My To-Do List Philosophy

Too much of my creativity comes from my To-Do list these days.

0:00 To-Do lists as an accomplice to burnout
0:34 Philosophy of my DO lists
2:15 Archival to-do lists
2:58 A project for Sleepy Jones
4:11 The value of to-do lists
5:17 Are to-do lists destroying my creativity
7:39 The next thing on my to-do list

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ABOUT THE SPIRITED MAN:
The Spirited Man is an unlimited series about the spirited man or woman who lives inside all of us (and fixing things).

ABOUT VAN NEISTAT:
A pioneer in digital filmmaking, Van Neistat made his first internet video, The Holland Tunnel, in 2000. He went on to collaborate with New York City artist Tom Sachs, directing a series of short films shown at the Guggenheim Museum in Berlin. Van has since directed dozens more films for the Tom Sachs Studio. In 2010 HBO aired The Neistat Brothers, an 8-episode series of short videos made entirely by Van and his brother Casey Neistat. Van Neistat’s directorial debut feature, A SPACE PROGRAM, co-written by Tom Sachs, premiered at the 2015 South by Southwest Film Festival and opened in theaters nation-wide in spring, 2016. In 2018 Neistat Directed the short film Paradox Bullets, co-written with Tom Sachs, narrated by Werner Herzog, and starring Ed Rushca. Neistat has written and directed commercial projects for Nike, Hurley, Kate Spade, Tory Burch, J. Crew, Twitter, Sleepy Jones and Frances Valentine. His work has been exhibited in museums throughout the world. He lives in Topanga, California.

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[LeonardoDaVinci]

The organizational level of this dude’s life is fascinating

[MattBoltonMusic]

Every to-do list I start with 1) Make To-Do List. It was on an episode of the Simpsons where they show Homer’s list and it was listed first “make to do list”. I’ve written that every time since. It also sets you off on the right foot. One thing done as soon as you finish writing it. Getting something done begets getting more things done. Thanks for the great videos Van.

[idleofwight]

4:25 he’s talking about the still small voice from Elijah’s experience.

[gabs]

doing nothing is underrated, super scary and so vital for us to be happy

[devonallie]

My to-do list philosophy has gone through many changes over the years. Hours of my life have been spent (but not wasted) on elaborate systems to sync, back-up, and present. All the overhead led to anxiety to get things done and to have it all managed. The only way out of the tyranny of to-do was just pen and paper. A cheap pen from staples and a ringed notebook I got from my mom's office. No subscription fee, no passwords, just a direct connection from my mind to the paper.

[adamjones]

7:45 We, in the business, refer to this as "Turn it off, and back on again." 😄

[furg]

Last year I burnt out on to-do lists. I had one for work, one for home, one for creative projects, one for life/account management, one for books/movies, one on my desk, one on my fridge, FOUR on my phone, and piles of "wasgonnas" in strategic places in my home.

There's something about WFH that crossed the line, bringing work methodologies into the household that corrupted my resting space.

It peaked as I learned about the "Don't-do list" that some entrepreneurs use for deciding brand/ROI viability or delegation...which is one great alternative.

Since I like inventing things, I came up with my own: the PURGE LIST.
On which I inverted the to-do list approach to cold-heartedly Delete things from my life that weren't adding value, and Complete the ones that were - while refusing to add anything new until I was through it. What a godsend that was.💎💎💎

[johnellis]

As soon as you said you went to look for your binder archive of 'to do' knew this topic was not going to be THIN. At times like this your influence on Casey becomes really clear. Amazing.

[floriangrand]

Hemingway once used a similar analogy in his memoir from Paris. He said (I'm poorly paraphrasing) that he would stop writing for the day when there was still a little bit of water left in his well of creativity, and he knew what he wanted to start with the next day.
That is something we creatives have to learn, to keep a bit of water in our wells at all times so they never completely run dry.
I wish you a good and fruitful rest period, and that you may come back with a well rich and full to the brim with new energy.

[IchibanMoto]

thanks Van, this is awesome!
my current lists just fuel procrastination . it's like i have a list of things i don't feel like doing now and a list of things i won't feel like doing later

[quincymb]

Former list addict here. Lists tend to be made in excess while excessively caffeinated, but they take their toll on you when, if at bedtime, you realize you haven't checked anything off the list that night. But highly caffeinated days when you check off 5 or more? And you add 10 more todos? It keeps the cycle going.

[TheNewTravel]

Your organization style is very inspiring. I'm reorganizing my home office right now and often asking myself "what would van do?"

[jbratt]

Working for yourself is almost impossible without a “do list”. It’s mainly because I forget what needs to be done and my ADD will kick in. The big bonus is the feeling of accomplishment when crossing off an item.

[hariprasadm]

Made my folder now and have started using it. Been following your videos for maybe 5-6 months now. And yet this is my first comment. Maybe because, for once I did not stop with just watching the content, but actually used it to do something. Thanks Van.

[justinchamberlain]

4:20 that quiet voice that we often ignore... keeping that list has caused me to value that voice more wherever it comes from
4:45 you just don't want to do it but you just turn your mind off and begin to move your body in the task
5:30 the list becomes my boss;

[ricardosabatino]

Man this one hits home. I've kept notebooks on me that I used to constantly fill with fleeting thoughts, which later became project, which always led me in this self fulfilling prophecy of finding joy in what I did... but then it stopped, and I felt like writing stuff down was just a torture reminding me of what I'm not doing now. I burned out bad and it's taking me years to claw myself back to journaling like that.
Thank you for the video

[donahuerules]

The spirited man's perspective. Has manifested itself on YouTube as my mentor, my mental health quick charger, my advisor, my philosopher. The spirited man, is a guide to this spirited man.

[canadude]

I have often thought about people who retire and die shortly after. Aside from a decline of activity, poor eating habits and old age, I believe that some who long for the day to retire leads to losing purpose for their lives. I have never uttered the words "I'm bored". I have had to-do lists since I was at least 12 years old and they keep my fuel burning. Of course it can be exhausting every once in a while when you have 30 tasks on the list, and you happily scratch one task of the list only to quickly add a new task to it.
But I think a sense of accomplishment is a primary driving force for many of us. It's our true purpose of life to do at least one thing in a day that makes it a world worth living in.

[Crazyibbes]

at min 6:45, Just that, that is exactly what's happening here, it also turn the spot light on the importance of reviewing our scribbles every now and then . Many thanks Van

[Wolvesintheclearing]

I just discovered your channel this week. Now I’m watching a lot of your videos every day taking it all in. My husband and I live in my list filled world. This spirited woman completely gets this!!! Keep em coming!!!