Why you need one to-do list on every device, not five
Tasks scattered across notes apps, emails and paper get lost. Why one list everywhere matters, what to use each device for, and how to switch over.
Planning
Breaking projects down, planning the day and the week, and keeping a list you trust.
Recurring tasks: how to build routines you will actually keep
How to use recurring tasks for the jobs that come round daily, weekly, monthly or yearly, so you stop carrying them in your head. With examples to copy.
Tags vs folders: how to organise a to-do list without overthinking it
Folders give tasks one home; tags let them belong to many views. When to use each in a to-do list, and a simple setup that combines both.
How to use a work breakdown structure for everyday projects
Project managers use a work breakdown structure to plan big jobs. Here is how to borrow the idea for personal projects, with rules and examples.
How to do a weekly review in 20 minutes
A 20-minute weekly review that keeps your to-do list trustworthy: clear, review, plan. With a checklist, timings and tips for making it stick.
How to plan your day in ten minutes (and actually follow the plan)
A simple daily planning routine: choose a short list the night before, order it, protect the first hour, and leave room for the day to go wrong.
How to break down a big project into steps you can actually start
A practical method for turning a big, vague project into small steps you can finish, with a worked example and the mistakes to avoid.
The psychology behind task hierarchies: why our brains like breaking things down
Why breaking things down into a hierarchy feels natural to our brains, and how to use that to reduce stress and get more done.
Breaking down complex projects into tasks you can finish
Overwhelmed by a complex project? How breaking it into manageable tasks reduces stress, with strategies and a simple system to follow.
Stress-free productivity: building a task system that works for you
How to build a stress-free productivity system with a simple task hierarchy: break projects into steps and keep the rest out of sight.
Task management for the digital age: why hierarchical systems win
Why hierarchical task management suits the digital age, and how to use a nested to-do list to keep complex work under control.
How the right task management software can transform your workday
Seven ways the right task management software changes a workday, from clearer priorities to fewer forgotten tasks. A guest post.
Your to-do list sucks. Let's fix it.
A look at the problems with most to-do list apps, how they get in the way of getting things done, and how to fix your list.