Thanks for sharing how you used your areas of focus to support you with getting more clarity with your vision.

Jason:

To answer your question about where to keep your areas of focus list if you use outlook I have coached clients to either create a new category called areas of focus in tasks or to put areas of focus in the notes section. If you put a “z” in front of areas of focus when you create the category it will drop below your someday maybe list.

To answer your second question about whether to identify/list a Project and/or Next Action for each Area of Focus I would say that review each area of focus and ask yourself do you possible have a project or next action for this area of focus? Remember, you can have a next action to a area of focus and not have a project. The example I gave was my dad is an area of focus and I had a next action to help him with the boats but I didn’t have a project for him.

Thanks again for your questions!

Meg

1) Where should I track my Areas of Focus? I’m using Outlook Tasks as my lists manager. Should I also use it for my Areas of Focus?

2) Should I identify/list a Project and/or Next Action for each Area of Focus?

Thanks

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Enjoy it!

I’m definitely not the proud owner of a complete project list, but I have a next action to think through my current roles. I drew a strong parallel between what you call areas of focus and what I call roles in my life (husband, son, brother, employee, homeowner, human being (hygiene, etc.), banker (personal finance, etc.). Just another way to skin the same cat, I think, but thought the perspective might help someone out there. I’m also interested in seeing the sample of your project/areas of focus list.

Meg Edwards replied:

Yes, areas of focus can also be called roles and responsibilities and so forth. I always encourage my clients to use the language which bests works for them. I use areas of focus because it also includes any roles that I have.

Here are some of my projects given my areas of focus. Sometimes I start my projects with a key word or area of focus but you don’t have to do it this way.

Annie- Finalize Annie’s summer schedule
Health- Ensure Crossfit training program is on cruise control- 3 days on, one day off
Morningside- Ensure house is rented for 5 weeks this summer
Home- Paint guest bedroom floor
WC- Complete WC with John S.
TC- Complete TC with Mike Z.
Training- Complete Webinar on Outlook add-in.

Hope that helps and would love to hear when you have a complete project list.

Areas of Focus are key to GTD’s “Horizons of Focus.” I would highly recommend getting the GTD book, or at least reading an article on this important piece of the GTD model, like this one: http://www.davidco.com/coaches_corner/Julie_Ireland/article63.html.

It will make the whole priorities piece of GTD “click” when you understand Horizons of Focus.

- Kelly