Discussion Forum > AF1 Improvement
(1) Make the new daily starting place part of the official rules -- or at least add it to the suggested DOs and DON'Ts.
(2) Make the AF1 rules themselves easier to find -- perhaps even superseding Superfocus in the Place of Prominence at the top of your site's pages. (After 1 day of working this way, I find it flows much better than SF, though I haven't attempted War and Peace yet!)
That's all for now...
(2) Make the AF1 rules themselves easier to find -- perhaps even superseding Superfocus in the Place of Prominence at the top of your site's pages. (After 1 day of working this way, I find it flows much better than SF, though I haven't attempted War and Peace yet!)
That's all for now...
January 3, 2012 at 3:34 |
Seraphim
Seraphim
I would like a better rule for dismissing more stuff and integrating review into the flow. For the latter I would suggest AF4 type review next time you come about to the diissed page. I don't have a good idea to promote more frequent dismissal.
January 3, 2012 at 4:20 |
Alan Baljeu
Alan Baljeu
I nominate this little improvement for the Nobel Prize for Simplicity!
Looks like it came out of the AutoDIT discussions, so I want to thank everyone who pitched in to those threads, notably Seraphim, Alan, and Mark. This start-at-prior-day concept has the feel of greatness!
I will try it out and look for rule changes that may suggest themselves.
Looks like it came out of the AutoDIT discussions, so I want to thank everyone who pitched in to those threads, notably Seraphim, Alan, and Mark. This start-at-prior-day concept has the feel of greatness!
I will try it out and look for rule changes that may suggest themselves.
January 3, 2012 at 6:57 |
Bernie
Bernie
I would suggest
- Flags the most important items, urgent and unfinished
- Report all yours must do task on today's list
- Start by today's date and by these reported items
- If a task is a project put the project in parenthesis
- When there is a due date about a task put it at the end of the task and report it on your diary if it is a dead line or something you absolutely must do
- Put everything in the list one by one and at night report what must be on yours projects or diary. Don t hesitate to put ideas like someday I will or reformulations about yours items.
That's all for me for the moment
- Flags the most important items, urgent and unfinished
- Report all yours must do task on today's list
- Start by today's date and by these reported items
- If a task is a project put the project in parenthesis
- When there is a due date about a task put it at the end of the task and report it on your diary if it is a dead line or something you absolutely must do
- Put everything in the list one by one and at night report what must be on yours projects or diary. Don t hesitate to put ideas like someday I will or reformulations about yours items.
That's all for me for the moment
January 3, 2012 at 10:51 |
FocusGuy.
FocusGuy.
- if you don't get through your list x times in a day, dismiss the oldest pages until only y are left.
The values of x and y will probably differ from person to person, but I'd think 3 would be a reasonable starting value.
The values of x and y will probably differ from person to person, but I'd think 3 would be a reasonable starting value.
January 3, 2012 at 11:23 |
Will
Will
I like the concept Will, but the execution is awkward. There are days when only 1 hour is available, and days when 8 hours are available. I'd think you need to find an average over several days, only then it becomes a chore to calculate.
January 3, 2012 at 13:52 |
Alan Baljeu
Alan Baljeu
On a Monday morning, people who work at home (Work and Home in same list) may be better served by starting from Friday's page, rather than Sunday's.
This might be generalized by starting each morning from the most relevant page, the freshest-feeling page, or perhaps the page that stands out?
This might be generalized by starting each morning from the most relevant page, the freshest-feeling page, or perhaps the page that stands out?
January 3, 2012 at 14:31 |
Bernie
Bernie
+JMJ+
Make the 2nd DOs and DONTs item part of the official rules, not just a suggestion.
I also second Seraphim's suggestions.
I really like this minor AF1 tweak.
Make the 2nd DOs and DONTs item part of the official rules, not just a suggestion.
I also second Seraphim's suggestions.
I really like this minor AF1 tweak.
January 3, 2012 at 15:05 |
nuntym
nuntym
Differentiate unfinished vs. brand new tasks for dismissal similar to DWM. Once one commits to a task/project I think it makes sense that these items should be under scrutiny and subject to more aggressive dismissal policy.
Right now AF1 does not distinguish these. SF does so with column 2 but was too restrictive. I liked DWM’s timed (1 week of inactivity) dismissal as they fall somewhere in the middle. This should be easy to incorporate if one begins to note dates on the pages.
GC
Right now AF1 does not distinguish these. SF does so with column 2 but was too restrictive. I liked DWM’s timed (1 week of inactivity) dismissal as they fall somewhere in the middle. This should be easy to incorporate if one begins to note dates on the pages.
GC
January 3, 2012 at 16:16 |
Greenchutney
Greenchutney
Alan, I absolutely agree that you shouldn't need to do this every day. Just added "Winnow AF list"!
January 3, 2012 at 16:43 |
Will
Will
Good afternoon, colleagues, Mark.
I ask to excuse, but I DO NOT CONSIDER that AF1 needs improvement.
Improvements for AF1 – it is harmful.
It is the STANDARD, the BASIS of processing of problems in a stream, PROCESS.
