Item — HN Reader

I’ve dabbled with todo lists in the past, and keep coming back to — doing nothing.

At least with todo list apps specifically.

I have a pretty bad memory, so I’m the target audience for todo lists. But I think what’s worked for me has been a combination of:

- Keeping things simple. At work I try to only focus on one thing at a time. I have a bug tracker that’s used to track larger items (everyone uses the same tool), but it’s not a personal todo list in a more granular sense.

- Reminders app on the iPhone. I use this just so I don’t forget to do things that aren’t naturally top of mind. Or, at least things that should become a priority, but only at a later point. And I don’t have many times that I need these. Maybe a few times a month, and a few recurring ones.

But other than this, if it’s really that important, I’ll remember it anyway. And if I don’t, and it’s not tracked with a bug (work) or reminder (home), it’s not that important.

So unless you count the occasional use of the Reminders app, or our work bug tracker tool, then I’m currently not using any todo lists, and it’s been working fine.

I think I could also survive in a similar way.

My to-do list just helps a bit with my ability to be productive. If I'm at a loose end, I can refer to it and remind myself of X, Y, or Z that either should be done or that I'd like to have a bash at.

Without it, I'd 'float unproductively' more.

(And it's not necessarily about productivity, more about purpose, where I'll feel much better having completed a task that I'd previously set myself - like mulching the dead leaves or tidying the study or weeding the vege patch that I'd otherwise have not done in favour of 'floating' scrolling HN or whatever).