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[mishy]

I've just read David Allen's book "Getting Things Done."  I think it has some valuable tips in it, but I'm curious about how others who use it break down writing and research tasks into "Next Action Steps."  I am staring at my list of projects, and it seems that the next action step for "Write book chapter," once the research is done, is to write the chapter.  Does anyone break the project down into smaller steps?  If so, how?

[dr_strangelove]

I just took up GTD this summer, so I'm still "trying it on," but for me one of the keys for making a good next action is to break the task down into small enough pieces that I won't procrastinate. (Or at least, won't procrastinate as much as I otherwise would.) Whether you need to break "write chapter" down into smaller parts depends on how you view that particular task.

Some things to think about: do you need certain materials to write the chapter? If so, the first task might be "Collect X, Y, and Z", or maybe "Review X, Y, and Z". How do you like to write? Maybe the first action is "Write an outline" or just even "Write the first damn sentence." Whatever you need to get yourself going. The first action might even be something like "Turn off cellphone." or "Take laptop to Starbucks."

In some ways, I think it's just a useful visualization trick, something like a pre-shot routine in golf, to get yourself imagining doing the task. At least, that's how I use it.

[kissa_mau]

I also break things up into even smaller tasks. I think that's part of the idea in the book. So instead of "finish chapter," I would write discrete smaller steps that I can do and be able to check off. It also helps when I schedule tasks in for a block of time- I have smaller pieces that can be checked off. This helps me with procrastination also- I can see an end point for each step.

I've been on the GTD system for a couple of years now... it seems to morph as time goes on, but usually I end up setting things up so that I can defeat my own worst tendencies with not getting things donw!

[banana]

Mishy -

I've often wondered this myself (and I think there's an old thread on it that you can search for).  I find myself listing my next step vaguely as "Work on manuscript X" because I don't always know beforehand the exact task that will make sense to do next.  For example, I might sit down to write one paragraph of the Results, then realize I need to run some additional analyses in order to do that, then the additional analyses lead me to re-write a paragraph in the Introduction, etc., etc.  I've also tried listing it as a time commitment, as in "Spend 30 minutes on manuscript X," but that doesn't seem to help much either.  Basically, I think David Allen has a certain kind of job and certain kinds of tasks in mind, and his system is helpful but not particularly well-suited to academic writing tasks.  Just my 2 cents!

banana

[mishy]

Thanks for the responses on this.  I am, admittedly, still trying to get the hand of GTD, but I guess I am having trouble envisioning the smaller steps within "writing the chapter."  This may stem partly from my writing style.  I have some friends who begin with a fairly rigid and detailed outline (in which case it might be easy to say "write section IA" as a next action step) but my own writing tends to be pretty unplanned and unstructured.

Banana wrote

Basically, I think David Allen has a certain kind of job and certain kinds of tasks in mind, and his system is helpful but not particularly well-suited to academic writing tasks.  Just my 2 cents!

I am feeling the same way at this point.  I think that GTD is highly relevant to certain aspects of academic work, but I'm having trouble integrating my writing into it.

Out of curiosity, do those of you who use GTD treat the courses you teach as projects?

[newbie]

I use a modified GTD system, so I love talking about these ideas.

Thanks for the responses on this.  I am, admittedly, still trying to get the hand of GTD, but I guess I am having trouble envisioning the smaller steps within "writing the chapter."  This may stem partly from my writing style.  I have some friends who begin with a fairly rigid and detailed outline (in which case it might be easy to say "write section IA" as a next action step) but my own writing tends to be pretty unplanned and unstructured.

How long will it take you for a given project? How do you determine a practical goal for completing a project? How do you determine if you're on the right track?

When I'm writing a journal article, each day I end my writing with a list of the next three things to do when I come back to the file. Those are my next actions. Sometimes I realize my next action was too broad, so I break it down into smaller pieces. Other times I realize I have another thing that needs to be done before I make it through all three next actions, and so I update them accordingly.

These next actions are as small as I can get them so that I have good sense of what these actions are. Here's some ideas of my next actions:
-Do x data analysis on y data to find out the relationship between a and b
-Update the methods section with x protocol
-Write introductory paragraph on x topic and past findings related to a and b (e.g., see these refs...)
-Outline major points for discussion, based on these three findings...

Could something like this work for you?

I am feeling the same way at this point.  I think that GTD is highly relevant to certain aspects of academic work, but I'm having trouble integrating my writing into it.

I agree. It's tough to boil things down to small next actions. I do it as much as possible because it makes returning to my writing projects easier, and I try to refresh myself of my goals on a fairly regular basis to see if I'm making enough progress. There are days, though, when I just block out a few hours of time for writing with the project with the goal of outlining some ideas (and thus less specific next actions).

Out of curiosity, do those of you who use GTD treat the courses you teach as projects?

Yes, and thus there are lots of repeat next actions (e.g., review lecture for X day, grade x number of student assignments).

Service is also one project, as I'm early enough in my career to not have many service demands. I treat each of my research projects as separate projects too.

What I haven't figured out is the best way to use GTD to also pay attention to things in my regular life. I've been using the hipster PDA recently, and I've tried to have one list for things I need to think about in my non-work life, including planning social events, bills, exercise, etcetera. Those are too easy to let slip, and I think life is much better when I pay attention to them!

[bookishone]

Good tip about the "three things for tomorrow," newbie. Thanks!