It is possible to stop on AF1, it is possible to go only further, but improvement AF1 won't be already AF1, and something another.
Mark, if YOU tell that my remark not in this theme, I will accept YOUR remark, you are right.
What didn't suffice me in AF1?
Sensations that I on that actual page that is necessary NOW.
Attempt of an input from yesterday problems – attempt to enter the CALENDAR METHOD of processing of problems to be in time, to be late.
I have come to that I use AF4, not reconsidered, but modernized for myself.
If it is interesting, as AF1 for me COMPLETELY copes with problems – I can open a new theme as resolve, my friends.
Yours faithfully.
I ask to excuse, but I DO NOT CONSIDER that AF1 needs improvement.
Improvements for AF1 – it is harmful.
It is the STANDARD, the BASIS of processing of problems in a stream, PROCESS.
It is possible to stop on AF1, it is possible to go only further, but improvement AF1 won't be already AF1, and something another.
Mark, if YOU tell that my remark not in this theme, I will accept YOUR remark, you are right.
What didn't suffice me in AF1?
Sensations that I on that actual page that is necessary NOW.
Attempt of an input from yesterday problems – attempt to enter the CALENDAR METHOD of processing of problems to be in time, to be late.
I have come to that I use AF4, not reconsidered, but modernized for myself.
If it is interesting, as AF1 for me COMPLETELY copes with problems – I can open a new theme as resolve, my friends.
Yours faithfully.
January 3, 2012 at 16:45 |
Sacherk
Sacherk
Two suggestions for exploration / possible improvement:
- Additional guidelines for making the most effective use of a tickler system.
- Additional guidelines on handling different working locations / context (e.g., home and work), especially for people who sometimes work from home, so sometimes have overlapping contexts.
- Additional guidelines for making the most effective use of a tickler system.
- Additional guidelines on handling different working locations / context (e.g., home and work), especially for people who sometimes work from home, so sometimes have overlapping contexts.
January 3, 2012 at 17:19 |
Seraphim
Seraphim
Bernie wrote:
<< On a Monday morning, people who work at home (Work and Home in same list) may be better served by starting from Friday's page, rather than Sunday's. >>
I have always had lots of work tasks and personal tasks, and have relied on Mark's systems (and my derivatives thereof) to handle them both.
Most recently, I had been keeping them in two separate lists, both in OneNote.
But I have found that the AF1 rules (with the start-of-day amendment) are very amenable to combining the two worlds into one list -- in fact it works better that way.
I think the reason for this is my integrated tickler system. I have all the tickler pages I mentioned before, in the AutoDIT threads, such as TOMORROW, SATURDAY, MONDAY and FEBRUARY, etc.
I added two more: LUNCH and EVENING.
Now, if I am at work, happily processing work tasks, but there's a bunch of stuff on my AF1 last page that I can't do now because they are personal items, I just move them to LUNCH or EVENING or SATURDAY. When those times arrive, I move the tasks back to the AF1 last page.
If it is evening and I am working on personal things, and there are work items on my AF1 last page, I move them to TOMORROW.
It's working pretty well so far.
<< On a Monday morning, people who work at home (Work and Home in same list) may be better served by starting from Friday's page, rather than Sunday's. >>
I have always had lots of work tasks and personal tasks, and have relied on Mark's systems (and my derivatives thereof) to handle them both.
Most recently, I had been keeping them in two separate lists, both in OneNote.
But I have found that the AF1 rules (with the start-of-day amendment) are very amenable to combining the two worlds into one list -- in fact it works better that way.
I think the reason for this is my integrated tickler system. I have all the tickler pages I mentioned before, in the AutoDIT threads, such as TOMORROW, SATURDAY, MONDAY and FEBRUARY, etc.
I added two more: LUNCH and EVENING.
Now, if I am at work, happily processing work tasks, but there's a bunch of stuff on my AF1 last page that I can't do now because they are personal items, I just move them to LUNCH or EVENING or SATURDAY. When those times arrive, I move the tasks back to the AF1 last page.
If it is evening and I am working on personal things, and there are work items on my AF1 last page, I move them to TOMORROW.
It's working pretty well so far.
January 3, 2012 at 17:19 |
Seraphim
Seraphim
This is a neat idea Seraphim. I think it's particularly easy with movable pages as you can have a dynamic list according to which pages you include.
January 3, 2012 at 20:14 |
Alan Baljeu
Alan Baljeu
Write new tasks in Lower Case. Write tasks re-entered because they are only part done in UPPER CASE. That way they will stand out more and be more likely driven to completion.
January 4, 2012 at 1:11 |
DavidC
DavidC
+JMJ+
Seraphim: <<Additional guidelines on handling different working locations / context (e.g., home and work), especially for people who sometimes work from home, so sometimes have overlapping contexts. >>
*cringe* That is I think the hardest one to add into AF1 if you want to have just one list. That is one of the main reasons I quit the AFs and am sticking to DWM2 and other time-based dismissal systems.
Seraphim: <<Additional guidelines on handling different working locations / context (e.g., home and work), especially for people who sometimes work from home, so sometimes have overlapping contexts. >>
*cringe* That is I think the hardest one to add into AF1 if you want to have just one list. That is one of the main reasons I quit the AFs and am sticking to DWM2 and other time-based dismissal systems.
