One of the most common mistakes new users make is putting everything they think of into the task list. Ideas, sparks of inspiration, "things I might try someday," something another person mentioned -- all of it becomes tasks. The list gets longer and longer, and the things you truly need to do get buried in noise.
Two kinds of things need two places
Quick Notes: a place for things you have not decided to act on yet. Inspiration, ideas, information worth remembering but not yet tied to action. It is a temporary container for thoughts. No deadline, no priority, just a way to avoid forgetting.
Task list: a place for things you have already decided to do. Every task carries an implicit commitment: "I will do this." Every item in the task list asks for your attention and action.
The decision rule
Should something become a task? Ask yourself: am I ready to commit to doing this at a specific point in time?
- Yes → add it as a task and set a deadline
- Not sure yet → put it in Quick Notes
- Interesting but not something you plan to do → put it in Quick Notes, or do not record it at all, because not everything is worth capturing
Promoting notes into tasks
Spend 10 minutes each week reviewing Quick Notes. Scan the ideas you captured earlier and look for anything that has become clear enough to act on. Move it into the task list and set a deadline. Leave the uncertain items in Quick Notes.
This process is called "capture, clarify, organize," and it is at the center of GTD, or Getting Things Done. ToToday's Quick Notes and task list are the containers for that workflow.
Keep the task list clean
A clean task list is one you are willing to open every day. Every item is something you have seriously committed to, with no meaningless noise mixed in. When Quick Notes take responsibility for "remember but not do yet," the task list can stay clear and trustworthy.