Do You “To Do”?
I sometimes feel like being tech-savvy is almost a requisite for a Gen-Yer. I’ll certainly admit that I love the awed reactions of older generations when technology works effortlessly for me (I try and explain that it’s intuitive and then am reminded that it’s intuitive if you’ve grown up with it). Technology has been a wonderful resource for me, particularly for finances and productivity. I keep track of my spending online, I do 90% of my banking online, and I use my computer timer to encourage productivity. Invariably though, I’m done in by To Do lists.
It’s not for lack of trying. After years of experimenting, I still don’t have a reliable system. I’ve tried using the menu bar app Check Off, including To Do’s in my calender (with alarms) and notes jotted on my phone. I’ve even gone low-tech. I keep a small memo notepad with a mini-pencil in the spirals for making lists on the go, and a whiteboard list of reminders by my desk. I’m generally saved by remembering what needs to get done, but I’m left with a flawed system and the German side of me is screaming for order. No pun intended, but what to do?
My current system is a combination of two methods and hinges on the fact that I always have my phone on me. For time-specific items, I rely on my calender, which I can sync with my computer. For general events, I use my phone’s notepad. Neither method is as emotionally satisfying as checking off something or striking an item from my list but it has been relatively successful to date.
I’m invariably done in by long term items, so I also have to employ some restraint in the creation of my To Do list. My primary list on my calender and phone contains only items that can be completed in a single effort. Long term To Do items are relegated to a separate list. While the items on this separate list are occasionally doomed because they’re less frequently checked on, having two lists means that higher priority items are more likely to get accomplished.
There always seems to be too much to do and not enough time to get it all done. How do you keep track of what needs to get done? If you keep a To Do list, how do you get the most out of it?
I also have two personal to-do lists. I have a long-term one on the computer and add a weekly one to my paper calendar that I carry around.
(Paper! Horrors! I did have a PDA for a while, which I loved, but electronics and rain don’t mix, which means electronics and commuting by walking don’t mix because every few years I’ll get stuck in a torrential downpour, plus my favorite PDA company went out of business, so when my second one broke I went back to paper.)
I do check the long-term list when I’m making my weekly list and try to add pieces of some of my long-term goals.
Every year I re-do my long-term to-do list, also. I start with 100 goals (huge! but it includes easy fun, things, too that I never have to add to my weekly list like reading and watching movies). Then I add more goals over the year, and then cut it back to 100 the next year. After a few years, I ended up with mostly things that have been on my list for years without getting done. That probably means they aren’t that important to me. So now I start my new list of 100 things without looking at my old list. And I’ve started adding an asterisk to one goal in each category to prioritize it, but that doesn’t magically work.
I have a separate to-do list for work on my work computer.
I use rememberthemilk which I combine with both my google calendar and twitter. I don’t have a smart phone so a lot of my method is kind of clugy (if that’s a word). I direct text my rememberthemilk list through twitter which puts the item on the list. So I text “pick up dry cleaning friday” or whatever and it shows up on friday. I check stuff off when I happen to be at the computer. I don’t go as far as texting to get a list of the items or to text that I completed the items. One thing I love about rtm is putting recurring tasks on it: clean the air filters every 2 months, check the salt every month, tithe my sick leave every 8 months, do a SBE every 27 days. You put the item on there with an interval and start date and then check it completed and it pops back up after that interval.
I also have multiple lists on rtm like checkbook (I text myself charge amounts to enter in Quicken later), projects (crochet mostly), thank you notes to send (dad, mom, etc.), and to do.
I’m not much for PDAs but I really love to do lists actually.
Elizabeth: I’m low tech as well with my to do list sitting next to my laptop on a notepad.
My favorite way to check things off my list is by not putting it on the list – instead I follow the “touch it once” rule. I’ve found this to be the best technique for my personal productivity.
Post-it notes, Elizabeth. It doesn’t get any more low-tech than that.
Debbie M., I love your 100 goals list! That sounds like a wonderful idea! I guess I can be a little overzealous because I want to cross things off my list as fast as possible so I imagine that could be stressful, but creating a list of fun things to do sounds like a great idea.
Debra, I’ve heard wonderful things about Remember the Milk, but could never get into it. Perhaps I’ll have to try again.
Nina, your touch it once idea sounds brilliant. Especially for a procrastinator like myself. Sometimes it’s definitely easier to deal with things as you encounter them rather than letting it snowball.
Serena, I just can’t bring myself to do post it notes. They seem like a waste of money and material since I would throw them out once they’re used. Although if they work for you I imagine they’re worth it.
Elizabeth, I mostly stole my 100-things list from people at Uberlist Central.
Sounds like UberList has a bunch of great ideas. I really like Litemind’s article on what happens when you create a 100 things list. http://litemind.com/tackle-any-issue-with-a-list-of-100/
This is an awesome post! So many resources! I’m a huge TO DO list person. I like to consider myself extremely high tech but when it comes to to do lists, i prefer to go the low tech way like Serena and use post it notes (or any scrap paper really). I get more annoyed than productive when i get text msgs to my phone from google calendar.
I have a short attention span, so its easier when I can sit down at the computer and right down what i need to get done and then plow right through it.
I am definitely going to look into that Check off app though.
I wonder what they used in the old days? scrolls? can you imagine if we wrote our to do lists on scrolls? that actually might be pretty awesome.
I’ve always imagined that people remembered things better before computers simply because they had to. Although this may not be the case. My dad always carries a little book around with him in which he writes everything he needs to get done.
I believe for both macs and pcs you can also get little stickies for your desk top which can be handy.