January 4, 2012 at 2:29 |
nuntym
nuntym
+JMJ+
1) Precede all new items and rewritten items you can do today with a + symbol.
2) All rewritten items that can be only done the next day are preceded with a - symbol.
3) You cannot dismiss any page with items preceded by the - symbol.
4) At the end of the day, make all - symbols into + symbols.
This will add the option of "TODAY/TOMORROW" to AF1 itself.
1) Precede all new items and rewritten items you can do today with a + symbol.
2) All rewritten items that can be only done the next day are preceded with a - symbol.
3) You cannot dismiss any page with items preceded by the - symbol.
4) At the end of the day, make all - symbols into + symbols.
This will add the option of "TODAY/TOMORROW" to AF1 itself.
January 4, 2012 at 2:50 |
nuntym
nuntym
How about using the 1st pass through all the items on the page to mark the ones that have a "negative feeling" or offer "high resistance" with some sort of sign, as discussed recently in the "AF1 PLUS-OR-MINUS" thread: http://www.markforster.net/forum/post/1677406
When leaving the page (if the page wasn't dismissed), the ones marked in the 1st pass would be crossed out and rewritten at the end, in a way that cuts them smaller… see examples in http://www.markforster.net/blog/2006/9/9/plus-or-minus.html
I haven't tested this (it's all theory) but maybe:
• over time, the entire list would progressively tend towards lower resistance tasks.
• the effort is low and it doesn't get tiring because the auditing/reviewing is embedded in the normal day-to-day processing of each page.
• each "rewrite" can be done quickly (it doesn't have to be perfect) because we'll get to reevaluate it again when the last page is reached.
Could interfere though with the "starting each day on the page for the previous day" by polluting the "fresh and current" feeling of that tweak.
When leaving the page (if the page wasn't dismissed), the ones marked in the 1st pass would be crossed out and rewritten at the end, in a way that cuts them smaller… see examples in http://www.markforster.net/blog/2006/9/9/plus-or-minus.html
I haven't tested this (it's all theory) but maybe:
• over time, the entire list would progressively tend towards lower resistance tasks.
• the effort is low and it doesn't get tiring because the auditing/reviewing is embedded in the normal day-to-day processing of each page.
• each "rewrite" can be done quickly (it doesn't have to be perfect) because we'll get to reevaluate it again when the last page is reached.
Could interfere though with the "starting each day on the page for the previous day" by polluting the "fresh and current" feeling of that tweak.
January 4, 2012 at 13:18 |
Hugo Ferreira
Hugo Ferreira
"- Additional guidelines on handling different working locations"
I'm toying with just following standard rules.
I do start the working week with a review of tasks dismissed over the weekend. That is no bad thing - I've got to the age where I can do with the reminder.
I'm toying with just following standard rules.
I do start the working week with a review of tasks dismissed over the weekend. That is no bad thing - I've got to the age where I can do with the reminder.
January 4, 2012 at 15:50 |
Will
Will
I tried something which is interesting I submit to you.
- At the beginning of the day put today's date just at the top middle page
- Then work by project and put everything which comes to your mind and which arrives little by little about the project during the day. The methode is to work by project and do the most you can about it grouping all you can in the same paragraphs
example
(PROJECT X)
Do this,
Waiting for that on monday
New idea : May be I could do this and that
Call X and Y / Make them agree the owner point of view
Tomorrow do this
Beware of that
(Project Y)
Someday I could do this or that
NOTES about ....
The result is a great focus on a project and a good advancement on the project little by little.
There is also an increasement of the efficiency and the vision about the project because all tasks relatives to projects are grouped together and it force you to close or eliminate the project the sooner possible.
It is just a test, for the moment.
- At the beginning of the day put today's date just at the top middle page
- Then work by project and put everything which comes to your mind and which arrives little by little about the project during the day. The methode is to work by project and do the most you can about it grouping all you can in the same paragraphs
example
(PROJECT X)
Do this,
Waiting for that on monday
New idea : May be I could do this and that
Call X and Y / Make them agree the owner point of view
Tomorrow do this
Beware of that
(Project Y)
Someday I could do this or that
NOTES about ....
The result is a great focus on a project and a good advancement on the project little by little.
There is also an increasement of the efficiency and the vision about the project because all tasks relatives to projects are grouped together and it force you to close or eliminate the project the sooner possible.
It is just a test, for the moment.
January 4, 2012 at 16:07 |
FocusGuy.
FocusGuy.
If the change is made to restart each day at Yesterday, the gap between where you paused yesterday, and the place you resume today ought to be processed by something like the quote below:
"DO read through all the outstanding items on your list when you come back to it after an extended break. This will help your mind to get an overview of what needs to be done."
"DO read through all the outstanding items on your list when you come back to it after an extended break. This will help your mind to get an overview of what needs to be done."
January 4, 2012 at 16:58 |
Alan Baljeu
Alan Baljeu
Wow, guys!
Did I mention that I arrived at my insight about AF1 by seeking to come up with the _simplest_ solution?
