I have to-do lists, some on Filofax inserts (either branded, or ones I made myself), but mainly I write them on sticky notes and stick these onto laminated dividers inside my Personal "Filofax" organiser. Thanks for the video, it's nice to see how you keep track of your tasks.
Hmmmm. Much more visually appealing to use the right hand side “grid” version. Could take it a step or two further by colouring in the “done” tasks according to a colour code ie red for urgent, green for financial, blue for work etc etc to get an instant “read” on where your time goes. I like both systems I’m a big fan of the “list” but I also think a visual “gamification” of ticking off tasks could be very helpful for those of us who like to procrastinate!!!! Great video. Thanks for sharing your thoughts
I'm an electrician. I use todo lists like every single day with tasks needing completion in a house. I'll be using this and I'll report my findings. it does seem a bit better.
You are right. Far too long 🙂 I am in my sixties now, and this slow presentation style is just how I am. Sorry about that. But TH-cam allows you to play a video at a faster speed, without changing pitch. It’s certainly what I do, setting TH-cam to play at 1.5 times normal speed. Works surprisingly well. Thanks for your feedback.
Before you even asked the question, I was saying to myself, the boxes work so much better. 1 - the lines are thinner, therefore more difficult to read 2 - boxes are easier to capture in their entirety. We tend not to read word by word, but capturing entire blocks of sentences / words. That is the technique of fast cross reading entire paragraphs. 3 - boxes are easier to play with regarding symbos and graphics, for example crossing out part of the box for partial completion. 4 - boxes emphasize colour coding more easily than lines, yellow for half, red for stop, blue for completion for example 5 - boxes are more "priority neutral", therefore we might work more pragmatically, efficiently & effectively selecting tasks rather than line by line top down I previously had designed a lined layout of weekly tasks as I have additional columns for assigning a week day. I will now redesign my weekly list as boxes. Damn I have so many videos to shoot... Thanks for that 🙂
Thanks, I have found in the past that I can ‘overlook’ tasks in a very long list if they are written on consecutive lines so I think there is merit in what you say. I have experimented with colour in lists but this too can get overly complex and messy. Your method does provide greater visual distinction of individual tasks. I am sure there is a degree of individual preference in all systems however yours does offer more visual clarity to me. I do also wonder if you could use a little colour in your system to for example highlight the must do/highest priority task?
Thank you for your valuable feedback. I appreciate your detailed thoughts. I do have a method of prioritising tasks using colour. I call it the "three dot system", where I add a red dot to the most important three tasks of the day.
Hi Neil, Thank you for your video. This is interesting, the box method is very visual impactful. Personally, I tend to use my list as log as well -- where many of my tasks are ephemeral, sometimes I need to pop back and refer to what I've done for a particular day so scribbling out the task (although visually impactful and far more satisfying from a completionism point of view) probably wouldn't work well for me. I saw one individual who preferred to mark over her completed tasks with a brightly colored highlighter as a method of visual impact, the only issue there is the necessity of also carrying the highlighter, and if you happen to be someone who prefers a single color on the page where possible that is probably also not ideal. I think I will give this idea a whirl but maybe with just a single line or two through the completed square and see how it works out for a week or two.
Thank you for your detailed thoughts. I appreciate them. I do have a suggestion that would both avoid crossing tasks out, but all avoiding the need to carry a an extra pen, but I'll explain all in a future video.
I tend to use the left side, but i like the right side and will try it out. Small sticky notes can be helpful too when a square is too small... and even when folded you have extra space. Plus you can colorcode the sticky notes into different"projects" or types of notes, like priorities, delegate and so on. Or you could fold the paper before you cut the pages out and punch them, if you need bigger boxes for more detailed notes. Have a nice week!
I naturally do To Do pages like a list, but I don’t like scribbling out the completed task and just tick the number or bullet point which is even worse for seeing what else needs doing! I might try the box method with just a simple line through the box to show a completed task (perhaps in green) and see how it goes!
Thanks for this Neil, I found this very interesting! I'm going to say because of my brain, it likes just the vertical list without the boxes. Maybe my brain is just working used to scanning down a page to see what I need to do, I don't know!! Plus I guess thinking of To Do inserts, I've only come across vertical type list designs. But really love this video and am interested to read other comments 😊 I might also give a go with boxes - I think I'll do a template and print it to try it out anyway!
Thanks for your feedback. Very interesting. I agree, the many comments for this video are also very interesting. Let me know how you get on with the "box" method.
The boxed layout definitely looks more impactful to me. I wonder if it would be similar if you had stacked rectangles on the list format as well - if it’s actually the dividing lines that make the difference?
@@FlatabilityThe difference between left side and right side- besides layout - is also the use of lines to block out each area. So what if the left side also had a line after each item and when you finish a task - you do the same thing cancelling out the whole long rectangle area of a task created by the lines. So you still sort of see blocks or rectangles for each task. I wonder if it’s the shape that our eyes see that is so appealing at a glance, as opposed to just a lot of text… I hope that makes sense!
