Getting Things Done (Alec Clews)
How to use Task Coach for "Getting Things Done" (GTD)
(Original version by Alec Clews)
Setup:
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Create Taskcoach categories that reflect the various GTD categories
- Next Action (I call it “.Next Action” so it sorts to the top of the list)
- Deferred
- Someday/Maybe
- Waiting
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Under Next Action create sub categories to represent your contexts
- “.Next Action/Errand”
- “.Next Action/Web”
- “.Next Action/Laptop”
- “.Next Action/Telephone” etc…
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Create a sub category called “.Next Action/_Agenda” (use underscore so that it sorts at the end of the next action list, alternatively make Agenda a top level category).
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Under that create categories for the people in your life
- “.Next Action/_Agenda/Wife”
- “.Next Action/_Agenda/Boss”
- “.Next Action/_Agenda/SalesGuyOnCurrenProject”
- etc.
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Optionally make “.Next Action” mutually exclusive on sub categories (suggested by the mailing list)
- Create the same people centric categories under Waiting
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In preferences select the following
- “Use Tabbed Interface..” off (you need to see context and task list at once)
- “Allow for tasking notes” on (optional but useful)
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Edit the “.Next Action” category and make it a different colour (NB: not red as that will hide overdue tasks)
- Optionally add additional columns to the task view (suggested by the TaskCoach mailing list). It can be useful to add a column for category so that tasks can be sorted by category or context.
Using it:
- Create top level tasks for your current projects. Create actions as subtasks under projects (You can drag and drop tasks between or into projects)
- Add new actions to the list in the normal fashion, so the task list becomes an inbox as well
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Add due and start dates as required
- Deferred actions
- Delegated actions
- Tasks with a real due date
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Review tasks in the task list (daily) by
- Selecting “Tree of tasks/List of tasks” as you progress to see context (or not)
- Assigning the correct Next Action context to tasks during review. NB Only one NA category should be used
- Moving new actions to the correct projects
- Removing Next Action category from completed tasks
- Using the other categories as appropriate
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Now click on the “.Next Action” category and only next actions are displayed. Selecting a specific sub category (and de-selecting the higher “.Next Action”) will further filter by context