For several years, I have kept two to-do lists for work (that’s how much I love them—one just wasn’t enough). One of my lists contains tasks that require deep, focused work and demand a decent chunk ...

There’s never a shortage of productivity tips, tricks, and tools popping up online, but—while some are beneficial—many people find success relying on the old standard: a traditional to-do list.

Before I started my own company, I worked as a software developer for a New York media company. I had a colleague—let’s call him Neil—who was a brilliant designer. But he was also a perfectionist.

We’ve all been there—staring at an overwhelming to-do list, wondering how on earth we’ll get everything done. It’s easy to feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day, especially when tasks ...