Context sensitive to-do list

More in the life of a productive creative. Consider the idea of the context-sensitive to-do list.

I’ve been a obsessive fan of to-do lists for quite some time. They’ve taken on various forms from a giant whiteboard to a small pack of note cards to umpteen different digital variations. At the moment I use a combination of Remember the Milk Wunderlist (primarily because of its well tailored iPhone app and its price of free) and Evernote (via the Egretlist iPhone).

The form you use really doesn’t matter as long as it enables to you capture the to-do when it’s presented to you and divvy it out when appropriate.

Enter the context-sensitive to-do list. The idea is that you create any number of to-do lists to match up with the environment you’ll be in when you need to execute the task. For example, creating a list for  WORK and HOME allows you to shuffle off ideas to the appropriate spot to be reminded when you’re in a place where you can actually do something about them.

Take that a step further. Create lists specific to the weekly meetings you sit in. For example if you lead people create a TEAM list to bring into that meeting. In that list include things you intend to share with your entire team, and include individual member conversations as well. Example “Don’t forget we’re off next Monday” or “Bob – status on your project” Train yourself to put everything, even small items, on this list to create an airtight system of passing around information.

Personally, I have 3-4 of these master lists that directly relate to a meeting I’m in. I use these various lists for my team, my boss, and other groups I’ll be around and it’s a great way to connect the dots of information.

Beyond that, you can fine tooth comb it as much as needed. I have a list of restaurants that have been recommended for my wife and I to try out. It’s noted by the city (in case we find ourselves in a nearby town). It eliminates the “oooh, I know someone said something about some place… what was that?” Tailor your context-sensitive lists to your needs. Assess where it is that you need to empty information and create a list for that environment. You could go overboard, of course, so try to limit it to the most important spots first.