My own answer to the question which I posed at the top of this thread makes AF1 even simpler and easier than it is already.
The big difference though is that it shifts the emphasis from being a filter to nuturing and preserving the momentum built up by the actions we have taken.
Did I mention that I arrived at my insight about AF1 by seeking to come up with the _simplest_ solution?
My own answer to the question which I posed at the top of this thread makes AF1 even simpler and easier than it is already.
The big difference though is that it shifts the emphasis from being a filter to nuturing and preserving the momentum built up by the actions we have taken.
January 4, 2012 at 18:35 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
Jupiter wrote: <<There is also an increasement of the efficiency and the vision about the project because all tasks relatives to projects are grouped together and it force you to close or eliminate the project the sooner possible.>>
Jupiter: You don't have to give up on grouping, or make it too complicated, if you K.I.S.S. I think that this has to do with the magic of the Free-Form. If you are having a mind dump concerning a specific theme or project (i.e., you want to keep things grouped), it can all go in one place and in the index (period). It is embedded, so you can get it all out, and forget about it.
Whatever you decide to put in AF to remind you about your 'special project' depends on how important it is to you to follow up, postpone it, add to it, drop it, etc.
Jupiter: You don't have to give up on grouping, or make it too complicated, if you K.I.S.S. I think that this has to do with the magic of the Free-Form. If you are having a mind dump concerning a specific theme or project (i.e., you want to keep things grouped), it can all go in one place and in the index (period). It is embedded, so you can get it all out, and forget about it.
Whatever you decide to put in AF to remind you about your 'special project' depends on how important it is to you to follow up, postpone it, add to it, drop it, etc.
January 4, 2012 at 19:09 |
BKK
BKK
Would be great to hear your ideas Mark!
January 4, 2012 at 19:40 |
leon
leon
I've been using AF1 with three changes. I use a small 3.5" x 5.5" notebook with 29 lines per page. I treat two facing pages as one page (closed list), so there are 58 lines on a "page". The changes are:
1. Work items go from the top of the list downward, home items go from the bottom of the list upward. See http://www.markforster.net/forum/post/1577123#post1580873
2. I start each day on the last page of the list, where the most recent items are.
3. I'm keeping my list to no more than four pages (four pairs of facing pages). Once I go over that number I aggressively work or dismiss the oldest items on the list to get back to four pages.
Why four? A couple of months ago I decided to make my list short and simple (KISS). I knew it wasn't short and I wanted to know how not-short it was. I took a blank piece of paper and drew boxes to represent each page and wrote the number of open tasks in each box. I was shocked at what I saw - I had so many open pages it was no wonder I was resisting moving through the entire list in a day. So I began cutting down one page at a time until I got to a comfortable number. For me, that number is four.
1. Work items go from the top of the list downward, home items go from the bottom of the list upward. See http://www.markforster.net/forum/post/1577123#post1580873
2. I start each day on the last page of the list, where the most recent items are.
3. I'm keeping my list to no more than four pages (four pairs of facing pages). Once I go over that number I aggressively work or dismiss the oldest items on the list to get back to four pages.
Why four? A couple of months ago I decided to make my list short and simple (KISS). I knew it wasn't short and I wanted to know how not-short it was. I took a blank piece of paper and drew boxes to represent each page and wrote the number of open tasks in each box. I was shocked at what I saw - I had so many open pages it was no wonder I was resisting moving through the entire list in a day. So I began cutting down one page at a time until I got to a comfortable number. For me, that number is four.
January 4, 2012 at 20:53 |
Zane
Zane
Simpler than AF1, preserves momentum, and develops threads of action! Here's my take on Mark's idea:
Instead of working Pages, work on Closed Lists of arbitrary size which I'll name Sections. This substitution into the rules of AF1 improves work coherence and simplifies rule 7. I'm not sure it will work in practice. Below are the rewritten rules of AF1.
Write all your tasks in a list. Draw a line below that list, creating a closed section, and starting a second (initially empty) list. (Existing AF1 users, initially each page is a Section.)
As you think of new items, add them to the last section. You work through the list one section at a time in the following manner:
1. Read quickly through all the items of a section without taking action on any of them.
2. Go through the section more slowly looking at the items in order until one stands out for you.
3. Work on that item for as long as you feel like doing so
4. Cross the item out. If you haven’t finished it, re-enter it in the last section.
5. Continue going round the same section in the same way. Don’t move onto the next section until you complete a pass of the section without any item standing out.
6. Move onto the next section and repeat the process
7. If you go to a section and no item stands out for you on your first pass through it, highlight all remaining items as dismissed.
8. Once you’ve finished with the final section, draw a line to close it and start a new section, and re-start at the first section that is still active.
Instead of working Pages, work on Closed Lists of arbitrary size which I'll name Sections. This substitution into the rules of AF1 improves work coherence and simplifies rule 7. I'm not sure it will work in practice. Below are the rewritten rules of AF1.
Write all your tasks in a list. Draw a line below that list, creating a closed section, and starting a second (initially empty) list. (Existing AF1 users, initially each page is a Section.)
