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What are your contexts?

I have been rereading some of Merlin's posts now that I have started GTD implementation and his post about contexts was really helpful because I am unsure about the contexts that I have set up. I found it interesting to read his list of contexts, and thought it would be helpful to hear what others have in their lists of contexts.

Please post your contexts, maybe with a little explanation about the logic behind your system. Thanks.

Here is my list (feel free to critique it):

home: computer
home: calls
home: do
home: client
out: client
out: errands
think, create
work: calls
work: errands
work: phone
work: computer

My logic: I have a home business that involves selling stuff online, meeting clients outside my home and also having clients to my house, plus I have a night job (for rent money and benefits) where, if I have downtime, I can do whatever I want (within reason) including phone calls, research, errands etc. I split out errands to "out" and "work" because there are some errands I can do near work, but actually those can be done at anytime, like on my way to work, so I will probably eliminate "work: errands". "Home: do" is a catch-all for chores and non-work stuff around the house that doesn't fit the other categories; I am thinking of breaking that out a little more. "Think, create" is another catchall for brainstorming, sketching, mulling in a controlled situation...not just daydreaming, but working out ideas for a specific project.

Chrome47's picture

I'm following up on my...

I'm following up on my earlier reply to this thread, and adding to it. Think of it as a work in progress. :)

Chrome47 wrote:
Here's what's in my hPDA, contextual action items:
  • @ Calls
  • @Computer (home Mac, not online)
  • @Dad (an @Agenda of sorts for things to discuss with my Dad)
  • @Errands (includes a grocery list as well as other errands to run)
  • @Home (stuff to do at home)
  • @Hope (an @Agenda of sorts for things to discuss with my girlfriend)
  • @Online
  • @Shopping (broken down into various checklists of things to shop for such as clothes, CDs, "stuff," different from a grocery list.)
  • @Studio (fine art projects)
  • @Waiting
  • @Work (my day-job)

There are a number of contexts that will move from Someday/Maybe once I move back out of my parents' basement and get my own place, such as @Home Office. I'm also playing with the idea of @Think, @Brainstorm, @Design, @Code, and @In contexts to put in my hPDA.

My Someday/Maybe "contexts" are categories more than anything.

  • 50,000 feet
  • Art Exhibits to see
  • Art Galleries to look into/contact/etc.
  • Art Projects -ideas to execute at some future point
  • Checklists - wishlist, DVDs to buy/rent, books to read, typography books to read, restaurants to try, art supplies to get, habits I want to develop
  • Design - ideas and projects to do at some future point for all areas of Design
  • Financial
  • Focus Areas
  • Health Goals
  • Home Office - will become an actionable context once I get my own place
  • House-Hunting - more of a project than anything else
  • Hobbies
  • Info - a convenient place to stash support info
  • Travel

This weekend I'll be creating tabs in my hPDA for new contexts:

  • @Think
  • @Brain Dump
  • @In
  • @Design (active work as opposed to the Someday/Maybe category)
  • @Code - web-code writing
  • @Reading - a list of books/magazines I'm reading
  • @Easel - might go away, but more granular than @Studio
  • @Sketch
  • @Brainstorm

And some new categories for my Someday/Maybes:

  • Incubate
  • Art business opportunities
  • Typography Design
  • Photography Ideas
  • Learn

 
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