My todo list resembles the Hydra from the myth of Heracles. You cut off one item, and two more grow in its place.
In the myth, Heracles faced the challenge of defeating the many-headed Hydra, a monstrous creature that grew back two heads for each one that was severed. This myth perfectly captures my experience with productivity: every time I complete a task, it feels like two more appear to take its place.
Over the last few years, I’ve experimented with countless methods to boost my productivity. I’ve tried todo lists, diaries, email flagging, Outlook inbox management, and various productivity apps. I’ve read articles, devoured books, and watched countless YouTube tutorials—all in the pursuit of mastering my time and tasks.
Currently, I rely on a todo app alongside my Outlook calendar. It all started with Wunderlist, which Microsoft later acquired and rebranded as Microsoft To Do. To manage my tasks, I categorize them into six different levels:
1. Level 1: Things to do today.
2. Level 2: Things to do today if possible.
3. Level 3: Things to do today if I have time.
4. Level 4: Things to do this week.
5. Level 5: Things to do this month.
6. Level 6: Things to do before the end of the year.
I also have an additional category (aka Level 7), Ex Post: tasks that I end up doing but hadn’t initially planned for.
In this system, there’s no distinction between work and personal tasks—every task has value.
For habits, I use another dedicated app (Habitify), but that’s a story for another post.
Am I able to do everything I plan? No.
Let me stress that again: No. Absolutely not. And that’s one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned. Being able to accomplish everything you plan or promise, even when you’re only accountable to yourself, is a sign of wisdom and reliability. Clearly, I’ve got more work to do on that front.
Do I review everything I’ve accomplished each month to congratulate myself and acknowledge that I’ve done more than I thought? Not really. Moreover, I always feel like I’ve done less than I intended, and nothing ever feels like enough.
Am I satisfied with my current status quo? Maybe. But Heracles didn’t defeat the Hydra by merely cutting off its heads; he succeeded by cauterizing the wounds, preventing new heads from growing back.
The positive aspect of this story is that, in my 20+ years of working evolution (yes, since my law school days), my productivity methodology is still evolving. So, I guess I should be content with my progress.
The truth is, I’m still on this journey, and I feel I haven’t yet reached the end. Maybe I still need to find a way to kill the Hydra instead of just cutting off its heads. Or perhaps this Hydra is different, and as long as I’m part of the system, I’m still bound to it. In any case, the journey itself is where the real value lies.
