From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Olaf Dietsche Subject: Re: Overall organization/setup for org mode: Projects and Tasks Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:59:00 +0200 Message-ID: <87fwjzar2j.fsf@rat.lan> References: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Return-path: Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([140.186.70.92]:43380) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1R3ufx-0006hh-JP for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:59:14 -0400 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1R3ufw-0007o1-BC for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:59:13 -0400 Received: from www85.your-server.de ([213.133.104.85]:41334) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1R3ufw-0007nO-4b for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:59:12 -0400 List-Id: "General discussions about Org-mode." List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Sender: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org To: "Alan E. Davis" Cc: org-mode Hi Alan, "Alan E. Davis" writes: > I've been using org-mode for a few years. My agenda is cluttered with tasks > that are weeks and even months past due. I am "this close" to declaring > "orgmode bankruptcy" and starting from scratch, except my current setup > works so well for other things. Might still do that, but I want to ask for > ideas. I (and many others) struggle too with becoming "organized". And usually it's not a "tool bankruptcy", but the lack of a coherent system. What helped me to some degree - and I'm still learning - was David Allen's book "Getting Things DONE". You will find lots of information about GTD in the internet (google, youtube) and at the orgmode website . I also took lots of good ideas and .emacs snippets from Bernt Hansen's website at: . And although GTD is a pretty simple system once you get it, I suggest, take the time and read the book (your library might have a copy) and start slowly from there on. > I stumble consistently over the distinction between projects and tasks. I > think there is not clear distinction, but I need to find a way to organize > them so that, at least, agenda displays the day to day TODO tasks separated > in a meaningful way from the long term projects that I need to remind myself > of (and there are dozens of these). Both projects and tasks result in actions, which have to be completed eventually. So there's not really any difference in handling these, besides maybe the number of single steps it takes to complete. And finally, paraphrasing Pete Phillips in , there will be the time, where you have to bite the bullet and "just do it". Regards, Olaf