Focus/Star
Can someone elaborate a little on how they use the star? Is it just an extra flag to make sure that you look at starred items from your Next list first? Any other tips around this vs just a Next Action list? I don't remember such an idea in GTD, so that's why I was wondering...
2 Posted by Lasse on 26 Jul, 2011 11:33 PM
@Levi, in an earlier version of Nirvana Focus was called Today, i.e. it showed all tasks that were due today or scheduled for today as well as all other tasks that you manually "starred" (for example because you want to work on them today even though they're not due yet). In the current version the behavior is still the same but the list has been renamed because some users like to star tasks that they want to keep an eye on, for example because they're due in a few days. In the latter case Today wouldn't be an appropriate name, whereas Focus would fit. So basically, the Focus list is a list for all tasks that are due today, scheduled for today or that you starred because you want to focus on them.
3 Posted by Proximo on 27 Jul, 2011 05:54 PM
Great answer from Lasse as usual.
Let me add something here.
I shared a short article from David Allen on this very idea on my Google+ page. Here is a link to the short article where David explains the benefit of a 3x5 card to list the hottest items you are focused on and work from that card.
This in a nut shell is what the Focus list is. It's a place to put your hottest items in a focused list that you can work from and keep the noise of the other stuff out of sight.
I can't live without my Focus list.
http://goo.gl/MigxG
4 Posted by Lasse on 27 Jul, 2011 06:05 PM
Hmm, I've never heard of the 3x5 card suggestion. I really like the idea, though. Perfect way to explain what the Focus list is!
5 Posted by Proximo on 27 Jul, 2011 06:07 PM
When I read David's comments on this article, I quickly related it to the Focus list and think it's a great analogy on what it's for.