Elisabeth Hendrickson

I was feeling stuck on my to do list. Too long & overwhelming.

So I stopped tracking to dos & made a "To Done" google form where I log things I did & how long it took. The submission response text is: "YAY! YOU DID IT!"

I expected the event log of tasks completed to be useful for analyzing how I spend my time. I did *not* expect to be so motivated by seeing "YAY! YOU DID IT!" when I submit a new To Done. But I am. Massive productivity increase. Utterly ridiculous.

Whatever works?

May 31, 2023 at 4:10pmWeb
Show threadMark LevisonMay 31, 2023

@testobsessed nice.

I do weekly review and then note many of these things as things to celebrate. So I get another dose of this on Sunday’s

Show threadMatthew ReinboldMay 31, 2023

@testobsessed for me it is ripping up the post-it notes and throwing the pieces in the trash - a little confetti celebration at something done. 🎊

Of course, getting my mind to stop spending cycles remembering something is also a great use of post-its. But tearing them up when done is far more satisfying.

Show threadAlex ChaffeeMay 31, 2023

@testobsessed

i’ve heard this called a “Ta da!” list

👍

Show threadAndreas ScherbaumMay 31, 2023
@testobsessed For me my todo list is mostly to absolutely do not forget important things to do, some even on a semi daily basis. How do you keep track of this now? If at all?
Show threadElisabeth HendricksonMay 31, 2023
@ascherbaum For stuff that I absolutely positively have to remember to do, either I do it immediately or I put a block of time on my calendar for it. Not a perfect system because if I miss my appointment with myself nothing nags me, but it's more reliable than putting it as yet another thing on a massive to do list.
Show threadAndreas ScherbaumMay 31, 2023

@testobsessed Not optimal either, but if it works, it works.

A long time ago I changed my todo to "only timely and important items have a due date", everything else also goes on the todo list, but without due date. I actively look into this list when I have time to work on something. That's also the right time to add new due dates to existing items which now need higher priority.

Show threadJacqui ReadJun 1, 2023

@ascherbaum @testobsessed I love this idea of a #ToDoneList or #TaDaList!

For me, I have to have a #ToDoList so I don't forget things & that leaves my brain free to think rather than remember. Like Andreas, I manage which items have deadlines or planned dates. Many things don't & get filed under "Not Now", but anything I know needs to be done by a date gets a deadline, & by a rough date gets planned for a month or week.

I use Amazing Marvin to handle it all as it is so flexible 😁
#productivity

Show threadAndreas ScherbaumJun 1, 2023

@tekiegirl @testobsessed Anything which is on my todo gets handled at some point, and it does not clutter my brain.

On the downside: anything which does not appear on my todo list has a high chance that I forget about it :-(

Show threadgem_hillMay 31, 2023
@testobsessed done lists are one of my favourite things 💜 I've been lax in the past couple of weeks and I've definitely noticed the lack of motivation from that feeling of achiving a thing!
Show threadCatherine LouisMay 31, 2023
@testobsessed whatever works. My reward is playing ball with the pups.