Manuals / Personal Productivity Systems / Chapter 2

Build · beginner · ~35 min · Chapter 2 of 3

Clarify into next actions

Each item: trash, reference, someday, or next action with a verb.

Path progress
67%

Step 1 of 1

Verb + context

“Email Priya about invoice” beats “Invoice”. Projects are outcomes with >1 action.

Verb + contextDrag stickies · tap for tips
Study mapDrag stickies · tap for tipsKeep it shortdrag · tap →Name the waitdrag · tap →Scope locatorsdrag · tap →Trace when stuckdrag · tap →One browser firstdrag · tap →Isolate statedrag · tap →Assert the UIdrag · tap →Retry wiselydrag · tap →Seed datadrag · tap →Close the loopdrag · tap →Keep it shortdrag · tap →Name the waitdrag · tap →Scope locatorsdrag · tap →Trace when stuckdrag · tap →One browser firstdrag · tap →Isolate statedrag · tap →Pathwise hackdrag · tap →Verb + contextdrag · tap →Try thisdrag · tap →Follow the dashed drag · tap →

Example

Inbox → Trash | Reference | Someday | Next action (verb)

Do this now

Process 10 inbox items into next actions.

Pro tip: Calendar is for time-bound; list is for next actions.

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Chapter learning outcomes
  • Next actions
  • Projects

Clear these before you leave