Since the dawn of time, but also quite recently, I have been looking for a decent to-do list manager. This is how it used to work:

While I’m out all day, I keep a list of things that I need to do, remember, or think about on a scrap of paper. When I get home, I action all the ones I can and cross them off the list, then transfer the rest to a master list in a giant notebook.

This involves pen and paper, and lots of it. I’ve been looking for online alternatives, and I’ve checked out all the usual ones - Ta Da List, Remember the Milk, etc, etc.

The problem is, I want reminders as well. On certain days I want to do particular things, it helps me get things done when I have a routine - you can tell from the lack of updates to this blog. I tried using iCal, and it’s really snazzy, but it doesn’t quite grab me.

I spent a while trying to make it work for me and I’ve figured out what the difference is. On paper, I cross the things off my list, and move them forward to the up to date list when they are still current, and that’s what I want from my calendar.

A daily list, where I tick off what I’ve done, and if it doesn’t get ticked, it moves forward to the next day, where it adds itself to whatever I have stored to be done that day.

I’m not even sure this makes sense, which doesn’t help me trying to find what I’m looking for. At the moment, I’m making the best use I can of Ta Da List and iCal, and trying to sort out what will actually make my life easier.