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I'm using Cal on Android, made by the same people. I've liked it so far, but I can't help but feel like I'm missing out on its potential integration with Any.do. Are you using Cal and Any.do in conjunction? If so, any glaring benefits?
The Best To-Do List: A Private Gist
41–50 of 94 posts
Re: The Best To-Do List: A Private Gist
#42I've spent a lot of time thinking about TODO lists and trying different solutions. Eventually, I settled on a very specific means of using good, old, pen-and-paper. I think probably the most important feature of the TODO list is that it gives you mental clarity. Both the popular book "Getting Things Done" and a career couch I worked with for several months talk about the importance of clearing the mind before being a…
That reminds me of another paper system I used for a while. Add new tasks to the page. When it fills, write all unfinished tasks on the next page, and mark them with a star to show they've been moved. Next time you move tasks, do NOT move tasks that were starred.
Basically, it's a tacit admission that you're not going to get around to it. This is good, because for most of us, our true to-do list is deeper than our ability or will to finish it. Deleting the backburner things helps reduce guilt.
Re: The Best To-Do List: A Private Gist
#43I've spent a lot of time thinking about TODO lists and trying different solutions. Eventually, I settled on a very specific means of using good, old, pen-and-paper. I think probably the most important feature of the TODO list is that it gives you mental clarity. Both the popular book "Getting Things Done" and a career couch I worked with for several months talk about the importance of clearing the mind before being a…
I forgot to mention, I don't keep a separate work and personal TODO list. Again, I think it ends up harming the piece of mind aspect because it creates more than one place for keeping track of the things you have to do. Also, it's far to easy for me to ignore the personal items for the work items, which again defeats the purpose of keeping the list. So, if personal items are starting to crowd out my work items on the list, it's a signal that I'm working too much and need to focus on balance.
Re: The Best To-Do List: A Private Gist
#44Earlier quoted context omitted.
Combined with dropbox or some other remote storage and sync tool across multiple devices, this works wonders. There is an org-mode app for mobile devices as well. Of course people who dislike emacs might have a problem but it's quite hackable and there is nothing to keep one from associated .org files with emacs and using emacs just for todo lists (theres only about 5 or 8 commands in org-mode that you really have to…
I have always fancied learning org-mode, but I have had trouble finding a guide which doesn't assume I already know emacs. Do you have any suggestions?
There are a couple links below but http://orgmode.org/worg/org-tutorials/org4beginners.html is also pretty good.
Re: The Best To-Do List: A Private Gist
#45This is a nice idea. Gists are also cloneable, giving you the the power of git and any tooling that you want to use to update your list. Also, come on people, you all know that "Best" is subjective. This is the best tool for this guy, so there's no need to shoot it down.
If the Android Github app were updated such that the Gist support was a little richer for things like Markdown and those checkboxes, then I really think this might be the best.
The hardest bit I have with todo lists is keeping them current and accessible, meaning syncing across all devices and work-stations/laptops. Git is perfect for this, and this use of Github Flavored Markdown is pretty neat... the only missing thing is a mobile way to manage them efficiently.
Re: The Best To-Do List: A Private Gist
#46This is a nice idea. Gists are also cloneable, giving you the the power of git and any tooling that you want to use to update your list. Also, come on people, you all know that "Best" is subjective. This is the best tool for this guy, so there's no need to shoot it down.
If the Android Github app were updated such that the Gist support was a little richer for things like Markdown and those checkboxes, then I really think this might be the best. The hardest bit I have with todo lists is keeping them current and accessible, meaning syncing across all devices and work-stations/laptops. Git is perfect for this, and this use of Github Flavored Markdown is pretty neat... the only missing t…
I've also found that the gist support on Android GitHub is poor. Hopefully this will improve in the future. The nice thing about GitHub is that they listen to feedback. Most likely someone there is reading these comments.
Re: The Best To-Do List: A Private Gist
#47For me, it's still paper. Specifically, this paper: http://www.amazon.com/Strathmore-Visual-Journal--Mixed-Media... The spiral bound means it can be left open to the right page, and the thick paper is great. Version control (new pages) is built in. And the best part is that it's always right there in front of me, and I can glance down.
I agree - I've spent a lifetime trying to find the best to do solution (Microwriter Agenda, Psion 3, Palm, GTD, One Big Text File, David Seah's productivity tools, Superfocus, etc. etc.). Paper in the form of a hardbacked A4 notepad with context specific todo lists and a 2-week calendar seem to work well (inspired by GTD (for contexts), David Seah (for his obsession with functional paper) [1]) I'm also reliant on ZIM…
I'd be interested in more detail about the workflow you've settled on, if you're inspired to share more.
Re: The Best To-Do List: A Private Gist
#48I think wunderlist is pretty much what stayed with me for longest. Everything else kind of falls away. And paper of course :)
I appreciate innovations in this space, however I stopped even trying new things as experience shows they don't bring much once novelty wears off.
Re: The Best To-Do List: A Private Gist
#49I've spent a lot of time thinking about TODO lists and trying different solutions. Eventually, I settled on a very specific means of using good, old, pen-and-paper. I think probably the most important feature of the TODO list is that it gives you mental clarity. Both the popular book "Getting Things Done" and a career couch I worked with for several months talk about the importance of clearing the mind before being a…
That reminds me of another paper system I used for a while. Add new tasks to the page. When it fills, write all unfinished tasks on the next page, and mark them with a star to show they've been moved. Next time you move tasks, do NOT move tasks that were starred. Basically, it's a tacit admission that you're not going to get around to it. This is good, because for most of us, our true to-do list is deeper than our ab…
Yes, it's very important to delete backburner stuff. I've failed those projects whether or not I admit it. Admitting it is the only way to move forward. It's better both for me and the thing that needs to be done.
Re: The Best To-Do List: A Private Gist
#50Shameless plug here, check out my iPhone app Begin: http://beginapp.co/
It's goal is to be an extremely simple to-do list. I'd love to hear what you guys think.