Discussion Tactics for managing to-do lists

[mikeymikec]

I have by no means figured this out completely for myself, but I thought I'd share what my current tactics are and what I'm trying to solve, and if anyone here has a system that works reasonably well for them then please feel free to share it.

I'm in my forties and I'm self-employed (my office is at home, I go to visit customers, fixing computer problems). I think the main things that have bugged me about my time management are the following:

1 - With a single to-do list, some to-do items simply get transferred from one exhausted piece of paper to the next while others get done, and I probably have just mostly ignored the oldest items on my single to-do list.
2 - There are items that have never made it on to a to-do list that definitely should have done, but for whatever reason I've kept them off (maybe because I convinced myself that I'll always remember that item and partly because I don't really want to do it in the first place, e.g. sanding down a doorframe and repainting it... I hate DIY work).
3 - A supposedly single to-do list but there's actually multiple ones, e.g. one on my phone (where I've made a note while away from home), one on paper on my desk at home, so I miss stuff that I ought not to have missed. Typing on a phone is not ideal, a file on my computer has its downsides too, as does a piece of paper.
4 - If I have spare time (e.g. a morning with no appointments), failing to consult the to-do list and finding say a long-term chore to spend some time on, and later kicking myself for (at worst) wasted time.

I've recently embraced a new strategy, being two to-do lists to separate what I call 'long term chores' (ie. work that will never be finished in one session), and normal chores. For the long-term chores list, I created the list, then as I spent some time on each one, I numbered them with the notion that in future, I'll move from one long-term chore to another in that order. I'm also keeping in mind that I'm not going to completely insist that I stick to the order because I don't want to ignore inspiration to tackle one of them, but on the other hand if I was so inspired to tackle one of these then I probably would have deep-dived into it and got significant chunks of it done rather than spending an hour or two on it every so often.

I'm wondering if I should also create a 'fair weather chores' list, including say the doorframe repainting and that the rotary clothes line has been waiting for me to rip out the line and replace it to get the tension right (the current one is 50% completely floppy), and I don't have a great degree of confidence that I'm going to get it right first second or third time! I'm also thinking that I should just employ a handyman to get this stuff done for me that I'm clearly dragging my heels on.

- edit - I finally committed and called a handy man for the DIY tasks

 

[Red Squirrel]

I tend to make lists in notepad, like if I have a week off I will try to set goals to accomplish some stuff and make a list for that specific set of tasks for the week. Doesn't always work out though.

I'd love to setup a better system at some point... but I'm bad for procrastinating. Essentially what I want to build is a sorta ticketing system, where I can create items that need to be done and set a priority, deadline and such. This would be both for short term like, I need to buy an item, and long term, like a construction project. Items could then be broken down into their own tasks too. Could also use it for apointments, as it could sorta act as a calendar. When I look at the main dashboard it would give me a list of items that must be done today and prioritize them, and also a list of items that are ongoing that I can choose to add time into. Could keep adding on to it and essentially turn it into a life management system. Could track expenses and such in this system too.

This feels like it would turn basic things and make it feel too much like work though. But it would be a really good way to manage time. There would also be a sense of accomplishment in checking off items.

 

[mikeymikec]

Building a ticketing system for my to-do list gives me minor nightmares along the lines of a to-do list for the to-do list system, like when computers insist that a particular app's updating component needs to be updated itself and please wait

I suppose an advantage of an online to-do list is accessibility when I'm away from home, but despite how paperless my existence is (and I do appreciate that), I like having a paper to-do list, mainly for ease of editing, and maybe a smidgen like my wife's satisfaction when she crosses out an item off her list

 

[lxskllr]

I keep everything in my head and get to it when I get to it. Business related stuff of some urgency goes in my phone calendar, but that's more an emergency backup. It's also in my head and usually remembered.

 

[MrSquished]

I'm still figuring it out as well. I have tried a bunch of the task/list apps, and I really liked Tick Tick, but I kept having duplicate imports as I synced it to two Google Calendars.

I simply use Google Tasks and Calendar now. Google is an evil company now so you can no longer tell the voice assistant to add this to my Tick Tick Calendar, because Google banned it. So if I want to voice it, no way Jose. Same with adding to a list app - like AnyList. It will add it to Google Keep.

I remember being 40 and remembering an insane amount of different appointments from work to social all in my head with perfection. Oh to be a youngun again.

 

[BoomerD]

Don’t forget…when you’re working off things on your to-do list…and you do something that isn’t on the list…add it to the list…and mark it complete.

 

[sdifox]

Best way to tackle the lost is to not have one.