Hmmm. I use square bullet points (like this □) that I then cross through once diagonally for partial completion and again diagonally the other way for full completion. I don't cross out words. So I scan lists by the boxes and the lines or crosses within them. I see what you are driving at, though.
Great episode! I really like the content like this when you talked about system across the board and can be used with different planners!! I tried the one on the right, certainly a game changer and a lot more satisfying for sure! Thank you Neil! This also reminded me of the boxes from the “One Big Thing” by John Zeratsky.
My to do list gets 'checked off' - not scribbled or crossed out. Mainly so I can still see what has been done if I need to look back. I totally get the 'blocked-off' being visuallysatisfying. I notice that you have more items left to do on the right in the boxes and less room to write on the left. The other part is that the list, even if it's not numbered, makes me want to do these items in order where as the boxes gives you more mental freedom to do what needs to get done and sorts itself out in the importance categories. I'd like to maybe see a way to easily move an item to the next day when it isn't finished, like a small sticky note that defines the grid for you and leaves the page still usable?
Thank you for sharing this. I am always impressed with how many ideas you come up with for task lists. I have to admit I am more of a traditional task list maker but with one exception. I combine my work and personal to-do lists on one page. I list work tasks from top to bottom and personal tasks from bottom to top to keep them separate. What I am finding is that I sometimes forget to cross them out as I complete them. That seems to be my biggest problem. Since I work on a 7-day rolling list, I sometimes open up to a day thinking I have some tasks to complete but then I realize I already did them. That's not a bad problem to have I guess. 😁
Could also make 'ToDo Bingo' this way. Make it more of a game
And the 'Free Space' in the middle could be 'Cup of Tea' or something else you like 😄
I love your comment 😄
I have to-do lists, some on Filofax inserts (either branded, or ones I made myself), but mainly I write them on sticky notes and stick these onto laminated dividers inside my Personal "Filofax" organiser. Thanks for the video, it's nice to see how you keep track of your tasks.
That's a great idea!
Hmmmm. Much more visually appealing to use the right hand side “grid” version. Could take it a step or two further by colouring in the “done” tasks according to a colour code ie red for urgent, green for financial, blue for work etc etc to get an instant “read” on where your time goes.
I like both systems I’m a big fan of the “list” but I also think a visual “gamification” of ticking off tasks could be very helpful for those of us who like to procrastinate!!!!
Great video. Thanks for sharing your thoughts
Thanks for your detailed input. I might mention your ideas in a future podcast episode.
I'm an electrician. I use todo lists like every single day with tasks needing completion in a house. I'll be using this and I'll report my findings. it does seem a bit better.
Thank you.
I quite like the idea but man 11 mins to tell us!!! I
You are right. Far too long 🙂
I am in my sixties now, and this slow presentation style is just how I am. Sorry about that.
But TH-cam allows you to play a video at a faster speed, without changing pitch. It’s certainly what I do, setting TH-cam to play at 1.5 times normal speed. Works surprisingly well.
Thanks for your feedback.
Before you even asked the question, I was saying to myself, the boxes work so much better.
1 - the lines are thinner, therefore more difficult to read
2 - boxes are easier to capture in their entirety. We tend not to read word by word, but capturing entire blocks of sentences / words. That is the technique of fast cross reading entire paragraphs.
3 - boxes are easier to play with regarding symbos and graphics, for example crossing out part of the box for partial completion.
4 - boxes emphasize colour coding more easily than lines, yellow for half, red for stop, blue for completion for example
5 - boxes are more "priority neutral", therefore we might work more pragmatically, efficiently & effectively selecting tasks rather than line by line top down
I previously had designed a lined layout of weekly tasks as I have additional columns for assigning a week day. I will now redesign my weekly list as boxes. Damn I have so many videos to shoot... Thanks for that 🙂
Some great input. Many thanks.
Thanks, I have found in the past that I can ‘overlook’ tasks in a very long list if they are written on consecutive lines so I think there is merit in what you say. I have experimented with colour in lists but this too can get overly complex and messy. Your method does provide greater visual distinction of individual tasks. I am sure there is a degree of individual preference in all systems however yours does offer more visual clarity to me. I do also wonder if you could use a little colour in your system to for example highlight the must do/highest priority task?
Thank you for your valuable feedback. I appreciate your detailed thoughts. I do have a method of prioritising tasks using colour. I call it the "three dot system", where I add a red dot to the most important three tasks of the day.
Ah yes I recall that video. Thanks
Hi Neil,
Thank you for your video.
