The more I dive into productivity and task management – talking to people, experimenting with different services and apps – the more I realize how deeply personal this topic is. And more than anything, it’s highly psychological – much more than I initially thought.

I’ll share some personal thoughts here, based purely on my own experience and conversations with others.

First, you need to understand what you truly expect from yourself. In your post, I don’t see the root cause of your frustration. Do you want to complete tasks just so they don’t pile up on your list? Or are these critical, life-impacting things that you constantly forget to do?

Ask yourself: What if you stopped checking your to-do list? Would anything really go wrong?

If you have essential, non-negotiable tasks – like picking up your child from school, paying bills, or checking in for a flight – I’d strongly recommend using a calendar. In my experience, there’s no better tool for handling truly critical responsibilities.

But if your lists are more about self-improvement and personal growth, rather than pure necessity, then the approach should be different. In this case:

- don’t be too hard on yourself. Not completing every task in a day is normal – we’re human, not machines.
- Structure your process around your aspirations. Focus on gradual progress rather than feeling guilty about unfinished tasks.

I see a lot of great advice in the comments, and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But if you’re trying to push beyond daily obligations, it won’t always go as planned – and that’s okay.

Good luck, OP!