Valhalla Island

Taskpaper has been getting a lot of press recently. I agree that it’s a smart app but I see it 100 times better than other desktop to do apps because of one feature — the ability to cross out completed tasks. That said, I will never use it, there’s a much better method for writing and managing to do lists — pen and paper.

For any list that’s short and crossoutable pen and paper is the best

YoJimbo is a great app but the worst thing about using it to record to do lists is the lack of ability to cross out completed tasks. Without crossing out the only options in removing a completed task is to either flag it — which is more like highlighting than crossing out, or deleting — which is unsatisfying.

This is my method when recording and completing to do lists.

1. Write “to do” at the top of a thick notebook page with my Pilot Hi-tecpoint V5.
2. Compile list of tasks to do preceded by a dash.
3. Complete tasks one by one, crossing them off with a straight, satisfying line.
4. Look at list easily being able to tell which tasks are completed and which aren’t. Feel under pressure if very little tasks are crossed out, feel great if many tasks are crossed out.
5. Once all tasks are complete leave the list there for a day, revel in your productivity.
6. Throw out the list.
7. Start again.

Where nearly always software does a better job when it comes to specific tasks, word processing for example, there are still areas that it’s not the ideal solution.