Ten Ideas For Productive Lists

One of my favorite online productivity tools is Tadalist from 37signals. It really is sad how much I fell in love with this tool. It takes minutes to sign up, and it is instantly usable.

It is better than other list tools because:

  1. It is so simple, you can only do what you really need, so there is no clutter
  2. It is online, so when I switch computers, am on my PDA or in a pinch am at a cafe, I have access to my lists
  3. You can share, excellent for collaboration on for informally proposing ideas

Lists? What kind of lists? Here are ten ideas!

  1. To-do Lists – The classic list, it is such a common thing the productivity gains can be overlooked. It really does help to write out what you need to get done, and ticking off the items feels good!
  2. “Did-Do List” – Taking the above idea of ticking off items one step further, write down your acheivements to make a record of stuff you have done, and seeing it all written down helps to keep motivated.
  3. “Not-To-Do List” – We all have distractions, interruptions, time-wasters. This idea is to keep a list of things that you should not do. Share the list with your family and colleagues.
  4. Ranking, Prioritizing and ordering – It is not just the items on the list, some times the priorities and the order you work through them can be just as important. A list that you can rank and re-order can be a very useful tool.
  5. Recording Ideas – If you don’t note down your ideas you can forget them. Forgotten ideas will not help anybody. Record your ideas as you have them then come back later to judge them with a clear mind.
  6. Processes and Procedures – When you are trying to explain a step-by-step process or a procedure a numbered list is a useful tool. Especially if you can move and insert items as they come to you.
  7. Note-taking – In the absence of super shorthand skills a list is a great way to take notes. Add bullet points that will remind you of the full detail later.
  8. Checklists – When you have a job to do that involves many elements, things you might forget, vital things that might be a disaster if missed, it is a life-saver to have a checklist.
  9. Daily reminders – If you have things you need to do every day, make a list and keep using the list until the routine becomes habit. Obviously you still have to remember to look at the list …
  10. Writing Top-Ten Articles – Um, lists like this one!

Do you use lists or am I just a sad list addict? Let me know in the comments …

Posted on August 23, 2007 by Chris Garrett 
Filed Under Productivity

Comments

5 Responses to “Ten Ideas For Productive Lists”

  1. 10 Minute Blog Tips: The Blogging Benefit of Making Lists : The Blog Herald on August 24th, 2007 12:38 pm

    [...] writing on other blogs will have been aware of my fondness of the Tadalists service. I write about the many uses I have for found for Tadalists here. Specifically for blogging I make lists [...]

  2. The Mindjet Blog » Turn your “To Do Lists” into Visual Maps with MindManager on August 28th, 2007 10:48 pm

    [...] This is a great blog post on "Ten Ideas for Productive Lists", created recently by Chris Garrett of the Codswallop blog. Check out the blog link to read a full description of each list Chris indentifies here: [...]

  3. Kolz Blog » Blog Archive » Turn your “To Do Lists” into Visual Maps with MindManager on September 2nd, 2007 6:49 am

    [...] your “To Do Lists” into Visual Maps with MindManager August 28th, 2007 by Kolz This is a great blog post on “Ten Ideas for Productive Lists”, created recently by Chris Garrett of the [...]

  4. links for 2007-09-25 « Hip Hop News on September 25th, 2007 7:21 pm

    [...] Ten Ideas For Productive Lists : Codswallop (tags: towrite lists) [...]

  5. Being an Organized Blogger : The Blog Herald on February 7th, 2008 10:12 pm

    [...] Make a list – Having to remember everything doesn’t help [...]

Leave a Reply