How I Organize TickTick
#self/life-optimization/org-tools
#self/life-optimization/project-management
#self/life-optimization/organization/task-management
Summary
TickTick is an amazing tool, combining task management with time-blocking functionality, a habit tracker, notes, and list management. All of that at a very reasonable cost of $3/mo. Having said that, the best tool in the world is useless without a good system to use it.
Methodology
Lists
I have the following lists setup in TickTick:
- Tasks
- On Deck
- Soon
- Eventually
- Someday Maybe
- Blocked
- Projects
- Small Projects
- (A list for each large project)
- Routine
- Meal Plan
- Chores
- Planning
- Shopping
- Groceries
- Target
- Amazon
- Costco
- Home Depot
- Other
- Notes
Tags
These are the tags I have set up:
- self
- home
- office
- world
Setting up tasks and projects
Tasks go into TickTick's inbox for capture I can capture easily from my phone or PC, where I've setup CTRL+ALT+. as my hotkey for the quick add function.
When I'm ready to categorize tasks out of the inbox I can decide if they're tasks or projects. Tasks are composed of a single action, whereas projects comprise multiple actions. If the task in question is actually a project then I decide if it's a large or small project. This is purely a subjective judgement call, but you could say a small project can be completed in a day whereas large projects take multiple days, weeks, or longer. If it's a large project then the original task gets deleted and a list is created under the Projects folder to hold all the tasks for the project. If it's a smaller project then the task gets moved into the Small Projects list and any tasks associated with that project can be opened as subtasks.
If the task in question is a true task then it can be moved to the appropriate folder depending on how the tasks is to be staged:
- On Deck - Tasks that will be completed within the next week or so
- Soon - Tasks that will be completed within the next month or so, or later if there is an assigned date.
- Maybe Someday - Tasks with no assigned date that may or may not be completed.
- Blocked Waiting - Tasks which are blocked from being completed or waiting for someone else to do something before they can be completed.
In addition to moving the task/project, It's important to tag the task with the appropriate Life Schema dimension:
- Self - Tasks that pertain to my self or self-interests.
- Home - Tasks that pertain to the house or family interests.
- Office - Work tasks, or tasks that are professional, career, or business-related.
- World - Tasks that relate to the world at-large, including extended family, friends, appointments, etc.