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Do<< Review | BasicConcepts | >> This is the part when you actually GetThingsDone. It may seem like it's taken forever to get here when you're initially setting up your system, but after the initial run-through you should be able to spend the vast majority of your time in this phase. If you're not, you need to go back and make sure you have a stake in the ground for everything by regularly emptying your inboxes into the system and reviewing frequently enough. If you are confident it's all there, your mind can focus on doing rather than worrying! The Four-Criteria Model for Choosing ActionsDavid Allen describes a process for deciding what to do next. It depends on four factors: the context that we are in (renamed space context in GTD-PHP), the time you have available, your available energy, and your priorities. Space ContextsA space context defines where the action needs to occur. In GTD terminology, Allen simply refers to these as contexts. GTD-PHP has renamed these as space contexts, to differentiate them from the time required. To create a new space context hover over the Configure menu and select Space Contexts. To edit a space context hover over Configure and select Space Contexts. On this screen, you can edit the name and the description of the context and have the option to delete it or move all items assigned to it to a new context. Alternatively, clicking on any context displayed in a report will bring you to the editing screen. Time ContextsA time context defines how long it takes for the action to occur. In GTD-PHP, you define the estimated time needed to complete an action. Therefore, when you are deciding what to do next, you will have a field to filter and sort upon which will help you view only what can actually be achieved in the time that you have available to you. To edit a time context, or to create a new one, hover over the Configure menu and select Time Contexts. On this screen you can edit the name and the description of the context and have the option to delete it or move all items assigned to it to a new context. Alternatively, clicking on any time context displayed in a report will bring you to the editing page. Available energyWhen you look at your actions, you will choose what to do next based upon the space context you are in (in the car? Time to brainstorm about new projects, or make a few phone calls. Waiting for an appointment? Great time to catch up on your review pile.), the time you have until your next scheduled appointment/tasks, and how much energy you have. It wouldn't be very productive to try to prepare a major budget report just after a big lunch, would it? This is not represented in the GTD-PHP database per se... but you look at your actions sorted and filtered by category and space and time contexts to decide what to do next based upon the energy you have at that moment. PriorityYou might wonder why there is no priority field in GTD-PHP. That's because a central tenet to the GTD philosophy is that you can't assign fixed priorities to any action. Your priorities shift daily... sometimes even hourly. Therefore, those who use a system who assign priorities to items always seem to be in crisis mode dealing with the top priority items on a list... and never get to anything else. Therefore, when looking at your list, sorted and filtered by category, time, and space, you will decide what is most important at that moment and therefore decide what to do next. The question always is "It's 9:30 on Monday morning. My next appointment is in 1 hour. I'm at my desk. What should I do now?" Context ReportItem Lists! and !! explainedSorting Item ListsFiltering Item ListsFiltering BehaviorNOTShow AllStatus of ParentSearchingQuickFindShow AllActionsCompleting ActionsRecurring ActionsNext Action CheckboxProjectsCompleting ProjectsRecurring ProjectsHigher LevelsParent DisplayMultiple ParentsOrphansWhat happens when an item is completed but there are incomplete childrenItem ReportsAccessingNext and Previous Behavior |