Ask HN: How many tasks are on your daily todo list?
I've found that the single highest leverage modification I've made to my daily schedule is decreasing the number of tasks on my todo list (which I write out each night for the proceeding day). Wondering what other people's experiences with daily todo lists have looked like.
19 comments
For my personal todo list, about 50, but a lot of them are small (send an email to X) or non-urgent (return a package, pay a bill) so I don't lose track. I don't add routine tasks like laundry/cooking/etc. In a given day i get 5-15 done. I find having more tasks really helpful because I can take a quick glance and realize i can stack chores (ie: easy to return a package if I'm grocery shopping nearby).
For my work todo-list, maybe 10, but i get 0-2 done every day. Unlike my personal tasks, I only put important (my internal definition of p0s and p1s) or aspirational tasks (learn X) and actively cut anything i realistically won't get to.
For my work todo-list, maybe 10, but i get 0-2 done every day. Unlike my personal tasks, I only put important (my internal definition of p0s and p1s) or aspirational tasks (learn X) and actively cut anything i realistically won't get to.
Three
For 2023 I limited myself to 3 tasks per day.
There were days when I didn't get all 3 things (or any of the things) done. There were days when I achieved more. But crucially, I never committed myself to more than 3.
I never felt stressed by my todo list as it was very manageable.
For 2023 I limited myself to 3 tasks per day.
There were days when I didn't get all 3 things (or any of the things) done. There were days when I achieved more. But crucially, I never committed myself to more than 3.
I never felt stressed by my todo list as it was very manageable.
I have a running list of things to do that I may or may not get around to, but I don't want to forget. Everyday I have 2 objectives for the day to accomplish and there may be several todos associated with that. I can get max 3 done in a day, but leave space for chaos.
I can pick my objectives based on my long running list of todos or on my backlog of objectives. Really depends on what the priority is that day. That's how I set my day. It doesn't make me the most productive, but it does make me consistently productive without threat of burnout, so I settled on this.
I can pick my objectives based on my long running list of todos or on my backlog of objectives. Really depends on what the priority is that day. That's how I set my day. It doesn't make me the most productive, but it does make me consistently productive without threat of burnout, so I settled on this.
I use lists as one of the coping mechanisms for ADHD, depending on the day it's anywhere between 20 and 100 of various granularity depending on what I'm doing and how I feel the given day.
Less then 5.
To be honest, few times happen so successful days, when I done 9 tasks, but this is extremely rare.
So I'm not limit my schedule, I just have 1-3 tasks strictly scheduled, and 5-10 things to do if have spare time, if something go wrong and strictly scheduled task cancelled, or if I have inspiration to do more.
Examples, what to do if something happen, I have usual todo list, what to buy in supermarket, to have store of food and consumables, like paper for 2-3 weeks. Other good things - I have large todo list of interest papers, and books to read and to try.
To be honest, few times happen so successful days, when I done 9 tasks, but this is extremely rare.
So I'm not limit my schedule, I just have 1-3 tasks strictly scheduled, and 5-10 things to do if have spare time, if something go wrong and strictly scheduled task cancelled, or if I have inspiration to do more.
Examples, what to do if something happen, I have usual todo list, what to buy in supermarket, to have store of food and consumables, like paper for 2-3 weeks. Other good things - I have large todo list of interest papers, and books to read and to try.
Do you think those days where you got 9 tasks done were because you were extra productive, or did you just do a better job at labeling/chunking your tasks when writing that todo list?
I think this was just very lucky day.
Sorry, I forget about details.
Sure, when I work on pure programming/engineering tasks, I have very predictable output.
But in real life, I usually have to speak with people, gather additional information; sometimes under task I mean - to meet some person and sign some agreement, or to transport some paper to some office.
And for these tasks, where involved other people and which under influence of environment, like transport congestion, very usual when you for example planning to meet somebody from 13:00 to 14:00, but in reality you are late, or others late.
Sometimes I could do optimizations, for example, try to meet somebody earlier than planned, as example, I planned 13:00..14:00, but finished early, and next meet start not on 14:00 but on 13:40, and etc.
And these days with 9 tasks, was so wonderful, most meetings finished early and other people was so pleasant to meet me without preliminary call on previous day, and all offices work when I was near, and all documents pass without delay.
Sorry, I forget about details.
Sure, when I work on pure programming/engineering tasks, I have very predictable output.
But in real life, I usually have to speak with people, gather additional information; sometimes under task I mean - to meet some person and sign some agreement, or to transport some paper to some office.
And for these tasks, where involved other people and which under influence of environment, like transport congestion, very usual when you for example planning to meet somebody from 13:00 to 14:00, but in reality you are late, or others late.
Sometimes I could do optimizations, for example, try to meet somebody earlier than planned, as example, I planned 13:00..14:00, but finished early, and next meet start not on 14:00 but on 13:40, and etc.
And these days with 9 tasks, was so wonderful, most meetings finished early and other people was so pleasant to meet me without preliminary call on previous day, and all offices work when I was near, and all documents pass without delay.
I focus on 4 or fewer categories of tasks, rather than a set number of tasks. Any more categories and I feel like I’m not focused enough.
Examples of an ideal day’s categories would be: hiring, 1:1s/meetings, leadership, and perhaps 1 significant project or problem I’m working on.
I’ve been doing a daily to do list since September 2021 and it’s funny to look back on how chaotic and disorganized those early lists were. I’ve definitely put work into simplifying my work since then. It’s something that’s so effective, I’m surprised more people don’t do it.
Examples of an ideal day’s categories would be: hiring, 1:1s/meetings, leadership, and perhaps 1 significant project or problem I’m working on.
I’ve been doing a daily to do list since September 2021 and it’s funny to look back on how chaotic and disorganized those early lists were. I’ve definitely put work into simplifying my work since then. It’s something that’s so effective, I’m surprised more people don’t do it.
Last week:
mon: 6, tue: 3, wed: 4, thu: 4, fri: 4 (only did 3).
I also have a weekly TODO list with more general tasks. It contained 4.
In my experience I often cannot do more than 5 tasks a day. So I try to limit it to 5 tasks if possible.
mon: 6, tue: 3, wed: 4, thu: 4, fri: 4 (only did 3).
I also have a weekly TODO list with more general tasks. It contained 4.
In my experience I often cannot do more than 5 tasks a day. So I try to limit it to 5 tasks if possible.
Zero. I just have this list in my mind of things I want and have to do sometime.
I realize that won't work for anyone. But I have much less stress if I don't have a strict plan at all.
I realize that won't work for anyone. But I have much less stress if I don't have a strict plan at all.
This is how I go about it, too. I've tried to get on the "todo list" bandwagon, but it just doesn't work for me. All it does is add more work and stress without giving any compensating benefits.
Posting just a link is lazy. Give us some context if you want to convey real meaning.
I agree less is better, but then you have to store those less urgent “medium” items that are got another day somewhere.
I list 1 main task, 3 important others, and 5 cherry ones
Since my days are very impredictable (thanks to being in support and having attention issues), that allows me to adapt to the workload and avoid straying too far from what I need to do.
Whatever fits in my head. If it can't fit in there then it's probably not that important.
Disclaimer: I'm very disorganized.
Disclaimer: I'm very disorganized.
One, today.
Never more than 4, by choice.
Never more than 4, by choice.