What’s your favorite way to keep a ToDo list? Do you keep one long list on a piece of paper? Keep everything in your head? Use an app on your phone? Or maybe just write random notes on scrap paper?
If you love your ToDo list and it works for you – GREAT! Please share your tips in the comment section!
However, if you change your system every few months because you’re still looking for the perfect ToDo list, please know you’re not alone. That’s exactly how I was! It seems like I’ve tried every system possible:
- sticky notes
- one notebook for each aspect of my life (work, blog, personal, etc.)
- one consolidated notebook
- electronic systems like Evernote
- a calendar list
- email action folders
I’ve even tried a combination of the above.
The biggest obstacle I’ve found in making a system work perfectly is the massive amounts of action items generated by email. Since I try to follow David Allen’s 2 minute principle suggested in Getting Things Done when processing email, I do my best to handle immediately if it takes 2 minutes or less. The problem is, there are way too many emails I need (or want) to deal with that take longer than 2 minutes to process.
So what’s the solution?
- Should you keep an email requiring action in your email in-box or perhaps transfer it to a specific action folder? That still means keeping up with at least 2 ToDo lists.
- Should you write/type the action item into your master ToDo list and then archive/file the email? That can be cumbersome. Plus, what happens when you’re looking at the ToDo list but can’t remember the details outlined in the email?
I think I’ve finally found the perfect solution! Good ToDo.
I found out about Good ToDo after reading Bit Literacy (free on Kindle!). The book quickly convinced me that Good ToDo was worth trying but the tool convinced me to stay. Here’s why.
Good ToDo is an online ToDo list separated by days.
For example:
- If I need to remind myself to call my internet provider in 6 months to negotiate a better rate, I can add that ToDo 6 months out.
- If I need to return library books in 10 days, I can put it on the list in 10 days and forget about it until then.
- If I need to schedule a flight next Wednesday, I can go ahead and put it on the calendar for then.
Good ToDo easily creates repeating action items.
- If you need to order medicine for your dog the first Tuesday of every month, you can add it once and indicate how often to repeat.
But it’s more than just a calendaring system.
- You can categorize your action items.
- You can easily find old or new ToDo’s using the search bar.
- You can prioritize the list with a simple drag and drop.
- You can redate an action item with the click of a button.
- If you don’t check off a ToDo on the day it’s scheduled, it automatically rolls over to the following day.
- You can completely clean out your email inbox by forwarding action items to your ToDo list by using easy to remember email addresses like:
- 1d@goodtodo.com
- 1day@goodtodo.com
- tomorrow@goodtodo.com
- July4@goodtodo.com
- Sunday@goodtodo.com
- Sun@goodtodo.com
So, in summary, this is how I’ve been tracking all of my action items:
- Every single ToDo (including those that come through email) is transfered to GoodToDo by using my computer and phone.
- Only meetings/appointments with a specific timeframe are noted on my calendar.
- All other brainstorming ideas and someday/maybe tasks are logged into Evernote.
Simple. Streamlined. Effective.
It works for me!
What does your ToDo list look like? Let me know in the comments!
Disclaimer: I’m not an official spokesperson for Good ToDo; I’m just a fan!
iDreamOfClean
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I have always used a clip board and a running list. The top sheet is of stuff I want to do and the sheet below it is things on my mind for the next few days. However, I like the ability to chart your to dos months ahead that this Good ToDo does. I might just have to check it out. Can you print it out? because I am definitely a paper to do list type of gal.
Being able to schedule months ahead was a big selling point for me as well. Yes, you can easily print out the list from the app. You could even set it up to email you your ToDo’s each day and print that.
Love the rollover of items not done on the designated day. Too bad you have to pay for this program/app even though there’s a free trial.
I agree! The roll over is one of my FAVORITE features!
Having to pay put me off at the beginning as well. After using it, though, I realized that it was completely worth the $3/month in productivity.