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More baby step questions

Thanks everyone for your replies about contexts. It was very interesting to see into your minds and how you use the system to fit your life. It was very instructive and helped me tweak my system.

Today I wanted to ask you how your day actually looks. When do you process your in-box? Do you do it several times a day, or when something comes in, or when it reaches a certain height? when you are out and about and can't put things into your system, you just jot a note like "make grocery list" or "email Stephano" and then chuck it in your in-box when you get back?

Do you write your notes on cards? post-its? in a notebook? do you tear out the notebook sheet and toss that in your in-box?

I know that there is no one right way to do it, so I want to see the range of approaches and how it works for you. I think that will help me focus in on how to work my system.

I'm doing kGTD, iCal, Eudora mail and a physical tickler file. I don't use my PDA nor a hPDA, only my cell phone. I am not a big fan of paper notes because they never worked for me before, but I am open to it now that I have a "system".

Thanks

emory's picture

I'm in the middle of...

kenzi wrote:
I'm in the middle of week two and I'm puzzled over an NA issue. I feel like I missed something somewhere.

When I have something that is an NA, but I'm deferring it what do I do with it? For example, I need to renew my passport, but I'm not going to do it now, but I don't have a specific date that I am going to do it so I can't put it in my tickler file. I have it on my list, but where do I put the application and the old passport until I do it? Do I create a file for that? Right now it's sitting in my in-box but it's also on my list of to do's.

What I would do:

Put the passport and forms in a folder, label it "passport".

Create a project card (or list) for "Renew Passport" with the following items:

* Review passport renewal form (Filed: 'Passport')
* Complete passport form
* Retrieve Passport (Filed: 'Passport')
* Mail in passport form (or Deliver Passport form)
* Wait for passport renewal

When you're doing a weekly review and realize you will want your passport (because you have a project that involves travel or you have some spare cycles) I would promote "Review passport renewal form (Filed: 'Passport')" to my @home context card.

I may also move/promote "Complete passport form" to my @home context card.

Mid-week I may promote more if I've done those. Or I'll surely see it on my next Weekly Review that I have more work to do there.

If you had a due-date (and you said you didn't), I would put two appointments in my Calendar. One: 14 days until Passport Renewal Due, Two: Passport Renewal - Drop Dead Date.

 
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