Today and Focus List
I ran across a discussion on GTD Connect about using a Focus List to narrow down the numerous Next Actions one usually has. I know there has been some discussion about that here in the context of the Today view, since the "Today" view is arguably not a GTD concept. But it makes sense in the ways many people use Today to drag in tasks that you want to do at the beginning of the day (or the beginning of the week perhaps). The idea being that the Today view is simply a very (I stress very) short term filter for items that have your immediate attention.
But what about clearing out Today when your priorities change?
What happens when your priorities change almost instantly due to an
unforeseen event? Shouldn't there be a way to clear out Today very
quickly to reorganize your priorities?
Here is the question posted on GTD connect:
I know this has been discussed ad nauseum, but I am one of
those who sometimes has problems with looking at long next action
lists (regardless of the number of contexts) and deciding what to
do next. There is something to be said about planning out one's
day, and focusing on the most important tasks. With this in mind, I
have created a new context in Outlook 2007 entitled "Focus list".
Here I place the 3-5 MITs that I really wish to accomplish for the
day. Of course, I realize that things can change quickly and I will
have to address new things. But having a plan for the day seems to
work better for me.
Do others do something similar to this?
And here is the response from Kelly Forester (for those of you not a disciple of David Allen World, Kelly Forrester is David Allen's "Number 2"):
David uses something like this in eProductivity, called
the "Today" view. He can drag things from his lists to that view to
create a quick plan for today. And, it allows quickly clearing that
view as well (a requirement for DA to the developer who built this)
when plans change.
Wow! David Allen uses a Today List! Or rather, a focus list. But note the requirement: "It allows quickly clearing that view."
That is so GTD. Kelly is saying here, OK even David uses a short term "focus" list but it has to be temporary and quickly disposable because these are not true long term (or even short term) commitments, only momentary ones.
I get it!
With that in mind, how about a way to empty Today in one click?
A quick comment about scheduled tasks. I don't think Nirvana removes the scheduled date from a scheduled task even if you kick it out of the Today view. In fact, you can still click on DUE at the top even in the Next view. That makes Today a true bucket for your immediate attention. An alternative is a dual option: Clear all of today, or Clear events not scheduled for today (or earlier if you are like me always stay one step behind yourself like an over-the-shoulder view in a video game).
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2 Posted by DC Clarke on 01 Jun, 2010 06:21 PM
Just a quick follow up to myself. You apparently cannot remove a task scheduled for Today or earlier from the Today view without changing the date. Makes sense I think. Just renegotiate the date or do it!
But a way to quickly clear out the other stuff from Today would still make sense.
Support Staff 3 Posted by Christiane Magee on 03 Jun, 2010 03:30 PM
Thanks @DC for posting this.
I think this is a good suggestion. Perhaps it could be remedied by our soon to be released task multi-select? Select all your Today tasks and drag them into NEXT. What do you think?
4 Posted by DC Clarke on 04 Jun, 2010 07:51 PM
I think that is a good temporary solution but a simple one-click remove all button would be a nice feature, provided it properly handles items that are marked due today.
Support Staff 5 Posted by Christiane Magee on 04 Jun, 2010 08:00 PM
got it... duly noted :)
6 Posted by Morten Postrup on 04 Jun, 2010 09:47 PM
One click, one at a time removal from today would be much more versatile imho.
Clicking is good. Make the web-app usable on a touch screen tablet. Forget about dragging!
7 Posted by martin.tyler on 07 Jun, 2010 01:58 PM
A focus list like 'today' but not tied to dates would suite me better.
'next actions' are everything that is possible to do next.. a focus list is maybe what you decide that morning what you want to do from your next actions - but i dont like the implication (as it stands now) that they are 'due' today
8 Posted by DC Clarke on 08 Jun, 2010 12:49 AM
In following up with my original suggestion, the "mousing up" of many tasks looks like a nice solution to quickly clearing out Today. I did not envision multiple task selection working that way. i expected it to be more of a ticking of each task style which is time consuming. Looking forward to trying this new feature!
9 Posted by deekod on 18 Jun, 2010 11:48 PM
+1 for the one-click remove all button!
10 Posted by Gerald Aungst on 20 Jun, 2010 11:18 AM
Hm...what if Nirvana simply let the user rename "Today" to something else? Let each person customize it.
I'm sure "simply" on the user end would probably mean rewriting the entire application from scratch, so it's not as "simply" to do as it is to say, but it's a thought!
11 Posted by deekod on 24 Jun, 2010 09:33 PM
Would also love the ability to remove overdue items from the today list, I cant do all my overdue items in one day - oh that I could! ;-)
David McLaughlin closed this discussion on 04 Feb, 2011 02:38 AM.