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Marking Task as Un-completable?

christopher.c.parker says:
I don't think I'm the only person who's come across this scenario before... I have some overdue tasks that cannot be postponed, but I don't want to delete them because I have notes on them, they're shared, etc. Instead, I'd like to be able to mark them as "Uncomplete", "Missed", or something like that.

For example, if I missed a concert, conference, or similar event, or if I missed trash day one week. I think it would be useful to keep track of how often I get things done on time vs. postponed vs. missed altogether.
Posted at 8:14pm on July 31, 2009
christopher.c.parker says:
In order to clean up my missed, un-completable tasks, I've tagged them "missed" and then marked them as complete. I also added a Smart List with the following search term:

(status:completed and tag:missed) or (tag:missed)

I've named the Smart List "Missed Opportunities". All tasks with a tag of "missed" will show up here, with the tasks marked as complete showing up by default. If something changes in the RTM service that provides a better way for me to do this, I have easy access to all of my missed items. :)
Posted 15 years ago
christopher.c.parker says:
Actually, it turns out the tasks marked as complete won't show up by default if there are also incomplete tasks also tagged as "missed". Oh, well.

This just means that, if I visit the "Missed Opportunities" Smart List, and I see incomplete tasks, it will make it easier to bulk-Complete them to keep them out of my Overdue queue.
Posted 15 years ago
andrewski (Remember The Milk) says:
This is a really good idea! Over time you'll be able to tell how you're doing with your tasks. (One of the first things I realized when I started using tasks was that I overused due dates a lot. :)
Posted 15 years ago
apgordon says:
Agreed, to all. I over use due dates too, and have started using the GTD's model of just tagging things -na ("next action") instead of assigning them arbitrary due dates. This means I'm not using energy on constantly reassigning new due dates or postponing because I didn't get to it.

Another great GTD tip I learned is to have tags for someday/maybe. I add tasks a lot that I know I'm not going to get to that week or even that month, but want to remember it. Tag it -waiting.

Or, if there's a task you can't complete yet because you're waiting on someone else to do something, tag it: -waiting. It'll get it off your radar enough that you're not worrying about it everytime you look at your list of -na, but will keep it around so you don't lose track of it and can reassess when you do your weekly review (Another GTD tip).
Posted 15 years ago
This topic has now been closed automatically due to a lack of responses in the past 90 days.