How do you manage your to do lists?

[vinism]

In the GPWA Times magazine, we often ask people how they manage their to do lists. And the answers vary, from notebooks to sticky notes to computerized lists. This week, we're opening up the question to all of the GPWA. Which tools do you use to manage your to do list? In addition to answering the poll question, please describe your system in this thread. It seems all of us have too much work and not enough hours to do it in. And we might be able to pick up a few tricks from our fellow webmasters and affiliate managers.

[vinism]

For a while, I used a chrome app that created cork board that I could put virtual sticky notes on. I loved it. The app went away (argh), so I'm still looking to replace it. But for now, I use Evernote, Remember the Milk (a web-based app) and a mental list as well. I'll sometimes throw up a list on a Notepad document too.

[Anthony]

I do use various online tools for task management. But, when I am laying out the top priorities of the day I goto my legal pad. Having pen to paper and checking off the competed tasks just helps me manage things best. I date each page and when I fill the pad I put in a bin next to me and start a new one. Once I fill the bin I move them to a file cabinet. Now that I think of it I have been filing them for at least the past 10 years. Guess it's time to clean out the file cabinet...lol.

[Doolally]

I must get more organised but at the moment, I'm a scrap piece of paper person.

[Renee]

I have several lists, mostly in my brain because I have a pretty good memory, but wherever I can write things down I do. I have scrap paper all over the place. It's terrible. And so many lists.
I use outlook to remind me for the most important things so its right in my face all day.

[sweetbet]

I keep a list of things to do on a word file on my desktop. The list is divided into 2 parts. Part 1 lists the things that must be done on a daily/regular basis, such as backing up websites, checking the latest promotional offers, adding content, etc. Part 2 lists the jobs that just come up and need to be taken care of, like updating the tracking links of an affiliate program, or moving a website from one host to another, etc

[JackTenSuited]

I have a text file which opens on startup and I just add/amend to it as I go.

[dfiocch]

Brain!

[GFPC]

my cats! seriously no joke.
they remind me to eat, sleep, feed them, brush teeth ect ect...
works great.

[Paolino]

I am also a text file on my laptop supporter.

[tryme]

I find writing a to do list with 'write a to do list' as the top item works well.

I cross that off and then ignore the rest of it, safe in the knowledge that I have, at least, done one thing on my 'to-do' list. Try it: it's very liberating.

[thebookiesoffers]

i just make it all up as i go along

[baldidiot]

My process is pretty simple:

1. Write a to-do list in a notepad or on a scrap of paper
2. Do the first one or two things and cross them off
3. Get distracted by something else completely unrelated to what I was originally doing
4. Find said to-do list a week or two later with the majority of the tasks still not finished
5. Re-write to-do list and add new tasks
6. Go to step 2

[Sergej_AGR]

I use https://trello.com

[universal4]

This thread is really fascinating.

I have been reading all the posts with great interest.

From time to time I can and do use many of the ideas presented here such as postit notes, slips of paper, notes taped to the bathroom mirror, text files on my desktop, emailing myself reminders as well as others.

But I think the very single most important idea I have gained from this discussion:

I didn't realize we were supposed to actually DO the tasks that we put on our reminder notes.

Rick
Universal4

[rak]

I break them into 2 types.
Everyday stuff, or scheduled things popup in my calendar, phone, and email.

And for jobs and things which popup here and there.. I use Wunderlist. Perhaps the most brilliant thing.. everrrrrr.. after cakes.

[roberto]

excel file, all in one sheet...works for me (more or less), but I'd love to find the perfect solution...

[michael1981]

I have a pretty advanced system that involves sticky notes, and lots of them haha It is the only thing that seems to work for me :P

[Leo]

Two pieces of software I couldn't do without:

Notepad++ is free software for editing text files, and it opens multiple files in tabs. It's great because I always have a few 'To Do' text files open, and this keeps them in tabs in the same order even after closing and re-opening the software, so it's very convenient - open Notepad++ to quickly access your notes, then close it to get it out of the way. Available from http://notepad-plus-plus.org/

Mars Notebook is also for storing information, but instead of individual files it keeps all your notes in a database. I like it because you can organize all your notes into folders (and sub-folders), and you have full text formatting, you can even make tables for data, etc. So I use this for things that require more than just plain text, and information that needs to be organized better than text files can handle. This software is not free but it's worth the small cost. Site is http://www.mars-soft.net/notebook.htm

[rak]

Two pieces of software I couldn't do without:

Notepad++ is free software for editing text files, and it opens multiple files in tabs. It's great because I always have a few 'To Do' text files open, and this keeps them in tabs in the same order even after closing and re-opening the software, so it's very convenient - open Notepad++ to quickly access your notes, then close it to get it out of the way. Available from http://notepad-plus-plus.org/

It's also a fantastic editor to code php in. Great tag highlighting, and its scripting to record and play is fantastic. I use it often, but since moving to Mac.. its not available on the Mac.

Another thing, it can open gig size files very quickly!