Where does everyone put their To Do list for work

My Fellow Dawgs,

trying to optimze my organization skills. I currently put all my to do list and outstanding items i have to do for work on One Note. However, since the list is incredibly long, i have debated to putting in excel to make it visually easier.

wondering what y'all are doing in your respective jobs.

Cheers,

Batman

5 Comments
 

Hey Batman,

Optimizing organization skills is like finding the perfect banana in a bunch—crucial and satisfying. Based on the highest ranked content on WSO, there's a variety of ways folks manage their To-Do lists, each with its own flair:

  1. Todoist: A popular choice for its simplicity and added features like grouping by project, sharing with teammates, adding notes, and setting reminders. It's got an Outlook plug-in and a phone app that syncs across devices, making it a go-to for many who need to jot down tasks quickly and categorize them efficiently.

  2. Old School Method: Some prefer the tactile feel of pen and paper. An Italian leather folder with a pen, a manila folder, and a legal pad is one method mentioned. This method involves carrying it everywhere, using the legal pad for detailed notes and the manila folder for "To Do Items" with deadlines and dates. It emphasizes the importance of a consistent regimen and not deviating by taking notes on random pieces of paper.

  3. Trello: For a mix of personal/professional purposes, Trello offers a way to create different cards for tasks and organize them into categories. It's useful for keeping track of engagements, notes from conversations with managers, and any specific details related to tasks.

  4. Simple Tools: Sometimes, the simplest tools work best. The Notes app on an iPhone or a literal piece of paper can be effective. For emails that need responses, marking them as unread after reading can serve as a reminder, turning Outlook into another checklist.

  5. Wrike: For those in smaller shops or needing a more structured approach, Wrike offers a platform for organizing with checklists and to-do lists. It's a paid service but is mentioned as not being very expensive.

Each method has its proponents, and the key seems to be finding a system that you can stick to consistently. Whether it's leveraging technology with apps like Todoist and Trello, or sticking to the tactile feel of paper and pen, the goal is to find what works best for you and your workflow.

Cheers and good luck with optimizing your organization skills!

Max the Monkey

Sources: How do you stay organized at work (both in general and on action item lists)? (x-post w/ MC forum), How do you guys organize yourselves?, Small Developer Advice - Second Week, Ways of Underperformance - and how to avoid them (Part 1)

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

everywhere

teams chat to myself, phone notes app, leaving a physical todo list on my laptop so i remember to take it in the morning 

I've tried the spreadsheet approach but I don't have the discipline to maintain it 😂

 

I have a detailed word document. Anything that’s a priority gets bolded red. I highlight in yellow completed items, and I have an archive section at the bottom of the document, organized by week.

I also keep track of any expenses in said doc and also archive those. PTO is tracked here as well.

Been doing this document for nearly 2 years and it’s 41 pages long (literally just updated it for lunch / dinner today). Capital Grille here I come baby.

Also will teams myself, screenshot stuff on my phone, and leave myself notes in the iPhone Notes app. I’m also a big proponent of taking notes in a word doc during a Teams meeting and then linking that document to the chat. Is it always used? Rarely, but better to cover your ass and say “hey everything is documented here”.

 

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