My System – Sprints
The foundation of my project organization is based on a German book on agile document filing.
Source: Wolfgang Steinbrecher – Prozessorientierte Ablage
A key insight that helped me organize better is using verbs when naming projects. This provides a clearer distinction from areas of responsibility.
Initially, I used the PARA system for my folders. After attending several Linking Your Thinking workshops, I transitioned to an “Efforts” folder. In Ideaverse Pro 2.0, my folder structure shifted back somewhat towards PARA, now including Areas, Projects, and Works.
Folders for “on,” “ongoing,” “simmering,” and “sleeping” seem to be gone. I like the ACE folder framework, as it provides a clearer structure for organizing files.
Actionable Project Titles
The most important principle in this concept is naming projects in actionable terms, such as:
- Write a paper for XYZ
- Buy a new Mercedes XBC
- Renovate my home
In contrast, areas are labeled as general terms:
- House in XYZ Street
- Mercedes XBC
- Health
This distinction makes it easy to differentiate between areas and projects just by looking at their titles.
Resources can also be categorized with general terms. As we learned in [MOC|LYT 11 Mapping Note (MOC|[MOC|[MOC)]]]]).md), there are two types of notes:
- Thing notes
- Statement notes
Projects should always be framed as statements.
For example, in the case of a car:
- Buying a car (an actionable project) is different from maintaining a car (an area of responsibility).
- Buying a car involves choosing a model, comparing prices, selecting features, and following specific action steps with a defined outcome and possibly a deadline.
- The area of responsibility stores non-actionable information like contracts, warranties, and offers.
Sprints
So, what about sprints?
Sprints, an agile concept, are integrated into my project notes. Sprints are folders with deadlines.
📁 2023-05-12 Finding Car Dealers
When I open a project folder, I see sprint folders that define smaller steps with deadlines. This was particularly useful when building my house—my architect had deadlines, and I had to make timely decisions to avoid delays.
As with PARA, you can add a sprint archive folder to store completed sprints. This keeps them accessible for reference while decluttering the workspace.
Managing multiple projects across different life areas becomes much easier and less overwhelming with this system.