Opposed to the concept of the “Catch All” list are daily and weekly lists. The idea is simple enough. Instead of writing a comprehensive list of everything you can think of, you write a selective list of only what you intend to do during the course of the current week. From this list you extract tasks to go on the daily lists.
The process of producing these lists is intended to give you a clear plan for the week and a clear plan for each day. At least that’s the theory. What almost inevitably happens is that when they write the weekly list people grossly overstimate what they are capable of doing in the week and also grossly underestimate the number of unforeseen emergencies and distractions that will arise during that week. And then they do the same with the daily lists. The result is that tasks get carried over from day to day - and by the end of the week a large number needs to be carried over to the next week.
My verdict:
After a few weeks of this, the focus promised by the weekly and daily lists has vanished and what you are left with is virtually the same as the “Catch All” list - with all its disadvantages but without its chief advantage, completeness.
Tomorrow:
The Daily Open List