I agree that to do lists do not work but I also agree with Aymeric that a detailed calendar do not work either and would add complexity to WP.
IMO, WeekPlan is a great answer to todos' problems .
Let me comment each point separately:
Heterogeneous complexity
A better way than scheduling would be to assign complexity points to each task (it is a concept that works well in SCRUM methodology). A simple way to specify the "size" of a task.
Heterogeneous priority
The quadrant system of WP (could be developed more though) is a good answer to this problem because it drives you to progressively switch your focus to "important but not urgent" stuff (typically the "car maintenance" mentioned as example in the article)
Lack of context
WP is brilliant because you have a vision, roles and big rocks in mind, what better context for your tasks?
Lack of commitment devices
With WP, you set objectives for each week.
They are no real commitments for sure but the solutions proposed in the article are bad, it is about discipline and policy, cutting internet connection do not work (motivation does work).
I think life provides you with enough commitments.
The paradox of choice
Here we are :)
Too many choices is not good for sure. But not at all is not good either.
Hourly schedules remove you from having to choose what to do but kills your sense of freedom.
WP is a great trade-off because it provides a weekly schedule with room for improvisation :)
I agree that to do lists do not work but I also agree with Aymeric that a detailed calendar do not work either and would add complexity to WP.
IMO, WeekPlan is a great answer to todos' problems .
Let me comment each point separately:
Heterogeneous complexity
A better way than scheduling would be to assign complexity points to each task (it is a concept that works well in SCRUM methodology). A simple way to specify the "size" of a task.
Heterogeneous priority
The quadrant system of WP (could be developed more though) is a good answer to this problem because it drives you to progressively switch your focus to "important but not urgent" stuff (typically the "car maintenance" mentioned as example in the article)
Lack of context
WP is brilliant because you have a vision, roles and big rocks in mind, what better context for your tasks?
Lack of commitment devices
With WP, you set objectives for each week.
They are no real commitments for sure but the solutions proposed in the article are bad, it is about discipline and policy, cutting internet connection do not work (motivation does work).
I think life provides you with enough commitments.
The paradox of choice
Here we are :)
Too many choices is not good for sure. But not at all is not good either.
Hourly schedules remove you from having to choose what to do but kills your sense of freedom.
WP is a great trade-off because it provides a weekly schedule with room for improvisation :)
@Aymeric,
I still think that having a calendar view such as proposed by Steven Covey would be very useful for me. It could be a view that you could snap on or off according to preference if some people think it is too constraining. I like seeing how much time I have left in the day for other things and how much time meetings, etc will take up. I am a very visual person, and I am not liable to put on mandatory blocked in events to a "to-do list" but I would put them on a calendar view.
@Aymeric,
I still think that having a calendar view such as proposed by Steven Covey would be very useful for me. It could be a view that you could snap on or off according to preference if some people think it is too constraining. I like seeing how much time I have left in the day for other things and how much time meetings, etc will take up. I am a very visual person, and I am not liable to put on mandatory blocked in events to a "to-do list" but I would put them on a calendar view.
Hi Grace,
Yes someone asked me to add some kind of timeline in the Day view, which is similar to what you are asking. I will think about it more to find an elegant solution.
You can now use this syntax:
19:30: Meeting with John
7pm: Meeting with John
meet: John
Week plan looks for any ": " after less than 6 characters and converts it into a more visible "tag".
Try it!