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What are your contexts?

I have been rereading some of Merlin's posts now that I have started GTD implementation and his post about contexts was really helpful because I am unsure about the contexts that I have set up. I found it interesting to read his list of contexts, and thought it would be helpful to hear what others have in their lists of contexts.

Please post your contexts, maybe with a little explanation about the logic behind your system. Thanks.

Here is my list (feel free to critique it):

home: computer
home: calls
home: do
home: client
out: client
out: errands
think, create
work: calls
work: errands
work: phone
work: computer

My logic: I have a home business that involves selling stuff online, meeting clients outside my home and also having clients to my house, plus I have a night job (for rent money and benefits) where, if I have downtime, I can do whatever I want (within reason) including phone calls, research, errands etc. I split out errands to "out" and "work" because there are some errands I can do near work, but actually those can be done at anytime, like on my way to work, so I will probably eliminate "work: errands". "Home: do" is a catch-all for chores and non-work stuff around the house that doesn't fit the other categories; I am thinking of breaking that out a little more. "Think, create" is another catchall for brainstorming, sketching, mulling in a controlled situation...not just daydreaming, but working out ideas for a specific project.

SteveC's picture

Where I haven't simplified is...

pooks wrote:
Where I haven't simplified is "shopping."

I have an "@ Whole Foods," "@ supermarket," "@ Office Depot." These are stores where I go for specific items or kinds of items, so that when I realize I need or want something I immediately write it on the correct card -- 3x5s printed with the DIY hPDA template. Tonight my husband and I had meandered through the veggies at Whole Foods before I recalled my list. I pulled it out of my pocket Moleskine, and went through the store picking up the necessities we needed while my husband continued to surf fruits and veggies. Saved us time, and there were 4 items I would have totally forgotten w/o the list.

+1 for this (but organised very slightly differently)

My 'Errands' category (I don't know why it's not @ Errands, but I've got used to it now) has a list of tasks (e.g Tesco, Garden Centre, Town, Car (stuff which needs the car as opposed to the push-bike)) which I suppose could be thought of a combination of context-and-next-action. "When you are next in Tesco's, buy a red wine box". Or you could call them shopping lists! The big advantage is being able to add things to the list whenever I think of something and then being able to safely forget it.

But they have to be separated by type of shop or (at least) by trip. If I was wondering round Tesco's looking for the horse manure, or round the garden centre with 'parmesan' on the list I'd go mad!

Steve

 
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