Get Everything Done

I have always wanted a system that selects tasks using the "standing-out process" pioneered by Mark Forster, done inherently in a loose context-based way---that is, grouping tasks to be done in ways that facilitate their being done, for example projects and/or location---but still able to be a "grass-catcher" that will capture all ideas and thoughts that needed to be acted on, and yet be flexible enough to take into account emerging tasks (tasks that call my attention to be done now or later even if they were not originally planned for prior) and continuing tasks (tasks that take time to do and can be left for themselves while I do something else, for example laundry). Recently I added the requirement of being to do this all using my smartphone.

Quite a tall order, huh?

And yet by experimentation and tweaking I seem to have made a task-management system that satisfies all of these and then some, the "some" being my own particular life adjustments in that, because of my work, I can reliably do home, errand, and miscellaneous tasks every other day, Let me share this system to you all.

For this I am using the "Speedy Checklist" app for BB10 OS,

http://speedychecklist.net/

which lets me make a library of checklists, and because of its simplicity lets me add, delete, and manipulate items quickly.

1. Make a checklist entitled "Master Task List" or something similar. In this list place all tasks you need to do. Once you have typed your tasks "close" the list with a "line 1" item.

(NOTE: This is like the line in AF4 or DWM2 in which you close the list with a line, preventing you from adding more tasks above this line.)

2. Add tasks items as you see fit into the Master Task List, "closing" each day with a "line" labelled with the recurring series 1 to 15 each day. At the beginning of each day you cut all items on the previous day which has the same number as today and paste into a separate "Dismissed/Someday/Maybe" checklist.

(NOTE: The sense of progress is essential for sticking to any system. In paper-based systems like all of Mark Forster's original systems, this is seen by how many deleted lines there are in your notebook. But in electronic-based systems, I found that day-based dismissal works best for evoking this sense of progress, since it is hard to retain "deleted items". The number 15 is used because, as I had mentioned, I can work on tasks every other day; 15 makes it that the oldest tasks are at the most one month old, like in DWM).

3. Scan your Master Task List for a task that "stands out" and check it. Then, scan again your list, asking yourself "What other tasks are in context with my current task?" and check those tasks that seem to be answering that question.

(NOTE: I deliberately made "context" to be vague here, because context depends on your current task. For example, the task that stood out was "Do laundry," which if you have a washing machine and drier you can effectively leave after loading and turning the machine on; therefore context here can be other tasks you can do while waiting the laundry to be done. Another example could be "Do grocery." You may have added what items you needed to buy in your Master Task List if you treat it like a true "grass catcher" like I try to do, so context would be to search for them and check them. You may also find some other errands you want to do while you are outside like "Get carwash" and "Buy flowers for mai waifu".)

4. Select the option "New From..." and select "Checked". This creates a NEW checklist from the checked items on your Master Task List. Title this new checklist "Current" or something similar.

5. You should now be looking at the new "Current" checklist. If needed, reorder the items to conserve context (for example, group the items you have to buy from the grocery). Do all the items in this checklist in any order you seem fit; delete the items that are done or you can do for the time being. Also, you can add anytime tasks into your Current checklist, provided you have to do them along with the other tasks in it.

(NOTE: Of course, you can still add items to the Master Task List any time.)

6. Once all items in the Current checklist are done, delete the checklist, then return to the Master Task List. The items you have checked before should still there, still checked. Select the "Sort Checked" option which will bring all the items checked to the bottom of the list. Scan the checked items: delete all items that are fully done and not recurring, then select the "Reset List" option to remove the checks from the recurrent and unfinished items.

7. Go back to step 2.

Hmm, lemme see if I can convert this to using Evernote.