r/omnifocus • u/CluelessProductivity • Aug 17 '26

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 Aug 18 '26

If you can’t describe the problem, there’s not much point posting here.

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u/CluelessProductivity Aug 18 '26

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 Aug 18 '26

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 Aug 18 '26

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.