Comments on: The Secret of Today Versus Todo

By: How I Use Wunderlist to be Productive | timemanagementmum.com

How I Use Wunderlist to be Productive | timemanagementmum.com — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 05:28:46 +0000

[...] List – While I keep a large task list, I usually work from a Today List. Simply the things that I must complete today. Wunderlist makes this easy with their [...]

By: antonia

antonia — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:05:21 +0000

This was a phenomenal entry. It is the crucial thing I needed to think about and incorporate into my daily task regimen. I use a very well-designed, full-featured to do app on my iPod Touch, but I found myself spending more time fiddling with the app than doing the tasks. I also have been overwhelmed by massively long lists, long scrolling lists, of undone tasks. Most of them are low priority…some are just fun activities (what’s with that? Don’t turn fun or hobby stuff into *tasks*–how dreadful). But what I need to do is exactly what you advise– get the focus on the 5 things that need to be done today.

Indeed, I will start with the 3 things as you so smartly suggest.

Similarly, for my calendar, where alerts pop up all the time of things to do, I am addicted to the Snooze button. But all that does is to put off the tasks, then I get nagged, again and again, and all that does is make one feel unproductive, even stressed out!

For that, I finally figured out that I need to attend to the tasks when the alert pops up. Otherwise, why did I put it into the calendar and at a particular time?

I am hoping that combining your 5 tasks idea, with my attend to it right away notion, that I will start to accomplish things and do so more efficiently and happily. (As Aristotle pointed out, happiness is quite different from pleasure.)

First, of course, I have to launch that to do app and figure out its Star and special list system so that I can use it to identify the key tasks of the day. That should take me much of the day, playing around with it, having fun, and not getting any tasks done!

Oh, well. Maybe tomorrow, I’ll finally get to the tasks I should be doing!

By: Weekend Reading: My fav’s from this week: 7/9/10 | Heather Villa

Weekend Reading: My fav’s from this week: 7/9/10 | Heather Villa — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:48:25 +0000

[...] The Secret of Today Versus Todo – Most folks use a todo list on a daily basis. I know I do. This post goes over why keeping the todo list simple will benefit you more. Designate your top tasks that must get done that day and keep them on the top of your list but, always remember it should be as simple a possible. [...]

By: Pragmatic Revelations : Today, Tomorrow and Todo

Pragmatic Revelations : Today, Tomorrow and Todo — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:08:21 +0000

[...] night, I was reading a blog post at Time Management Ninja (aka TMNinja). In “The Secret of Today Versus Todo“, what did you get done today is important. But sometimes it will not be the case. Someday, [...]

By: Craig Jarrow

Craig Jarrow — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 05:53:57 +0000

The idea of designating just a few items each day to be done is very powerful.

I once worked with a senior executive who carried his five things to do each day on a 3×5 notecard. That was his Today list each day.

By: Craig Jarrow

Craig Jarrow — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 05:52:06 +0000

I used OmniFocus once upon a time. Somehow moved on from it. Like the master list.

I love Evernote. And yes, the sync with iPhone & iPad is awesome!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 01:00:45 +0000

I do a similar thing. I use OmniFocus to put “all” of my todos in so I have a master list. Then In Evernote, I have a To Do Today list. I put my top 4 to 5 things I must to at the top and a grouping of things that would be awesome if had time to finish. Evernote is awesome because it syncs with my phone automatically, so I'm never without my list.

By: daveferrick

daveferrick — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:47:00 +0000

I'm a proponent for both having one to-do list and only doing 3-5 things a day. I use 1 list in RTM for all my tasks and don't tie any due dates or priorities to them when entering. Then in the evening I choose 3 items from that list and assign them as due tomorrow. And there's my to-do list for tomorrow. (Also I use the RTM widget on my Droid to show only items due today but a post-it note works just as well)

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:22:03 +0000

How exactly do you use Franklin Covey Software to manage your to do list?
I've just been looking at and I can't see any way to manage todo lists with the software that aren't completely confusing. I think "Things" (for MAC) is still the best GTD software around. Businesses looking for a way to manage to do lists should check out;

http://www.timedoctor.com

By: Avette

Avette — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:22:50 +0000

I love your article! I have been using FranklinCovey Software to help me with my todo list. That way I can keep it on me all the time! Check it out at http://www.franklincoveysoftware.com.