Identify the lists you want OmniFocus to show you, then work backwards to build a system that delivers them.
OmniFocus works best when you treat it as an assistant. Throughout your day, you can ask it questions like “What’s due today?” or “What can I do in the next 15 minutes?” and get an immediate answer.
Like any assistant, OmniFocus needs key information to be helpful. It can only show you actions that take 15 minutes if you’ve specified estimated durations. It can only list what’s due today if you’ve added due dates. The more information you provide, the more helpful OmniFocus becomes.
A Design-Based Approach to OmniFocus
I recommend taking a design-based approach to your OmniFocus setup and workflows, along the lines of how you would approach designing a physical space, such as a kitchen or an office. Just as a kitchen or office facilitates certain activities, OmniFocus can show you lists that help you take action across all areas of your life.
One powerful approach is to start with the end in mind. Gain clarity on what you want to get out of OmniFocus and work backwards to determine the setup that produces these results. Once you’re clear on what OmniFocus will deliver, it’s a matter of using OmniFocus attributes such as defer, planned and due dates, tags and estimated durations to give OmniFocus the information it needs to produce the results you want.