A to-do list is a list of action items to be completed. To-do lists aim at improving a user’s daily productivity by organizing their goals and objectives into a clear, concise format.
Definition
A to-do list is a subgenre of the list, which is simply a series of items. To-do lists are like lists, but with the additional stipulation that each item on the list is an action item that must be completed,. The goal of a to-do list is to motivate the user to complete every item on the list. In general, to-do lists are organized vertically, with one action item per line.
To-do lists can be physical or digital, and may be written on any surface or platform that allows for the creation of a list.
To-do lists are often marked by checkboxes that indicate whether a task has been completed or not. These checkboxes consist of a square that starts off empty. When the task is completed, the user then places a check mark in the box, which shows that the task is finished.
History
Origin
Most articles cite Benjamin Franklin as the creator of the to-do list. As a part of his effort to practice his thirteen virtues, Benjamin Franklin created daily schedules with objectives to be completed. His to-do list features some of the defining features of to-do lists — it is vertically organized, with a series of action items. Unlike most to-do lists, Benjamin Franklin’s to-do list is organized by the hour.
However, determining a specific origin of the to-do list is difficult. To-do lists are simply variants of lists, and lists have been around for as long as written language has existed. Benjamin Franklin took a list, or series of items, and used it to organize his priorities.
Modern-day use
Since Benjamin Franklin’s original to-do list, the genre has evolved and become widely known. Now, it is common for people to use to-do lists in their daily lives to organize their priorities. Their usage has been made even more popular by productivity books that recommend variations of to-do lists, as well as products like planners, notepads, and whiteboards that prominently feature to-do lists.
The virtual to-do list
With the emergence of the internet and modern technology, to-do lists took on a new form.
Many apps, such as Microsoft To-Do, Trello, Todoist, Evernote, and more, allow users to make digital to-do lists. These often have additional features, including the ability to sort tasks into multiple lists, reorder task items freely, and set digital reminders for list items.
Other apps that are not specifically designed for to-do lists, such as Microsoft Excel and the Apple Notes app, are often used to create to do lists.
Additional Characteristics
The following characteristics are present in some, but not all, to-do lists.
- Prioritization. Many lists are prioritized in order of importance or in order of completion date.
- Flag tasks as important. Many to-do lists, including those made in Microsoft To-Do, include an option to star or highlight important tasks.
- Color coding
- Reminders
- Calendar links
- To-don’ts. Sometimes to-do lists include to-don’ts, which are habits or tasks that the user wishes to avoid doing.