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Leave a comment! Simpler Evernote GTD
New, Simpler Evernote GTD System, Part 4: Context Lists
In the course of this series, I’ve gone wavered on having a separate notebook for my context lists or combining it with my Next notebook. This week context lists have their own.
Here are my current context lists:
- @agendas – People with whom I need to speak. Each line begins with their name followed by a dash and the subject, such as “Mary – package arrived”.
- @computer – Only items that can be done on the computer. Since most of my work is here, this list can be long, but I usually only put items in this list that are not project specific. Those tasks go in the next actions section of my project notes.
- @decide – Things I need to make my mind up about.
- @email – Well… email.
- @errands - Groceries, appointments, etc.
- @home - Items that are specific to where I live and not online or on the phone.
- @office - Things I can only do at work.
- @phone - Calls I need to make.
- @planning - Things I’ll most likely be brainstorming, mind mapping about. Problems and obstacles, mostly, and attack plans for various things. Also includes things I need to read and review.
- @recording - Tasks for when I’m working on my new CD. Requires being in the home studio, working on songs.
- @waiting for - Things I’m waiting to hear back on from other people. Written just like @agendas items (and usually copied and pasted that way).
- @writing - Might be at the computer, might be long hand, but I’ll be writing, just the same.
That’s a nice context list. Another one I would suggest is @lowenergy context. This is something I assign to tasks that have no due date but need to be done at some point. They are usually not important at all too.
For example, changing your background desktop, re-arranging clothes in your closet, cleaning up your hard drive for more space, etc. These are things that all need to get done but have no set due date.
This list becomes really useful for when you feel like procrastinating. All you have to do is look at this list and see if there is something you can knock off, so you can still be somewhat productive while feeling lazy.
Does @lowenergy work well for you? I’ve sort of tried things like that before but didn’t stick with it.
However I’ve created and @lowenergy list now and will give it another try.
Also have you tried an @anywhere list? I go back and forth on that one, too.
I use the @lowenergy one a lot. Especially on lazy Sundays
The key to making it work is when you KNOW you’re not in the mood to get work done, but can still do something tiny, you look at this list.
@anywhere to me is too broad. Any context that is too broad usually ends up not working for me.
Well you’ve given me reason to take @lowenergy on. I’ll be incorporating that today more in my weekly review.
I feel the same way about @anywhere.
I’ve also been on the fence about @read-review. @computer-shopping is another I’m starting to experiment with.