Separate files makes sense if you are going to be sharing files differently, for example, sharing one file with family and the other with coworkers. Separate files makes no sense if there are going to be some tasks that don’t fit either file (like planning a surprise for a loved one, not information you want to share with either group) or if some fall in both groups, like soundproofing your home office. Because a task can have multiple (or no) contexts, contexts become a better choice than folders if you have a lot of items the cross or blur the boundaries.
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of John Smith Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2015 4:49 AM To: [email protected] Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: [MLO] Newbie Question: Does MLO have 'Areas of Focus'? I am trying to work out if I could set up a way of working whereby I might have say 4 or 5 completely separate areas of my life (AKA "Areas of Focus") whereby at a single click or hotkey combination I now look at a universe that consists of just that area. i.e. Everything I then enter goes straight into that area and everything I see is just that area. My thinking is that it's important to maintain progress in all the separate areas. One possible would be to have a separate MLO file for each area - but that seems a little extreme. J On Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at 8:29:23 AM UTC, Andrei Bacean wrote: me, yes ----- Original Message ----- From: J Smith <[email protected] <javascript:> > To: [email protected] <javascript:> Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 14:33:13 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: [MLO] Newbie Question: Does MLO have 'Areas of Focus'? > Simply put, to answer my original question are most people using Folder to > denote "Area of Focus" ? > > J > > On Thursday, 11 December 2014 07:57:28 UTC, Andrei Bacean wrote: > > > Hi John > > > > The Effort in my example is used to group the tasks by the order in which > > they may be done. For example, the tasks with the effort MAX may be done at > > first. > > > > When all tasks with the "effort > normal" are completed, then at the top > > of my list will be STARRED tasks followed by tasks which are sorted by > > computed score. > > > > In my example, the effort may be substituted with flags. But the Effort is > > better supported by the mobile versions of MLO. > > > > Best regards > > Andrei B > > 09 Дек 2014 г. 16:00 пользователь "John Smith" <[email protected] > > <mailto:[email protected]%20%0b> > > <javascript:>> написал: > > > >> > >> Hi Andrei > >> > >> Interesting - thanks > >> > >> Quick question: > >> > >> How are you using the term "Effort" in this context? Is it: > >> - The total amount of mental energy to complete a task (or project)? > >> - A simple reflection the amount of psychological resistance you have > >> towards completing the task (or project)? (i.e. In effect a measure of > >> "how > >> much i dont want to do this task" ? !) > >> - To what extent does it reflect: > >> - the time required and/or > >> - the number of steps and/or > >> - sum of money that will be required to complete the task (or > >> project)? > >> > >> Many thanks > >> > >> J > >> > >> On Tuesday, December 9, 2014 7:24:25 AM UTC, Andrei Bacean wrote: > >>> > >>> Hi John > >>> > >>> Here is an example of my outline > >>> *On the first image is the outline example > >>> *On the second image - example of an Area of Focus > >>> *On the third image - example of my TODO list: > >>> (the tasks are grouped by EFFORT. and sorted by STAR + COMPUTED SCORE > >>> the tasks which MUST to be done ASAP i place into the HIGHEST URGENCY > >>> FOLDER > >>> If some task are also very important i increase its EFFORT. > >>> SOME FOLDERS in my outline have an INCREASED EFFORT too. > >>> When a task is placed in such a folder, it will be shown at the top of > >>> my TO DO list. > >>> FOLDERS WITH CUSTOM EFFORT but without TASKS are hidden from the view.) > >>> > >>> I will be very busy next 2 weeks, and may reply with big delay > >>> > >>> Best regards > >>> Andrei > >>> > >>> четверг, 4 декабря 2014 г., 15:42:42 UTC+2 пользователь John Smith > >>> написал: > >>>> > >>>> Andrei > >>>> > >>>> OK got it. They are just folders but you have changed used automatic > >>>> formatting rules to change the icon depending on something quite > >>>> clever... > >>>> like whether the folder name has an @ in it. AND whether it has any > >>>> entries > >>>> in it. > >>>> > >>>> Clever stuff. Can you tell use something about your work flow? > >>>> > >>>> e.g. Do all "things you need" to do start life as tasks which you put > >>>> into one of those folders? > >>>> And only later get turned into Projects... and if and when this happens > >>>> only then do you move them into one of your "Projects & Actions" folders > >>>> below... Something like that? > >>>> > >>>> Thanx > >>>> > >>>> J > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> On Thursday, December 4, 2014 7:14:16 AM UTC, Andrei Bacean wrote: > >>>>> > >>>>> My friend > >>>>> > >>>>> IMHO, you ask to many questions in one thread :) > >>>>> > >>>>> I will reply to the question about the icons. > >>>>> See attached image. The answer is there. > >>>>> > >>>>> Best regards > >>>>> Andrew > >>>>> > >>>>> среда, 3 декабря 2014 г., 23:39:16 UTC+2 пользователь John Smith > >>>>> написал: > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Andrei > >>>>>> > >>>>>> I have now had a very good look at MLO and I can not for the life of > >>>>>> me work out how you generated that image(!). > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Is that done through the standard "All tasks" view? What are those > >>>>>> icons that look like baskets and why are two of them red? I am using > >>>>>> Windows 7 (x64) and I can not find anything similar in any view that I > >>>>>> have > >>>>>> been able to create in any of my views. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> I don't think I understand what you mean by "TREE". Is it the > >>>>>> structure of Folders that I would see for example in the standard "All > >>>>>> tasks" view? My problem is that if I build a Tree structure using > >>>>>> directories to reflect the GTD Areas of Focus, then it seems to me > >>>>>> that > >>>>>> this will interfere with using 'drag and drop' to manually change the > >>>>>> sort > >>>>>> order in on order to put the more important stuff at the top of the > >>>>>> page. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> <https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yv0pRQ4OrfE/VH9772QXQHI/AAAAAAAAAME/jCGeH6--XDg/s1600/delme_MLO_01.gif> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> But looking more closely at your screenshot, you have got one row to > >>>>>> appear for each of your (what I assume to be) Context tags. How did > >>>>>> you > >>>>>> create that? Is each row something you created manually or is it some > >>>>>> clever View that I have not found yet? > >>>>>> > >>>>>> I have also spent quite a lot of time reading and trying to > >>>>>> understand David Allens GTD method. And I am still not clear what the > >>>>>> best > >>>>>> way would be to implement things to allow me to quickly filter my view > >>>>>> to > >>>>>> just focus on any one of the Contexts. (e.g. Should I set up an entire > >>>>>> View > >>>>>> and/or tab/Workspace for each Context?) > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Likewise in GTD you have "Someday-Maybe" and "Delegation/Waiting-For" > >>>>>> lists. Is the best way to do this to manually move each task/project > >>>>>> into a > >>>>>> specially named folder at (say) the bottom of my screen (called > >>>>>> something > >>>>>> like "Someday-Maybe") and to make sure that the folder has "hide > >>>>>> branch in > >>>>>> To-Do" ticked, so as to stop it from appearing in the "To-do" views? > >>>>>> Are > >>>>>> there any other options? > >>>>>> Because moving things is a slightly painful thing to do. And yes, > >>>>>> even if you use F3 to help you - it's certainly a lot more than just a > >>>>>> few > >>>>>> keystrokes. Is there no other/faster way to get something out of the > >>>>>> way > >>>>>> and stop appearing on the To-do lists? > >>>>>> > >>>>>> And what about using Context tags? For example I see you have > >>>>>> something called @WaitingFor. Is that a folder with that name or a > >>>>>> Context > >>>>>> tag? Is it both? If both why do you bother having the Context tag at > >>>>>> all... > >>>>>> given that moving the item into that folder would presumably stop the > >>>>>> item > >>>>>> from appearing on the To-do list? > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Also I notice you have folders called "Work Actions" and "Home > >>>>>> Actions" and then another pair of folders called "Work Projects and > >>>>>> Actions" and "Home Projects and Actions". Where then do you actually > >>>>>> keep > >>>>>> your GTD Projects? I mean are you physically separating an Actions > >>>>>> from the > >>>>>> Project that it belongs to. Or do you keep Actions that have no > >>>>>> project > >>>>>> associated with them in a completely different place from Actions that > >>>>>> are > >>>>>> part of Projects. If so what is the benefit of doing this? And either > >>>>>> way > >>>>>> roughly how many of each one do you have at