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Linked next actions?

Say I have a small project like replacing the tires of my car which could look like this in a mission statement...

Mission (should you choose to accept it) : replace tires

Steps :
* Check what type of tires I need
* Call friend about contact he knows
* Call dealers to get some comparision prices
* Call handyman to do the job

Breaking this down to actions:
* Check what type of tires I need
- Check manual (@Home)
* Call friend about contact he knows
- Get number (@Work)
- Call friend (@ToCall)
- Call contact (@ToCall)
* Call dealers to get some comparision prices
- Get numbers (@Work)
- Call dealers (@ToCall)
* Call handyman to do the job
- Get number (@Home)
- Call handyman (@ToCall)

Several of these I can begin with at once, the collecting information parts as get number, get tire type etc. But I can't call anyone until I got their numbers. But still all this work can be done in a day if I just pass the diffrent containers during the day.

So should I add all these things to my contextlists even if they are not do-able right now? Or should I keep the undo-able things and add them at the daily review for the next day? Such a thing can drag a little project like this for days.

How do you keep track of these things? I mainly use paperbased contextlists but any idea is welcome :)

brownstudy's picture

Um, this is probably very...

Um, this is probably very un-GTD, but the mass of tasks would overload my logic circuits. So I'd put at least one task on my calendar everyday. If there are non-dependent tasks (calling a friend and checking a manual are independent of each other) I'd put them on the same day. Then just salt them through the week, based on when you think you'll get your answers back or when you think you can reasonably get to them.

By putting them on the calendar, you're committing to them, they're processed, they're off your mind, and it's just a matter of doing them and checking them off.

If you find you have time to do more tasks, just flip to the next day's page and do them. Voila, you're ahead of schedule.

This is what would work for me, don't know if it resonates with you. My thinking is that if I know these things have to be done, go ahead and schedule them.

 
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