This is interesting, the box method is very visual impactful. Personally, I tend to use my list as log as well -- where many of my tasks are ephemeral, sometimes I need to pop back and refer to what I've done for a particular day so scribbling out the task (although visually impactful and far more satisfying from a completionism point of view) probably wouldn't work well for me. I saw one individual who preferred to mark over her completed tasks with a brightly colored highlighter as a method of visual impact, the only issue there is the necessity of also carrying the highlighter, and if you happen to be someone who prefers a single color on the page where possible that is probably also not ideal. I think I will give this idea a whirl but maybe with just a single line or two through the completed square and see how it works out for a week or two.
Thank you for your detailed thoughts. I appreciate them.
I do have a suggestion that would both avoid crossing tasks out, but all avoiding the need to carry a an extra pen, but I'll explain all in a future video.
@@Flatability I look forward to the further discussion!
I tend to use the left side, but i like the right side and will try it out. Small sticky notes can be helpful too when a square is too small... and even when folded you have extra space. Plus you can colorcode the sticky notes into different"projects" or types of notes, like priorities, delegate and so on. Or you could fold the paper before you cut the pages out and punch them, if you need bigger boxes for more detailed notes. Have a nice week!
I totally do this naturally. Because I can't distinguish the lists without the boxes. All my "lists" end up in boxes lol.
Thanks for your feedback.
I naturally do To Do pages like a list, but I don’t like scribbling out the completed task and just tick the number or bullet point which is even worse for seeing what else needs doing!
I might try the box method with just a simple line through the box to show a completed task (perhaps in green) and see how it goes!
Thanks for your detailed feedback.
Thanks for this Neil, I found this very interesting! I'm going to say because of my brain, it likes just the vertical list without the boxes. Maybe my brain is just working used to scanning down a page to see what I need to do, I don't know!! Plus I guess thinking of To Do inserts, I've only come across vertical type list designs.
But really love this video and am interested to read other comments 😊 I might also give a go with boxes - I think I'll do a template and print it to try it out anyway!
Thanks for your feedback. Very interesting. I agree, the many comments for this video are also very interesting. Let me know how you get on with the "box" method.
The boxed layout definitely looks more impactful to me. I wonder if it would be similar if you had stacked rectangles on the list format as well - if it’s actually the dividing lines that make the difference?
Stacked rectangles? Can you elaborate? Many thanks.
@@FlatabilityThe difference between left side and right side- besides layout - is also the use of lines to block out each area. So what if the left side also had a line after each item and when you finish a task - you do the same thing cancelling out the whole long rectangle area of a task created by the lines. So you still sort of see blocks or rectangles for each task. I wonder if it’s the shape that our eyes see that is so appealing at a glance, as opposed to just a lot of text… I hope that makes sense!
Yes; it does make sense.
I think that, at least for me, the right hand side looks more appealing.
@@Flatability Sure, I think the beauty of a blank page is that we can do whatever works best for our eyes. Thanks for sharing this idea!
I like this idea. I’m trying it out 👍🏻. Awesome!
That's great! Thank you for your feedback.
Hmmm. I use square bullet points (like this □) that I then cross through once diagonally for partial completion and again diagonally the other way for full completion. I don't cross out words. So I scan lists by the boxes and the lines or crosses within them.
I see what you are driving at, though.
Great episode! I really like the content like this when you talked about system across the board and can be used with different planners!! I tried the one on the right, certainly a game changer and a lot more satisfying for sure! Thank you Neil! This also reminded me of the boxes from the “One Big Thing” by John Zeratsky.
More to come!
My to do list gets 'checked off' - not scribbled or crossed out. Mainly so I can still see what has been done if I need to look back. I totally get the 'blocked-off' being visuallysatisfying. I notice that you have more items left to do on the right in the boxes and less room to write on the left. The other part is that the list, even if it's not numbered, makes me want to do these items in order where as the boxes gives you more mental freedom to do what needs to get done and sorts itself out in the importance categories. I'd like to maybe see a way to easily move an item to the next day when it isn't finished, like a small sticky note that defines the grid for you and leaves the page still usable?
Thank you for your detailed input. I appreciate that.
the squares are clearer but my rubbish hand writing would lead to it being even more crunched to fit. Plus I do tend to have stacked 'to-dos'
Thank you for your feedback. I appreciate it.
Yay, another paper productivity video! 🎉
I have a follow up to this video, which is available right now for channel members, but will be published for everyone later this weekend.
Thank you for sharing this. I am always impressed with how many ideas you come up with for task lists. I have to admit I am more of a traditional task list maker but with one exception. I combine my work and personal to-do lists on one page. I list work tasks from top to bottom and personal tasks from bottom to top to keep them separate. What I am finding is that I sometimes forget to cross them out as I complete them. That seems to be my biggest problem. Since I work on a 7-day rolling list, I sometimes open up to a day thinking I have some tasks to complete but then I realize I already did them. That's not a bad problem to have I guess. 😁
Thanks for your kind words. I really don't know why I think of these ideas, but they just appear in my head quite regularly.
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