There are many tips on how to be more productive. One of my favorites is the use of a ToDo list.

Now a days you can use many different apps and programs to keep track of the things you need to do. Some of my favorites are basecamp, evernote and reminders. I use them all on a daily basis but my favorite ToDo list is just a small piece of paper and a pen.

When I was in high school I used to forget homework all the time and that would get me in trouble constantly. If I was lucky enough the teachers would forget to ask for the homework or do it at the end of the class, giving me enough time to finish it. But not my German teacher, he never forgot and always asked for it before hand. I hated his system because it was almost infallible.

And that’s why I work with it now. I like infallible processes. I like to be sure that things will be done. I like to be in control of my work and I believe this is the system that adapts better to my needs.

So how does it work?

Very easy. At the beginning of the day I sit next to my computer and read emails, check the different collaboration tools and start taking notes on a piece of paper (normally a receipt I get from the super market, restaurant, or anywhere else). Each item is something I have to work on in the immediate future (aka today) if there is something for next week I don’t annotate, because that’s what the project management tools are for. After I’m done I just take a look at the list and decide on which item I will tackle first. Once I’m done I scratch it and choose which item I want/need to do next and so on until the list is done. If for some reason I wasn’t able to finish the item will go on tomorrows list.

It’s as simple as that. There are no due dates. There is no priority (because in a list of just a few items you just know what is more important) There are just things to do today. 

I guess I can scratch the item that said “write a blog post for today”

The best ToDo list