Run Kitty Run

Setting Up Your Next Action List

You already have a list of all your projects, which you used to fill in the EPP. Now, go down that list and number each project. 

Start a list for your next actions using the number of the goal to categorize an action. Be sure that your task is actionable and small enough to be an accomplishment in one sitting. If it isn’t, rework or break down the task until it is.

Also, place a context at the front of the entry (after the number) in the form @context. This will help you know quickly if you are able to perform an action at any given time.

 

Using the List 

The next action list breaks down tasks so you have no question what to do next in a given goal. Here’s how to use the list with your EP Planner:

1. Do all 2 minute tasks - Are there any next actions that will take less than two minutes? Get those done!
2. Write the Next Action as soon as you complete one - This keeps your project rolling.
3. If you can’t act on a goal, it’s usually because you are waiting on something - If this is the case, use @wait before the item you are waiting on and put it in your list. I usually underline the @wait, so it’s very clear.
4. All goals should be represented on the Next Actions list at all times - They could either be a Next Action or an @wait item.
5. Use the EP Planner’s schedule to pick a task - Start with the next action for the top item for today in the EP Planner. Once you complete that task, you can move on to next action for the second goal on the list.  I always get the top item completed daily, if at all possible, as that means I am moving towards my goals.

If you missed the EP Planner post, click here to find out how to download a copy of the planner.

    But a time came when I had too many workbooks going all at once and the act of choosing a workbook took as much time as actually working. I got rather frustrated with them and my indecisive nature, so I made up a way to eliminate the choice. First, I made a spreadsheet with the days of the week across the top and put seven rows below them (even though I had six workbooks to choose from). It looked something like this:

  I then chose a workbook for each day of the week (I put my favorite one in twice to fill up all the days). Then I filled in all the rows by moving each entry down and to the left one spot, wrapping as needed. The result ending up looking something like this:                      

    Some features of this included:
       - Everything getting equal exposure
       - Once a task is the main task, you won’t see it for a while

    Now, moving up 14 years to the present, I’m looking to adapt this technique to my own life. The first obvious difference is number of tasks. Back then, I had six things I could do. Now, I have 11 goals and housekeeping tasks. That’s 12 things to fit into seven days.

    This is easily solved by grouping tasks and assigning one task group all even numbers and the other task group all odd numbers. Because there are seven days in a week, the task will alternate. I leave my two most important tasks ungrouped. I created a separate table to help me with this:

    Another problem I have is that some days I have more work time than others. For instance, I work at an office on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I take this into consideration when assigning tasks to days. Smaller and easier tasks are assigned to work days.

    Getting Things Done - Each day I have to complete something towards my main goal of the day. This keeps things moving. But once I start getting tired of the first item, I just move onto the next one. The cycle continues until I use up all my time. 

    The benefits of this system, as elementary as it is, are enormous for anyone working without hard deadlines like me. It makes me work towards all my goals, not just my favorite ones. 

In order to make this simple to implement, I created an Elementary Productivity Planner form. Here is what it looks like (both blank and filled in):

Want a copy of the Elementary Productivity Planner? It comes with a sample and a blank version. 

PDF: Download Here

Numbers: Download Here

I hope to offer an Excel version soon.