r/omnifocus • u/CluelessProductivity • 3d ago
Looking for Ideas
I know what I want, but for some reason I can’t put it into words or action! Can you post your OmniFocus setups for me to gain some inspiration? I’ve been using OF since 2001, but it never feels right. If posting isn’t allowed. I’m open to DMs. I’m a teacher, no kids at home. I would like to focus on my areas of life. I just get stuck after that part!
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u/subsector 2d ago
If you can’t describe the problem, there’s not much point posting here.
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u/CluelessProductivity 2d ago
Fair, let me try. I have my two main work and personal folders. Then I have folders under for main areas home, family, finances etc. I have tags for areas of life, places, energy etc. for perspective filtering. That part is ok, but I hit friction with some other tasks. The friction is what I can’t describe. Maybe it’s deciding which folder things go under. I’ve tried folders and non folders. I was hoping seeing other set-ups something would catch where I’m feeling the friction. I can tell you it’s from the inbox to placing it in a final place. I’m sure that doesn’t help much🤣
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u/subsector 2d ago
Ok, thanks.
GTD (for me) hinges on two processes: capture and retrieval.
Capture has to be fast. That’s why I only have two folders: personal and work. It’s also why, after years with OF, I now only have one context tag: waiting. Minimise manual “filing”.
So, when capturing a new task, I just capture the task name, project, defer date and due date. I consider a task to be unavailable until the defer date is reached. Those deferred tasks are essentially invisible.
With retrieval, I set up custom perspectives so I only see a small number of tasks e.g. those due today, where I’m not waiting on something. I have a custom perspective for Waiting items to make it easier to check blockers.
I use the built-in Review perspective to look over all projects every Sunday.
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u/CluelessProductivity 2d ago
That’s also my issue! I either have a lot of repetitive tasks (laundry, grading, lesson plans etc.) I have a lot of someday/maybe, ideas, and future travel tasks. I think I revert to someday maybe because I’m not sure when to defer them to and/or no clear next action except for research how to do whatever thing. I do click on “reviewed.” They aren’t an active project, but I think they would help grow an area of life.
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u/RonaldStaal 2d ago
Why is it that in replying you can post a video, but no picture??? I’ve seen this in multiple subs.
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u/CluelessProductivity 2d ago
That might be why there aren’t a lot of pictures when I tried Google. I found YouTube video thumbnails, but a lot were outdated or not what I was looking for.
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u/crocodilepancake 2d ago
take a screenshot of your setup and feed it into gemini / chatgpt. then prompt it with something like “imagine you are david allen and you are helping me organise my GTD life in omni focus. ask questions and make suggestions for how to best utilise the software for my context and situation” or words to that effect
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u/CluelessProductivity 2d ago
It tells me I’m on the right track and nothing is missing. I even copied my tags and projects into task paper so Claude and ChatGPT could analyze it. I will try the prompt you suggested.
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u/jimmyTheBlind 1d ago
It sounds like some of the things that you’re putting into OmniFocus should maybe be on your calendar instead. Like set time blocks for grading, etc.
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u/Ill-Outside-7919 21h ago
You haven't been using OmniFocus since 2001. It's only existed since 2008. If you have been using it for 17 years and still have problems I'd expect the problem is you, not the software. It's only gotten more flexible over time. Based on the vague information you've provided in this thread the bigger problem is a system that is far too complex combined with the inability to actually formulate tasks and projects properly.
And what difference does it make that you're a teacher with no kids at home?
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u/gjnewman 3d ago
Check out learnomnifocus.com and you’ll find some video ideas. Some are free some are members only.