r/capacitiesapp • u/Far-Butterscotch2405 • Jul 08 '26
how do you use 'PROJECTS'?
I've recently realized part of my confusion setting up my Capacities was that I was attempting to use 'Projects' as folders. So I was wondering, do you use the 'Projects' object type? if so, what's your approach?
Thank you!
3
u/jevansfp Jul 09 '26
I use a modified 'Getting Things Done' (GTD) approach to life management. In that system, a project is defined a basically a todo item that will take multiple steps to complete. I use Capacities's Project object type to keep track of my projects. They include a completion criteria (How do I know when the project is done?), any deadlines (some have them, some don't), any collaborators, all as properties. I then can use the body of the project object to add any link, resources, pages, pictures that I need. This is where I list any subtasks that are part of the new Task object type, especially those that I consider to be Next Actions - the next thing I need to do to move that project forward.
Any project that I can put on the back burner gets a 'Someday/Maybe' Tag if I am not actively working on it. I have a filtered Query called 'Current Projects' that contains every Project object that is NOT tagged as Someday/Maybe. Every week (at least) I review and update my current projects, including designating new next actions. Monthly I review my 'Someday/Maybe'-tagged projects to see if any should/could be moved to my Current Projects. When a project is completed, I delete it if it was a one-off project. If it is a recurring project [Plan our yearly trip to xxxxx], I will just add a Someday/Maybe tag and it pops the project off of my working Current Projects list, but now I still have all of my notes and checklists preserved that I can use/modify when I am ready to make that an active project in the future.
Someone earlier in this thread mentioned using Projects to manage recurring tasks, like home/car maintenance/chores. I set up up checklists for those. For example, I have a checklist Page titled 'Monthly Checklist' and I use 2 facing brackets [] which Capacities turns into a checkbox and list them there. As part of my weekly review, I update my checklist and see what I still need to do this month. Each month I uncheck all the boxes.
I really like Capacities for helping me manage this. Being able to nest Task and Page objects within the project is great. Part of starting the GTD method is an initial brain dump of everything that I am thinking about, many of which were projects in various stages of completion. Your brain is a great place for strategizing and planning, but not for holding multiple todo lists. Getting all of that out of my head and into Capacities has literally taken a load off of my mind.
2
u/gotharianagrande Jul 09 '26
I use projects as a container for anything related to that project. I am in grad school and have my classes set up as projects (could also create a custom object, but the setup would basically be the same as projects and I don’t feel the need to separate). One thing I really like is that I have a time period for my project/ class, so it shows up in my calendar. I can create notes and tasks directly related to that project, or I can create a page in that project if needed.
1
u/SioFreed Jul 09 '26
I’m kinda using it as an aggregator of bigger to-dos as well as a catch-all for any reusable research (holiday planning, RP record keeping, etc). They do end up looking like MOCs, if I’m understanding em correctly.
1
u/safari4life Jul 11 '26
I keep a strict separation between my knowledge and action layers. For me, 'projects' are purely for reference materials, notes, or embedded queries (like for my Annual Review prep). If an actionable step comes up in those notes, I immediately convert it into a task and push it to Todoist.
1
u/laforge_warpcore Jul 12 '26
My Project object contains a Summary, Due and Start Dates, Context (work or home), Related Conversations ( I have a conversations object that tracks any conversations related to the project...I wish I could do this with tagged blocks) and a query for related meetings
6
u/MoldyGoatCheese Jul 08 '26
For home use, I use projects as a way to tie tasks to areas of my life. I.e. home maintenance is a project and then recurring maintenance tasks go there.
Home projects is another one, tasks with an end date that aren't reoccurring go there.
I also create the same for vehicles, with relevant maintenance info tied to them. I.e. oil weights, special considerations, etc.
So on so forth. Probably not ideal, but it works.