The Simple Brilliance of Microsoft To Do

Microsoft ToDo is rarely talked about, yet it is a superb task manager with many hidden extras.

Learn the basics of productivity in 45- minutes for free.

Get Todoist here:

[johngough]

I am one of those using MS at work. I am using “categories” to classify the emails in Outlook. So, I have different colours based on my activity (my calendar uses them as well). To Do can use same categories (labels) to classify the tasks.
Very easy for me to track them all. In To Do you can organise the tasks by categories/labels.
I am still playing around with the tool.

[pinkflamingo]

You can pre plan tomorrow by setting a due date for the task to tomorrow. Then there is a setting to put tasks with due dates on the day they are due

[Han-dle]

I've been using To-Do for several years now in my work life, after a YouTube video by Leila, and before I started following Carl.

I really like in To-Do how easy it is to flag an E-mail in Outlook to put it on To-Do. To-isn't great about going back to the original E-mail, but is manageable. I also like how you can take a Teams Message, Create Task which puts it in MS Planner, and then it syncs with To-Do.

I use Lists as both context and time.

I have a Quick Step in Outlook that puts things in an Action This Day folder that doesn't make it in To-Do.

Following Carl's recommendations, the night before, I look at everything due for the next day and pick two that I mark as Important.

I still like ToDoist better because it has 4 priorities vs 2 in To-Do, and also because it has labels (which I use for context) and projects (for me, Computer, Home, Out, Fun, Reading, or Next Week, This Month, Next Month), whereas To-Do only has lists (which I use for both). But I do like the seamless integration with flags in Outlook vs the integration between Todoist and gmail, which I use for my personal life.

[Grunfeld]

Thanks for video. MS To Do is really rather good -- light and syncs perfectly. It's the only MS product I use, (happy Linux user for *everything* else), and To Do runs in a Linux wrapper called *Kuro* on the desktop. For what it's worth, ToDo really works well as my GTD system. Too long to explain how but it can be done, and really well too.

[kjw]

I love To Do for those rotating tasks that are annoying to write in my planner, such as Garbage Day. I don’t want to spend any time tracking or planning Garbage, and this app does a great job of reminding me only on the day of the task. I get satisfaction from clicking the bell that I’ve accomplished the task, then the app remembers for me when to think about garbage next. My planner is kept for more focused work, but my house stays in order too!

I also designed 2 sets of morning stretches, and set them to alternate days. Instead of planning which stretches, I just get to do them first thing. If I don’t get to them, no worries because the app shows me leftover tasks. I just click them as done and they go back into rotation. If I were to miss a week for illness, it’s much easier to pick up where I left off, then in a planning system. Also, I don’t want to think of these things before or after they are done. Simple!

[toranshaw]

I use this app to help me keep track of my groceries, especially those perishable items with best before dates... to remind me to consume them before said day. 🙂

I've not thought about using it for my routines, though, so ta for that suggestion. 🤔

[ericmanten]

Thanks for another great explanatory video Carl! After watching this video, I have set up my ToDo at work in the same manner. Private, I use Evernote for note taking, scheduling, and task and project management. Do you know if I can set To Do in Evernote up the same way as you show here (i.e., with Today, This Week, etc.)?

[moisestatis]

Thank you Carl for all your video/advices. I love your COD system, etc. My biggest struggle is making the habit of doing the system and using any app. I trying all in paper to force the habit in me and then to go back trying a digital system. Is there something in your book about making the habit of COD? I think is like praying, must do it (want or not) everyday in order to make it a habit. Thanks again.

[keithturner]

Are you saying for managing daily person workflow you can replace using ToDoist with Microsoft’ ToDo?

[jonmartin]

As someone who's mandated to stay inside the MS ecosystem - thanks for this video Carl!

What about MS Planner - have you used that? From what I can see, I get the sense that the "new planner" will ultimately deprecate MS To Do, but it's very much in a half-developed state right now and I constantly run into friction when trying to work between the two.

[ogdanem]

Also MS-ToDo have Tags, for example #Waiting, which is one more layer to filter

[xyphoto]

Are you concerned that one cannot assign due dates to subtasks (called steps) ?

[just-Loe]

I dont use microsoft at al, i use only opensource software

[AyoubSabounji-hh]

yo please don't wast your time on microsoft to do I was a havy user of it it in the past it garbage the free plan of to todoist is better 10x than the Microsoft todo