5 ms·

A list is made. Some items are starred. Other items might be double starred, or marked in different ways. An estimate is made for the time each item will tak

A list is made. Some items are starred. Other items might be double starred, or marked in different ways. An estimate is made for the time each item will take. Eventually, items get crossed off, or 'commented out'. I do this all in a text file. It works great. I used to delete completed items, but I found it robbed me of a sense of accomplishment I kinda value. If I don't finish the list (which happens often), at least I know what I didn't do, and have a good idea why I decided I didn't feel like it. Of course, now I have a folder with 12 mostly-completed lists, the last items on which I keep dodging. There are no perfect answers in the continuing battle with one's self. Honestly, this app looks pretty cool, and if I was younger and more optimistic, I'd probably give it a go. I just feel like I know myself well enough (or have accepted my many faults enough) at this point that I'm pretty sure it wouldn't get me to do much more than I already am.

AlexCoventry 10y ago
> I used to delete completed items, but I found it robbed me > of a sense of accomplishment I kinda value. This contains the key to ending procrastination -- crafting one's psychological relationship to the intended task, and also to the pastimes one uses to procrastinate. You can't fit work that in an app, though. It's more like internal marketing, management, or propaganda than scheduling. > There are no perfect answers in the continuing battle with one's self. You can always strive to do better, though.
- pcmaffey 10y ago
  Indeed, it's not just about getting things done. It's about creating meaning through our actions. Only we, individually, can define what's meaningful to us, and even then, that process of understanding and evolving our desires, values, purpose etc is a constant, ongoing struggle (called life). Most 'productivity' systems and plans become out of date as soon as we learn something new. Which is always the goal anyways.
- TeMPOraL 10y ago
  I thought that way too about deleting done tasks. I stopped doing it, and soon I've ended up with unmanageable todo lists - just too many done stuff (with notes!) to scroll through. Now I archive done tasks once a week during weekly review. It gives me the sense of "wow, just look at how much I've done over the past week" without bloating my todo lists.
D-Coder 10y ago
"the last items on which I keep dodging." That's why I put "Stick fork in eye" on my list. Everything else will get done first.

AlexCoventry 10y ago

> I used to delete completed items, but I found it robbed me > of a sense of accomplishment I kinda value. This contains the key to ending procrastination -- crafting one's psychological relationship to the intended task, and also to the pastimes one uses to procrastinate. You can't fit work that in an app, though. It's more like internal marketing, management, or propaganda than scheduling. > There are no perfect answers in the continuing battle with one's self. You can always strive to do better, though.

pcmaffey 10y ago
Indeed, it's not just about getting things done. It's about creating meaning through our actions. Only we, individually, can define what's meaningful to us, and even then, that process of understanding and evolving our desires, values, purpose etc is a constant, ongoing struggle (called life). Most 'productivity' systems and plans become out of date as soon as we learn something new. Which is always the goal anyways.
TeMPOraL 10y ago
I thought that way too about deleting done tasks. I stopped doing it, and soon I've ended up with unmanageable todo lists - just too many done stuff (with notes!) to scroll through. Now I archive done tasks once a week during weekly review. It gives me the sense of "wow, just look at how much I've done over the past week" without bloating my todo lists.

D-Coder 10y ago

"the last items on which I keep dodging." That's why I put "Stick fork in eye" on my list. Everything else will get done first.