any one time... and if > >>>>>> that's a > >>>>>> fairly large number (e.g. over say 10) how do you decide which to > >>>>>> next? > >>>>>> > >>>>>> With thanks > >>>>>> > >>>>>> J > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> On Tuesday, December 2, 2014 9:35:11 AM UTC, Andrei Bacean wrote: > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> Hi John > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> The hardest thing, imho, is to create a simple, easy to understand, > >>>>>>> TREE. Yes, I say TREE. > >>>>>>> The TREE is the base of your GTD system. But views, tabs, contexts > >>>>>>> are instruments which u use to obtain more benefits from the tree. > >>>>>>> The TREE has to be simple, intuitive and easy to view. You dont have > >>>>>>> to feel any discomfort when you look at it. > >>>>>>> If instead you think that the tree is complicated then you may STOP > >>>>>>> at this moment, don't play with views, tabs and so on. GO BACK to the > >>>>>>> tree > >>>>>>> and try to simplify it, reorganize it. If you think that you achieved > >>>>>>> what > >>>>>>> you want, and the tree is perfect, then leave it for 1 day. Look at > >>>>>>> it > >>>>>>> again the next day in the morning, then in the afternoon and also in > >>>>>>> the > >>>>>>> evening. Do you think it's also perfect as before?? > >>>>>>> If yes, then slowly, step by step play with Tabs, Views, Contexts > >>>>>>> but remember to not make significant changes to the tree in a hurry. > >>>>>>> To create a system that works for you is a hard thing. That's why > >>>>>>> don't hurry, but step by step try to improve your tree, and when you > >>>>>>> think > >>>>>>> that it's perfect, only then, play with views and tabs. > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> Ps > >>>>>>> The Tree may be customized using different fonts for top parrent, > >>>>>>> using diffenent colors for urgent tasks, using icons instead of > >>>>>>> classic > >>>>>>> folders example > >>>>>>> http://kraevoy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/autoformat_ > >>>>>>> 2014_06_26_08.jpg > >>>>>>> use CAPITALIZATION for top folders instead of normal text and so > >>>>>>> on... > >>>>>>> But at the base of any tree is the information and not the > >>>>>>> formatting. > >>>>>>> So, try to search in this group for examples of use, to see more > >>>>>>> examples of trees. Also play with templates offered by MLO > >>>>>>> Application(menu > >>>>>>> file/new and then choose a template). Browse also the mlo blog, > >>>>>>> Andrei (the > >>>>>>> developer) posted a topic about his MLO tree. Read also more > >>>>>>> carefully the > >>>>>>> MLO help file (press F1). > >>>>>>> I wish you to not hurry but to build your perfect system step by > >>>>>>> step. > >>>>>>> Good luck > >>>>>>> Andrei B > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> -- > >> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the > >> Google Groups "MyLifeOrganized" group. > >> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit > >> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/mylifeorganized/HRJm9Zql4to/unsubscribe > >> . > >> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to > >> [email protected] <javascript:>. > >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > >> <javascript:>. > >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/mylifeorganized. > >> To view this discussion on the web visit > >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mylifeorganized/9afafbf4-708a-4dde-8b0a-bd4fbba663fd%40googlegroups.com > >> > >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mylifeorganized/9afafbf4-708a-4dde-8b0a-bd4fbba663fd%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email > >> > >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mylifeorganized/9afafbf4-708a-4dde-8b0a-bd4fbba663fd%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > >> &utm_source=footer> > >> . > >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > >> > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google > Groups "MyLifeOrganized" group. > To unsubscribe from this topic, visit > https://groups.google.com/d/topic/mylifeorganized/HRJm9Zql4to/unsubscribe. > To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to > [email protected] <javascript:> . > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > <javascript:> . > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/mylifeorganized. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mylifeorganized/28ea639a-7503-4428-a884-6cdd2cf87a8c%40googlegroups.com. > > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MyLifeOrganized" group. 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