough Weekly Review each week. That is key! Otherwise your list will become bloated and stale with actions and projects that are not current. And you’ll not feel like looking into them. Hope that helps! Happy GTDing!
I just want to say thank you. You have helped me so much in my life about organizing everything. I felt so overwhelmed and was giving my self panic attacks at work and home and now I can finally feel relaxed thanks to you and your videos. They’re really funny and informative youre the best!
Dear Sarah
Wow! You are so VERY WELCOME!
Thank you so very much Sarah for the generous comment!
If you have any questions or challenges on GTD or Organising in general, please feel free to ask them. It helps me with ideas to create videos.
Warmly
Arif
this is very powerful. ty so much!
Thank you so very much for all your comments! I really hope you find a way to implement GTD that works for you!
@@CalmAchiever I'm actually uploading a video shortly about how excited I am! It's just 3:09 AM EST and I'm too excited from the inspiration you gave me. Thank you so much. I will try to remember in 1 week to get back to this, my current situation is problematic
@@Ninthxotic Woah Really! Gosh, that would be just amazing. Thank you!!!
@@CalmAchiever no problem
I know this is an older video but it would help to update the bookmarks so they are more accurate. They all seem to jump after the topic is started. For instance Context starts around 1:45 not 2:01, projects starts at 3:04, not 3:19
Dear Turbo,
Thanks so much for letting me know. Will have it updated asap!
Warmly
Arif
All done, Turbo!
Question from your viewer is how do you prevent yourself from overcompliating this process due to a tendency to be a prefectionist.
Your videos are so helpful. Thank you. Do you organize projects list by Areas of Focus? Do you ever recommend this
Hey Alan,
You're so welcome! So glad you find this helpful.
Do I organise projects list by Areas of Focus?
Well, currently I sort of do. Since I'm involved in various Companies, I have a Project list for each of my Companies and one for Personal.
That said, I'm currently trying to reduce the number of Project lists that I have. Because they are too many to review.
You could start with a single split of Projects list. One for Personal the other for Professional. See if that gives you mental peace to see those separately.
The guideline around this is, organise your Projects lists such that:
- it stays out of your mind.
- you are able to review and update it once a week. So that it reflects just your Current Projects.
Glad to have found your videos! Thank you! What if I have several next action steps on a project but I only want to do one action step for this week, where do I put the rest of other action steps I've identified for that same project?
Hello Cindy
That’s an intelligent question! It shows you’re really thinking through and implementing GTD.
Here’s the answer:
You put the immediate very next action into your Next Actions list (is Agendas, Calls, Home, Office etc. ).
The remaining subsequent Actions go into a separate list/category called “Project Support”. It’s in the Project Support list/category (or folder), that you can put any subsequent action, thought, idea plans you have for the Project.
This works best in a Digital system. Say in an app like Microsoft To Do, you create a new list called Project Support. Within that the first entry could be your project, say “Get admission to college”. Within the notes-section of that entry, you can put your subsequent actions, thoughts, ideas etc.
You would review your Project Support lists once a week as part of your Weekly Review, as explained in the Weekly Review video.
*phew* long answer. Hope that helps!
Happy New Year!
@@CalmAchiever Wow thanks Arif, definitely helpful answer. Happy New Year 🎉
Brilliant
Thanks!
Hi Arif. Thanks for explaining GTD so understandable and simple. Now, I have a question for you. When I'm working on a project, let's say thesis, I have to write steps to do that project before writing the next actions. for example, choose a Topic, Writing a proposal, writing articles, ... after that, I have to split any of those steps into next actions. I understand where to write the next actions. They can be in the notes section of the projects. but, where do I write the big steps so I could sometimes look at them and see where I really am? Thank you.
Hello Mohammad Rafiee
Great Question!
If I were you this is how I would organise my Project. If my Project is to “Write Thesis”, in my project list I would put: “Write and Submit Thesis”.
In the notes section of my Project, I would write both:
- Steps to do the project (Choose topic, write proposal)
- As well as the Next actions (Google for ideas, Speak to Professor).
From the list of above Next Actions the ones I can move forward on, I would put that in my relevant Next action list.
So the Project and The Notes section of my Project would look like:
Project: Write ans Submit thesis
Notes:
- Research topic
* Google for topic ideas
* Speak to colleagues on topics they chose.
* Browse Amazon for ideas.
- Write proposal
* visit website for Proposal templates
- Write articles.
----------------
In the notes section of my project, my code for Steps (or sub-projects) is a “-“
And for next actions is “*”
Hope that helps!
@@CalmAchiever Thank you so much for such a clear and simple answer. I could implement it on my system immediately. I'm so grateful.
@@CalmAchiever thanks Arif for this, I would love to see you make a video on how to tackle projects with multiple steps and the natural planning method.
Context 1:50 !
I know, context is such a game changer!
what happens to the final outcome we wrote for each next action in the clarify step ?
Hello Saransh,
Great question!
The "Final Outcome" or "Project" stays in the Project list. You keep vising the Project list (say once a week) and check if there is an active Next Action for it in the respective Next Action list.
Then as and when you do the Next Action, you strike it off and add the Next Action, after that.
Eventually, you'll be done with the "Final Outcome" or "Project" and you strike that off in the end.
Hope that helps!
@@CalmAchiever Thanks for quick response!
Your videos are a great resource thanks ! So basically each project has a next action list ? I was under the idea that we put all the next actions into a single list and maybe categorize them based on context from there (home, office, computer etc)
If we maintain different list for each project, don't you think it would be hard to navigate to them automatically(no cue) ? like I'll automatically ponder upon home list when I'm at home.
Example : Say I have several office related projects that are going along at the same time at a fast pace. Say I have to bring each one of them to end in the next few days and say I have a common list for all the projects including work related projects, how will I go from there to effortlessly managing it? That seems like the biggest hinderance for me as of now.
Hey, you’re welcome!
No, each project does not have a next action list.
You’re initial understanding is correct. All the Next Actions are in a single list.
If the number of Next Actions go beyond 15 or 20. Then that Next Action list can be divided/categorises into Contexts (home, office, computer etc).
Now if you have several Work Related Projects that are ending in a few days, I would put them all into a list called “Projects”. If I really want to focus on some of the Projects from that list, then I’d highlight those with a star or an asterisk.
When in doubt which are my imp or key projects that I should be moving on. I would just glance at that list and I’m good.
However you must do a thorough Weekly Review each week. That is key! Otherwise your list will become bloated and stale with actions and projects that are not current. And you’ll not feel like looking into them.
Hope that helps!
Happy GTDing!