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Is there such a thing as a sustainable todo system?

ryanwaggoner.com

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Re: Is there such a thing as a sustainable todo system?

#41

Post by mkramlich »

I'd say that the very name of the GTD system, Getting Things Done gives a big hint as to what's the "right" system. It's whatever system lets you Get Things Done. It doesn't have to be some fancy complicated system. It doesn't have to require any software or notes. Whatever works for you. Try several things, see what sticks and is effective for you.

Personally I've discovered that a combination of project TODO files, and general TODO files, plus iCal events, plus my brain, is an effective combo for me.

Re: Is there such a thing as a sustainable todo system?

#42

Post by warp »

Figs wrote: post #31

I use a whiteboard in my room. I write down the things I have to get done over the next week or so, and erase them when I finish them. I can't forget about it, or misplace it, or forget my login since it's right in front of my bed. I don't write every little task down, but rather general things like "CS Assignment #2", "Time Card", "Call " and due dates, if relevant. A more extended version, if you want to take the t…

A whiteboard sounds great, you know you have too many things on your list if it doesn't fit on your whiteboard anymore :)

Re: Is there such a thing as a sustainable todo system?

#43

Post by _b8r0 »

I've tried all kinds of stuff but I keep coming back to this:

Create a file (mines called todotoday.txt)

Add the following lines:

Now ---

Waiting -------

Done ----

On the Now area, put everything that needs to be done now. When you're in progress and stop partway through, put "- X" after the entry to signify that it's in progress. Once it's complete, remove the hyphen and move the line to 'Done'. If something stalls or is waiting on someone else, move it to 'Waiting'.

It's simple enough for me to keep track of what I'm doing, what I'm chasing and what I've done.

Re: Is there such a thing as a sustainable todo system?

#44

Post by prawn »

toast76 wrote: post #39
prawn wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Number 3 is awesome. (Half seriously) you should pad out your approach, make it an ebook and try selling it to people. It's novel enough that it just might work.

I'll write it if you promise to buy it :P

I've already read your summarised version. ;)

Re: Is there such a thing as a sustainable todo system?

#46

Post by prawn »

ChristianMarks wrote: post #37

I use a hosts file of ad site domains aliased to localhost. A web server on my machine redirects the default page at localhost to my to-do list on http://rememberthemilk.com . In addition, I use OpenDNS to block distracting sites, and redirect block.opendns.com to localhost, which is then redirected to my to-do list.

Remember that add-on that replaced web ads with fine art? Makes me think that someone should make an add-on that replaces web-ads with things that you need to do in large type.

I wouldn't know how to make it, so someone's welcome to run with the idea if they think people might use it.

Re: Is there such a thing as a sustainable todo system?

#47

Post by swombat »

My most effective and sustainable todo system has, so far, been a notebook with a new page for each day. On the evening the previous day (ideally... sometimes on the morning of the current day) I look at the previous day's tasks and copy the uncompleted ones onto a new page, then add to that page as I go along.

This forces me to review and eliminate tasks that I blatantly won't do (self-cleaning) and keeps track of other relevant tasks (no lost tasks). Works great.

When overworked, as another layer, I add a number next to the tasks, 1, 2, 3 or 4. This allows me to more easily ignore the 3's and 4's until the 1's and 2's are completed.

Re: Is there such a thing as a sustainable todo system?

#48

Post by metamemetics »

udfalkso wrote: post #8
metamemetics wrote: post #6

voting for plain text or pen and paper. What I've found most helpful is writing down 'predicted time required' next to each task. And then if you run over adding an additional prediction next to it. And if you run under writing how long it actually took. I quickly realized my poor time management was due to habitually underestimating the time certain types of tasks take me to complete. An additional benefit is if you…

The best compromise that I've found between plain text and a structured to-do sytem is TaskPaper. It's more or less a to-do enhanced notepad and it's the only to-do system that I've manged to stick with for more than a week. I think it's because it's so free-form that it works for me. Like a dynamic outline. If you're a mac person, it's worth checking out: http://www.hogbaysoftware.com/products/taskpaper

On ubuntu. I actually just created a simple To Do App using web.py and mysql, might throw it on github this weekend.

Re: Is there such a thing as a sustainable todo system?

#49

Post by dhechols »

"The best todo system is the one you use".

For me, that's Things. It's important to have all three interfaces, iPad, iPhone, and Mac -- because it lets me use them in any context.

Since I always have one of these devices, it's superior to pen and paper. I'm more likely to use it, and it all syncs rather nicely.

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