Appendix A: The specifics of Sam’s one item todo list
Author’s note: this is an appendix post for My todo list with only one item.
I start with an index card.
It’s big enough to stay prominent in my peripheral vision. It’s small enough to always keep near me.
And most importantly, it’s analog.
Then I decide what to do.
This “single todo item” might come from one of my many todo lists with many, many items, or may simply be off the top of my head and what feels important to be doing right now.
I write down that one item at the bottom of the list, with an empty box next to it.
I do that one item, put a checkmark in the box.
Then either…
I stop and celebrate the fact that all the boxes on my todo list are checked!
Or I start the process over from the beginning, choosing something else to do, adding it to the list, etc.
Sometimes I decide I no longer want to be doing the one thing on my todo list.
That’s okay.
When this happens, instead of putting a checkmark in the box, I cross out the entire item with a single straight line.
This distinction may not seem important. But to me, it’s crucial. I get a lot of value from maintaining the Symbolism of checking the box = completed task.
I’ve been doing this checkmark vs cross out line thing for years. It feels a little silly how such a small thing can be so effective, but it really has made it much easier for me to Let Go of tasks that become no longer Worth It.