As you think of new items, add them to the last section. You work through the list one section at a time in the following manner:
1. Read quickly through all the items of a section without taking action on any of them.
2. Go through the section more slowly looking at the items in order until one stands out for you.
3. Work on that item for as long as you feel like doing so
4. Cross the item out. If you haven’t finished it, re-enter it in the last section.
5. Continue going round the same section in the same way. Don’t move onto the next section until you complete a pass of the section without any item standing out.
6. Move onto the next section and repeat the process
7. If you go to a section and no item stands out for you on your first pass through it, highlight all remaining items as dismissed.
8. Once you’ve finished with the final section, draw a line to close it and start a new section, and re-start at the first section that is still active.
January 4, 2012 at 22:18 |
Alan Baljeu
Alan Baljeu
Alan -- That's basically what I do in my OneNote implementation, basically an artifact of the medium. But I don't see how it (1) is simpler than AF1, (2) preserves momentum, or (3) develops thread of action.
Can you elaborate?
Can you elaborate?
January 4, 2012 at 23:02 |
Seraphim
Seraphim
Instead of each page being a closed list, treat each day as a closed list.
Alternatively, everything before yesterday is treated as a backlog, like AF4. So everything before the beginning of yesterday is cycled once, then everything since the beginning of yesterday is worked round and round until nothing stands out. Then back to once round the backlog.
Alternatively, everything before yesterday is treated as a backlog, like AF4. So everything before the beginning of yesterday is cycled once, then everything since the beginning of yesterday is worked round and round until nothing stands out. Then back to once round the backlog.
January 4, 2012 at 23:04 |
Wooba
Wooba
Here's a very minor improvement on the start-today-on-yesterday's-first-page rule.
When you start AF1 for the day, draw a heavy horizontal line across the page, after the last item on the last page. Write today's date in the margin next to the first item that you enter today.
It just gives a little more emphasis to that starting point, and allows you to see more easily how much stuff gets entered each day.
When you start AF1 for the day, draw a heavy horizontal line across the page, after the last item on the last page. Write today's date in the margin next to the first item that you enter today.
It just gives a little more emphasis to that starting point, and allows you to see more easily how much stuff gets entered each day.
January 4, 2012 at 23:05 |
Seraphim
Seraphim
Seraphim, reread rule 8. Each pass through the list generates a new section. So each section IS a collection of things you did in one pass. This means there's no need to deal with stubby pages at the end that get processed in isolation. I suspect further changes would be made to suit this fact, simplifying more, but I hesitate to diverge too far from AF1.
January 4, 2012 at 23:18 |
Alan Baljeu
Alan Baljeu
Alan:
I've tried your idea quite recently, and found it doesn't really offer any advantages over AF1. In fact it just makes it slightly more difficult to work because of the irregular page lengths.
Wooba:
I've tried your idea of the closed list per day too. With similar results to Alan's idea.
And I've tried your other idea too, and thought it would be quite promising initially. But it proved to be disappointing.
I've tried your idea quite recently, and found it doesn't really offer any advantages over AF1. In fact it just makes it slightly more difficult to work because of the irregular page lengths.
Wooba:
I've tried your idea of the closed list per day too. With similar results to Alan's idea.
And I've tried your other idea too, and thought it would be quite promising initially. But it proved to be disappointing.
January 5, 2012 at 0:33 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
Toward the "action threads" concept:
Limit one new action thread per closed page - when working a closed page, you can complete as many items as you like, but as soon as you take any partial action (rewriting the Unfinished item at the end of the list), turn the page. Upon reaching the open page, work it as per regular AF, taking as much action as you want until nothing stands out.
I imagine this will keep the open page to a focused list of hot items, receiving ample attention each time we reach the end of the list.
I also find it helps to rewrite Unfinished items with a small open circle out front. This notation alone—without an actual rule—helps them to stand out, as I always want to wrap up what I have started.
Limit one new action thread per closed page - when working a closed page, you can complete as many items as you like, but as soon as you take any partial action (rewriting the Unfinished item at the end of the list), turn the page. Upon reaching the open page, work it as per regular AF, taking as much action as you want until nothing stands out.
I imagine this will keep the open page to a focused list of hot items, receiving ample attention each time we reach the end of the list.
I also find it helps to rewrite Unfinished items with a small open circle out front. This notation alone—without an actual rule—helps them to stand out, as I always want to wrap up what I have started.
January 5, 2012 at 1:59 |
Bernie
Bernie
Staying within AF1 characteristics of single entry point, page boundaries. A thread is most naturally constructed by writing consecutive tasks at the end. This suggests a pong-ping process of collecting and generating related tasks and working them.
1. Read quickly through all the items on the page, marking those that stand out.
2. If no marks, dismiss the page.
3. go through the marked items. Work on any items for as long as you feel like doing so.
5. Cross worked items off the list; re-enter at the end of the list if not finished
6. Switch to the last page and do any.
7. Continue alternating marked page and back page until no more tasks stand out on the former.
8. Move onto the next page and repeat the process.
9. Once you’ve finished with the final page, re-start at the first page that is still active.
Of course there are a hundred details that can be adjusted from here.
