Getting Things Done Ep. 322: Long Lists
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Aug 6, 2025 Dive into a lively discussion about managing long to-do lists and the challenges they bring. Learn how to effectively organize tasks into actionable and non-actionable categories for clarity. Explore the impact of physical and psychological environments on productivity. Discover how self-kindness and regular reviews can enhance your task management. Plus, get insights into concepts like 'someday maybe' lists and 'tickler files' to help navigate the ebbs and flows of your productivity journey.
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Separate Lists by Item Type
- Separate your lists strictly by item types: projects, next actions, waiting for, and someday/maybe.
- Mixing these categories makes lists longer and less effective.
Track Projects and Next Actions Separately
- Keep projects as multi-step outcomes on a separate list and next actions as single physical tasks.
- Track 'waiting-for' items separately since you cannot act on them until the other party completes their part.
Use Contexts for Next Actions
- Use context to organize next actions by where the action can be done physically or psychologically.
- Consider contexts like 'phone', 'office', or even 'with person X' to narrow down your actionable list.
