NOTHING BEATS HANDWRITTEN TO-DO LISTS.....
Found a very interesting article on http://www.todolistblog.com/. It reads
Eight Surprising To-Do List Facts
While writing and compiling To-Do List I took an online survey to find out more about our common quirks , compulsions and habits as listmakers. Six hundred people participated, and full results are in the book, but I thought I would share a few of these stats with you now along with some of my other observations based on collecting lists. How do you compare?
1. Many people hang on to their lists for years, if not decades. A list is like a diary. It captures a moment in time. (Two of the lists in the book more more than fifty years old.) I was amazed when these people trusted me with these treasured keepsakes and sent them to me in the mail.
2. Most people (83%) still prefer the tactile experience of writing their lists with pen and paper. The visceral pleasure of crossing things off cannot be underestimated. And people often feel more accountable when a list is in their own handwriting.
3. 29% of people have written at least part of their lists in code. The most common codes were from women who don’t want the boss or co-workers to walk by and see they were buying feminine hygiene products. “Tampons,” “birth control” or “maxi pads” equal T, BC, and MP. I could not believe when these answers kept coming up again and again in survey answers! Uncanny!
4. 50% admitted to writing down tasks they have already done, then triumphantly crossing them off. That way, they have a more complete picture of everything they’ve done, plus another opportunity to cross something off. It’s sort of insane how much we love crossing things off, huh?
5. Ideal mate lists are more popular than ever. 51% have made a list describing their ideal mate. But only 38% think these lists are useful in finding or evaluating a partner. How good is good enough? Many of the people who contributed dream mate lists said 70% was the threshold. If someone fulfilled fewer than 70% of the desired traits, they would say, “Let’s just be friends.”
6. More people cross off tasks (66%) than check off (21%). 4% write a checkmark, and 5% do nothing at all (let it be). Very odd.
7. 96% say their lives are better with to-do lists. 89% say they enjoy making lists. 28% identify as obesssive listmakers.
8. 26% of listmakers at one point have written a "to-don't" list. According to the survey, most concern men not to date or sleep with.
Some online to do lists
To Do Lists
- Toodledo - On the more advanced end, Toodledo allows you to organize your tasks into different folders or projects, assign due-dates and priorities, and attach notes to tasks. There is also a pro package available.
- TaskThis! - You can create tasks with notes and publish them via RSS, or share them so that others can add/complete tasks on your list. Last I used it, it was running a bit slow, but great functionality wise.
- ListPool - A neat solution that allows you to build your own to do list selecting only the fields you want to add and share them when complete. You can select from preset types of lists or start from scratch.
- TaskFreak! - Although it’s not a hosted solution and requires you install it on your own server, it’s a great system. Features excellent organization, status marking, and priority control. TaskFreak requires PHP and MySQL/SQLite and installation on your server. Online demo available at site.
- Time Tracker - Keep track of the time you spend on any task. Add a task and record time-splits until completing the task. You can also view an overview of total time to complete your tasks.
- voo2do - Advanced task and priority management for busy, ambitious individuals. Features organization by project, deadlines and time tracking, collaborative functionality, and more.
- Tasks - King Design, makers of Feedlounge, offers Tasks, a commercial suite of web-based task management software. Tasks requires installation on your own server and comes in three packages: Tasks, Tasks Jr., and Tasks Pro.
- TaskToy - Todo list service with note taking, bookmarking, and projects. Also gives a lot of options for list items.
- e2doList.com - Allows you to create and manage multiple lists, add notes to individual tasks, share them with others, and set email reminders.
- Sproutliner - a “supercharged structured to-do list” that has the more advanced feel to it. Source is also available.
- Tudu Lists - Nice todo list that has a simplistic style to it and features sharing and cool priority functionality.
- Bla-bla List - Simple and sharable todo lists that uses Macromedia Flash. It also features RSS updates and private sharing.
Someone also complied a NOT to do list..... it's available here.....
http://www.52projects.com/52_projects/2005/09/a_nottodo_list.html.
it basically reads..... SHUT UP...STOP FOOLING AROUND..... N GET TO YOUR DESK AND START WORKING..... :-)
Some people who are more polite and civil would prefer to analyze it........
How to Actually Execute Your To-Do List: or, Why Writing It Down Doesn’t Actually Get It Done......
a lot of us don't get to our to do list cause
- “I feel resistance when starting work on something.”
- “I am terrified of certain tasks, or of working on certain projects.”
- “I start, but I get distracted and never finish.”
- “I often don’t feel like doing any work at all. The idea of work seems horrible and I never start doing anything.”
- “I make a list of things to do the next day.. and on that day, I wake up looking forward to a bad day, full of unpleasant tasks, I don’t feel like doing anything from the list.”
if you can identify with these thoughts...... check out this article. It really helps.
while writing this, i ticked off one item off my list - Apply for leave.... :-)
Does your list read.....
flower deliveries
Car detailing
Restaurant reservations
Clothes alterations.
Dry cleaning
Book tickets to a movie
Have a to-do list? Your company will help you get it done.. I hope Indian companies will wake up to these realities....... Soon.
My current list