1. Read quickly through all the items on the page, marking those that stand out.
2. If no marks, dismiss the page.
3. go through the marked items. Work on any items for as long as you feel like doing so.
5. Cross worked items off the list; re-enter at the end of the list if not finished
6. Switch to the last page and do any.
7. Continue alternating marked page and back page until no more tasks stand out on the former.
8. Move onto the next page and repeat the process.
9. Once you’ve finished with the final page, re-start at the first page that is still active.
Of course there are a hundred details that can be adjusted from here.
January 5, 2012 at 6:07 |
Alan Baljeu
Alan Baljeu
I'm with Zane. Not necessarily a new rule, but an expectation of how many times you should expect to get through the list in an average day, and an expectation of how many pages you should expect to have.
If you're getting through the list five or six times a day, you really don't need more than the basic system.
If you're getting through the list five or six times a day, you really don't need more than the basic system.
January 5, 2012 at 9:19 |
Will
Will
Just a Tip I tried with a great success.
Problem : I work on many crucial project and need to know at a glance the advancement.
If I put it in AF list they are drowned in the task and I can't focus on it.
Solution.
Take your paper notebook use AF list as usual. Write AF list only on the left page. Reserve the right page for jotting notes, ideas and so on.
Take a new page and list all yours crucial projects on by one like you do with AF.
In front of each project listed on this page, put in a word where you are are where you go
Then little by little report each project and see the advancement of the project.
It is simple and it works.
Problem : I work on many crucial project and need to know at a glance the advancement.
If I put it in AF list they are drowned in the task and I can't focus on it.
Solution.
Take your paper notebook use AF list as usual. Write AF list only on the left page. Reserve the right page for jotting notes, ideas and so on.
Take a new page and list all yours crucial projects on by one like you do with AF.
In front of each project listed on this page, put in a word where you are are where you go
Then little by little report each project and see the advancement of the project.
It is simple and it works.
January 5, 2012 at 10:25 |
FocusGuy.
FocusGuy.
Another Tip I tried with a great success.
In AF in the morning read the all list.
Then circle with a paper pencil all projects you must focus on today.
Then little by little reading the list write what happen task by task i.e. waiting for X to call me back... Erase with a rubber what must be...
It works to and help to stay concentrate
In AF in the morning read the all list.
Then circle with a paper pencil all projects you must focus on today.
Then little by little reading the list write what happen task by task i.e. waiting for X to call me back... Erase with a rubber what must be...
It works to and help to stay concentrate
January 5, 2012 at 10:30 |
FocusGuy.
FocusGuy.
Will:
<< If you're getting through the list five or six times a day, you really don't need more than the basic system. >>
A very good point.
<< If you're getting through the list five or six times a day, you really don't need more than the basic system. >>
A very good point.
January 5, 2012 at 13:46 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
Three things:
1) I use the same modification as Zane. My book is used for capturing notes, diagrams and everything so my AF pages were very much scattered around and a pain to track (I used post-it tabs but got tired of nursing them). This led to stress and resistance to process things.
Now I simply mark 4 adjacent pages (32 lines each) as AF and put a postit tab at the start. I can now find all my AF tasks here. When I need to go beyond those I mark another 4 adjacent pages but leave the marker alone. I resolve to get my existing pages down to just a few remaining items before I allow myself to move across. I essentially work the existing pages as a closed AF list until it's done.
This helps to keep things moving without allowing things to sprawl, and ensures the book is a lot easier to navigate.
2) Ditch the highlighter and arrange for dismissal to be simpler so everything can be done with a pen. I put a little dash at the start of each entry. To dismiss I circle the remaining dashes and can see at a glance that the page has them on. If the page is finished with I put a cross at the top. Much easier.
3) I'm not following the modification which Mark opened with. Where did it come from, can someone explain it fully, and how does it help? Thanks.
Cheers,
Chris
1) I use the same modification as Zane. My book is used for capturing notes, diagrams and everything so my AF pages were very much scattered around and a pain to track (I used post-it tabs but got tired of nursing them). This led to stress and resistance to process things.
Now I simply mark 4 adjacent pages (32 lines each) as AF and put a postit tab at the start. I can now find all my AF tasks here. When I need to go beyond those I mark another 4 adjacent pages but leave the marker alone. I resolve to get my existing pages down to just a few remaining items before I allow myself to move across. I essentially work the existing pages as a closed AF list until it's done.
This helps to keep things moving without allowing things to sprawl, and ensures the book is a lot easier to navigate.
2) Ditch the highlighter and arrange for dismissal to be simpler so everything can be done with a pen. I put a little dash at the start of each entry. To dismiss I circle the remaining dashes and can see at a glance that the page has them on. If the page is finished with I put a cross at the top. Much easier.
3) I'm not following the modification which Mark opened with. Where did it come from, can someone explain it fully, and how does it help? Thanks.
Cheers,
Chris
January 5, 2012 at 14:02 |
Chris L
Chris L
Chris, it's simply to start each day at the first entry of the previous day.
January 5, 2012 at 14:25 |
Alan Baljeu
Alan Baljeu
What do you mean by start each day? Start looking for things to stand out? Start that task? It appears to need the first task written each day to be marked in order to find it the following day? What is the real benefit given that all tasks should be touched ideally each day anyway?
