Whatever works - different ways of staying on top of things
Plenty of companies are making millions of dollars by convincing the fair consumer to purchase their product in order to better organize their lives. From daily planners to PDAs, Blackberrys and other gadgets available, to using a paper calendar or the one that comes with your email program, there are a lot of different ways to stay on top of the many tasks you have to do.
I came across some neat and free (or inexpensive) ways to keep track of what you need to do, from the very basic, to web-based ideas:
Paper to do lists
- Weekly to do list: Traylor Papers
I like the pretty colours of this pad of paper, but I’d prefer a daily rather than weekly to do list. - Sticky to do list: Post It Action Notes have room to write items, and afterwards, you can stick the list wherever works best for you-on the fridge, on your forehead, or on the dashboard of the car. The stickiness makes it easy to actually keep the list with you, which is important if crossing tasks off your list is a priority (and it should be!).
Web-based to do lists
- Ta-da Lists
This site was easy to set up and once you have created a list, you have the option of emailing it to yourself, to others or allowing it to be posted publicly. It took about 30 seconds to sign up and does not require the installation of anything. (Tudu Lists is similar, and just as easy to sign up for, but it doesn’t operate as smoothly as Ta-da does in my opinion). - Remember the milk
This is a more robust version than the two web-based to do lists. It’s fun to use and I recommend you try it out! You can include a due date for your tasks, which the other two programs do not allow, and it allows you to transfer your list to your cell phone, several email programs and even to skype! You can print a weekly planner from your to do lists, and you’re provided with an email addresss whereby any emails you send to this address get added to your to do list. It is available in over 10 languages, including Spanish, Italian and French. I have a lot more explorations of this program to do, to see if it works for me and my lifestyle.
And of course, that last part is the key: there are a lot of ways to keep track of the things you want to do. In addition to the ways mentioned, some people record their list (into a recording device) and replay it during the day; others simply give themselves a mental reminder and keep track of all the things they need to do on any given day without the use of paper or other gadgets.
As for me? I use a little planner but I don’t always remember to consult it. So for items I absolutely don’t want to forget I have taken to using post it notes, in different colours to remind me of things. I sit at my computer desk every day and my eyes are drawn frequently to the brightly coloured notes:
Whatever works is the right method for you.
How do you keep track of your to do items?
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organize, to do, to do lists, priorities, tasks
May 4th, 2007 at 8:40 am
This is my favorite program ever.
Digital Post It’s
http://www.download.com/Post-it-Software-Notes-Lite/3000-2351_4-10508740.html
May 4th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
I love making lists: My problem is that I end up focussing on making the most comprehensive list possible, one that is super organized and in different colors of inks. I have headings, sub-headings, bullets of different varieties, and sometimes I use a ruler for my underlining.
As a result, I end up spending more time on the list than on completing the tasks. So generally I just pray that others keep me posted on what should be going on. And I always make sure to tell my mom when my exams are.
May 5th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
I tend to just remember most of the important things.. but I’ll still put them in my “TASKS” function on my cellphone. I can assign due dates with a reminder tone when I want. Since my cellphone’s always with me, I find it can be quite useful.
It has the option of ticking the task as complete, but I just delete it once it’s done. I don’t like having extra clutter
No point having something there if I don’t need it anymore.
May 9th, 2007 at 10:26 am
I used to keep a list on my pack of cigarettes, because I would always be having a cigarette, but that doesn’t work anymore, so I also write on scrap paper everywhere. And I write everything on them before I toss them away.
I don’t know if it works or not, but it’s what I do. Always right next to my computer, little scraps of paper. I hate throwing paper away until it has been completely used.