January 5, 2012 at 15:25 |
Chris L
Chris L
Chris,
Yes, you have to mark the beginning of each day in your notebook. I make an underscore in the left margin, on the ruled line separating the days, and I write the date number underneath that mark, to the left of the day's first item.
The new method is hardly a change at all: when you first pick up your notebook for the day, turn to the page which contains yesterday's first entry, and continue working as normal from that page. The whole page is still a unit, even if it contains items from other days.
This came about from discussions of keeping a "Today" page and other attempts to preserve momentum/emphasis/priority on the items currently in motion.
For historical details, see Seraphim's threads:
"AUTODIT", REVISION 2 - in which various complex ideas lead Mark to invent this improvement, and we discover that Wooba has actually been doing it for two years
http://www.markforster.net/forum/post/1688987
"AUTODIT" - the thread that gave birth to the above
http://www.markforster.net/forum/post/1686045
Yes, you have to mark the beginning of each day in your notebook. I make an underscore in the left margin, on the ruled line separating the days, and I write the date number underneath that mark, to the left of the day's first item.
The new method is hardly a change at all: when you first pick up your notebook for the day, turn to the page which contains yesterday's first entry, and continue working as normal from that page. The whole page is still a unit, even if it contains items from other days.
This came about from discussions of keeping a "Today" page and other attempts to preserve momentum/emphasis/priority on the items currently in motion.
For historical details, see Seraphim's threads:
"AUTODIT", REVISION 2 - in which various complex ideas lead Mark to invent this improvement, and we discover that Wooba has actually been doing it for two years
http://www.markforster.net/forum/post/1688987
"AUTODIT" - the thread that gave birth to the above
http://www.markforster.net/forum/post/1686045
January 5, 2012 at 17:47 |
Bernie
Bernie
+JMJ+
Actually guys, there is one very obvious area in AF1 for me that could point to the "actions thread" idea that Mark is hinting at: re-writing of tasks.
If we are going to use re-writing to promote "action threading" then I guess the simplest way is: EITHER (1) NEVER RE-WRITE USING THE SAME WORDS AS BEFORE, OR (2) ADD AT LEAST AN ADDITIONAL TASK IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE THE SAME WORDS IN RE-WRITING A TASK.
Actually guys, there is one very obvious area in AF1 for me that could point to the "actions thread" idea that Mark is hinting at: re-writing of tasks.
If we are going to use re-writing to promote "action threading" then I guess the simplest way is: EITHER (1) NEVER RE-WRITE USING THE SAME WORDS AS BEFORE, OR (2) ADD AT LEAST AN ADDITIONAL TASK IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE THE SAME WORDS IN RE-WRITING A TASK.
January 5, 2012 at 18:11 |
nuntym
nuntym
I love the 2 tips I exposed to you above.
1. The executive project summary reformulated on the right page is incredible to make things advance
2. The dated day by day AF list works like a close list I found I could divide it at the end like with AF4 so I can see at a glance what is new or not,
3. The circle of the MIP (most important project) force me to do the job.
I think I got something...
1. The executive project summary reformulated on the right page is incredible to make things advance
2. The dated day by day AF list works like a close list I found I could divide it at the end like with AF4 so I can see at a glance what is new or not,
3. The circle of the MIP (most important project) force me to do the job.
I think I got something...
January 5, 2012 at 20:39 |
FocusGuy.
FocusGuy.
From my point of view, I had the most problems with dismissal. I did not like the idea of dismissing entire pages, as the idea was to put everything into the system. If everything is in AF, things may "live" for awhile until they are actioned. Additionally, intuitively I don't like the idea of highlighting dismissed items, as it highlights what you just said you are not doing.
Nuntym, I like the general idea of introducing a concept to make action more the focus by using different words, however I think what you want is to simplify the task or shorten it to make it doable.
I came up with these modifications trying not to add too many rules.
1) Read quickly through all the items on the page without taking action on any of them.
2) Go through the page more slowly looking at the items in order until one stands out for you. Stand out means one of two things
a) You know it no longer needs to be done and you cross it out
b) The item needs to be done now and you:
i) Work on that item for as long as you feel like doing so
ii) When done working on it, cross the item off the list paying attention to the following rules:
(a) If you haven’t finished it, re-enter it at the end of the list using a new description of a task you believe can now be finished in one sitting.
(b) If the task is finished and related to a bigger project, add the next logical step/task needed to complete the project to the end of the list
3) Continue going round the same page in the same way. Don’t move onto the next page until you complete a pass of the page without any item standing out
4) Move onto the next page and repeat the process
5) Once you’ve finished with the final page, re-start at the first page that is still active
Tips
Only use this system and make sure to include everything on this list
When the notebook is filled up, start fresh to ensure at least a few reviews a year.
Good luck
Gerry
Nuntym, I like the general idea of introducing a concept to make action more the focus by using different words, however I think what you want is to simplify the task or shorten it to make it doable.
I came up with these modifications trying not to add too many rules.
1) Read quickly through all the items on the page without taking action on any of them.
2) Go through the page more slowly looking at the items in order until one stands out for you. Stand out means one of two things
a) You know it no longer needs to be done and you cross it out
b) The item needs to be done now and you:
i) Work on that item for as long as you feel like doing so
ii) When done working on it, cross the item off the list paying attention to the following rules:
(a) If you haven’t finished it, re-enter it at the end of the list using a new description of a task you believe can now be finished in one sitting.
(b) If the task is finished and related to a bigger project, add the next logical step/task needed to complete the project to the end of the list
3) Continue going round the same page in the same way. Don’t move onto the next page until you complete a pass of the page without any item standing out
4) Move onto the next page and repeat the process
5) Once you’ve finished with the final page, re-start at the first page that is still active
Tips
Only use this system and make sure to include everything on this list
When the notebook is filled up, start fresh to ensure at least a few reviews a year.
Good luck
Gerry
January 5, 2012 at 21:35 |
Gerry
Gerry
Here's an idea to keep "action threads" going.
When you finish something, don't just cross off the task.
Instead, rewrite it at the end of the list, perhaps as: "Finished XXX - what's next?"
When you finish something, don't just cross off the task.
Instead, rewrite it at the end of the list, perhaps as: "Finished XXX - what's next?"
January 5, 2012 at 21:48 |
Seraphim
Seraphim
Back to the original question about "changing some of the rules," I haven't really changed them, but rather added some routines to make the whole process more effective. In no particular order. . .
1. Number each page and number each task entry. This makes it easy to refer to related tasks across pages.
2. Use a multipen to separate contexts by ink color. I use blue for home-related and black for work-related tasks. I also use green to mark and cross-out any urgent task done out of order (not on the current page), in the spirit of the common-sense rule (If something needs doing immediately, just do it).
3. Enter AF1 pages among other pages of notes, lists, drawings, etc. in a bound FreeForm notebook. Put an Index/ToC on p. 1 to keep track of what pages are where. Use a pencil to make previous/next "links" at the bottom of each AF1 page (since these links will change as pages are added & dismissed).
4. Assess level of resistance (see "Plus or Minus" topic) of each task at initial page scan, and delete or rewrite high-resistance tasks before leaving the page. Reduces number of remaining tasks at page dismissal.
5. Make checklists for routine things such as filing, processing papers, clearing email Inbox, packing essential items going to/from work, etc. Rather than entering all these repetitive routine tasks and reminders in AF1, I just enter CLa, CLb, etc. for my morning, after-lunch, etc. checklists, and then tick them off the corresponding checklists. This was another topic/blog-post written by Mark awhile ago that resurfaced recently. Makes the AF1 list less trivial.
6. Choose three tasks from the list for special focus each day. These should be nontrivial and/or related to specific projects or goals you are working on. The Big Three can be entered on a side list, jotted on your calendar, or just marked in some way directly on the AF1 list. Celebrate another successful day and give yourself permission to quit "working the list" when you've made progress on all three.
That's all for now!
1. Number each page and number each task entry. This makes it easy to refer to related tasks across pages.
2. Use a multipen to separate contexts by ink color. I use blue for home-related and black for work-related tasks. I also use green to mark and cross-out any urgent task done out of order (not on the current page), in the spirit of the common-sense rule (If something needs doing immediately, just do it).
3. Enter AF1 pages among other pages of notes, lists, drawings, etc. in a bound FreeForm notebook. Put an Index/ToC on p. 1 to keep track of what pages are where. Use a pencil to make previous/next "links" at the bottom of each AF1 page (since these links will change as pages are added & dismissed).
4. Assess level of resistance (see "Plus or Minus" topic) of each task at initial page scan, and delete or rewrite high-resistance tasks before leaving the page. Reduces number of remaining tasks at page dismissal.
5. Make checklists for routine things such as filing, processing papers, clearing email Inbox, packing essential items going to/from work, etc. Rather than entering all these repetitive routine tasks and reminders in AF1, I just enter CLa, CLb, etc. for my morning, after-lunch, etc. checklists, and then tick them off the corresponding checklists. This was another topic/blog-post written by Mark awhile ago that resurfaced recently. Makes the AF1 list less trivial.
6. Choose three tasks from the list for special focus each day. These should be nontrivial and/or related to specific projects or goals you are working on. The Big Three can be entered on a side list, jotted on your calendar, or just marked in some way directly on the AF1 list. Celebrate another successful day and give yourself permission to quit "working the list" when you've made progress on all three.
That's all for now!
January 5, 2012 at 22:22 |
ubi
ubi
Come on, guys. I'm sure you can make your answers even more complicated if you really, really try.
January 5, 2012 at 22:40 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
Think simple:
What would the effect be of abolishing the dismissal rule in AF1?
What would the effect be of abolishing the dismissal rule in AF1?
January 5, 2012 at 22:47 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
The original question at the top of this thread doesn't use the term "simple" but rather asks how AF1 modifications can make the system "more effective" – whether they complicate it or simplify it.
January 5, 2012 at 22:48 |
ubi
ubi
So the question now is whether we can make it even more effective by changing some of the rules.
I've got a few ideas. How about anyone else?