How do you organize your garage To-Do list?

[mikecorrell]

I’m looking for some ideas on how I can organize my to-do list for projects in my garage. I often get too many projects going at a time and lose my place on some of them. I was thinking maybe a whiteboard with markers or hanging a chalkboard? Just wanted to see what ideas some of you guys have on staying organized.

Thanks in advance

 

[cpttuna]

red-immediate
green-priority but can wait
yellow-future(need money more planning or constuction time to complete

 

[bczygan]

To Do List?

Way to make things not fun.

I just do what I feel like.

Bill

 

[Oldbear]

I use the notes on my iPhone. It lets me print a physical list to pin to the corkboard in my old shop - but I mostly use the electronic list. Each part of the project is bold and underlined, then I add the steps or notes as bullet points under that. When something is done it gets a strikeout (line) through it. I keep a few notes going; one for each of my vehicles, one for the new shop build, one for shop tools/projects and one for the yard (so my wife keeps me around). I read through the lists as I need to - waiting in a doctors office, waiting for the coffee to brew or even on the crapper... I've pulled over on my commute (which is 25 minutes of country roads each way) to take a note because I've thought of some brilliant or hair-brained idea and it will most likely be gone by the time I have to make my next turn... I use an app "Car Care" to track fuel mileage and time/mileage based maintenance. I use the app "ShopShop" to make my shopping lists as I don't go far without the phone.

I do have a whiteboard in the shop but it gets used more for my kids to draw on.

 

[PNWguy]

Whiteboard on the door.

I have an area for each project, but it's mostly for things (parts & hardware) I need to buy.

 

[oldwino]

White board here. Only problem is more/higher priority items keep coming up and the list stays static

 

[doubleot]

4 foot white board, I bought it at habitat for humanity for 15$. Has been amazing for project check lists.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[L5wolvesf]

red-immediate
green-priority but can wait
yellow-future(need money more planning or constuction time to complete

Whiteboard and pretty much what tuna wrote.

 

[bad_idea]

I have an aluminum storage clipboard for current projects. The current project is clipped to the cover. The other projects are inside the clipboard. It works nice for me because I write down the details for each project on it's own page, carry the clipboard to the work piece (may be in the yard, house or garage) and use the clipboard for taking notes on the project.

This has proven really handy on those long term projects. I forget stuff. ALOT. I also travel a lot for work, so there are large gaps between projects. Makes it easier to pick up projects after long pauses.

 

[southalabama]

To do list?

Yeah that would be nice.

I've got a buddy that describes what gets done this way, putting out fires. Whatever flares up worst deal with it.

 

[marineman]

red-immediate
green-priority but can wait
yellow-future(need money more planning or constuction time to complete

Drink Beer in Red
Buy tools in Green
Do wifey's stuff in yellow

yup this system will work for me thanks.

 

[RVDan]

A list will take all the fun out.

 

[Sawdustmaker]

White board here. Only problem is more/higher priority items keep coming up and the list stays static

Mainly this^^^^, but a sheet of notebook paper instead of a white board.

 

[matt_i]

I have always liked 11x17 paper...

The whiteboard gets used for "what should I buy when more mad-money arrives"

Usually there's something I want from McMaster Carr but it isn't worth the $10-ish shipping for that one item, but when enough impetus spools up to create a bigger order, I don't want to forget that small thing I've been waiting around for.

 

[A-R-K]

Trello.com is what I use. The mobile app is awesome. Cost is $0, no ads.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[babylou]

Google Keep app

 

[shepherd]

By height...biggest pile gets first look.

 

[NUTTSGT]

At times I make a to-do list on paper, generally stuff I want to get done the next day. Cross off as completed.

For long term or on going projects I use the white board. It doubles as a space to mark down supplies I need or parts to buy.

If you go the white board route, I'd suggest Hobby Lobby if you have one local. Generally you can get a 40% off coupon online and print it off. I'd suggest this one.

https://www.hobbylobby.com/Crafts-H...5"-Magnetic-Dry-Erase-Board-with-Tray/p/28804

At 40% off takes it down to about $15 and it's magnetic too.

 

[niget2002]

Like someone else said...

https://www.google.com/keep/

I just started using this. I can jot notes into it from a browser on the laptop, or I can add stuff to it from the phone.

As far as ordering the things in the list, I just work on whatever strikes my fancy at that time. Most of my projects are weekender type projects. I don't have room in my 'shop' for long-term projects. If I'm working a long-term project, then that's the only focus I have... especially if it's big enough to keep the wife's car from fitting in the garage.

I tried the white board method at the last house. It worked well, especially for brainstorming ways of doing something or calculating sizes, but it wasn't sustainable for me to keep up with projects on it. I always found I thought of a new project when I wasn't where I could write it down.

 

[Jazz1]

White board is for "auto notes" Things that need done eventually. I only work on one project at a time. Too overwhelming for myself to have numerous projects.

 

[unknownroad]

Google Keep is great for my shopping lists- access the same list from my phone, media tablet in the garage, home and work desktops- whenever something crosses my mind. Not robust enough for the to-do list, tho.

I have an Excel spreadsheet- organizes my to-do list (160 items and counting ) into categories- yard, indoor, garage, cars, chores- whether or not I have the materials I need- priority- and scope.

Then I go out the garage to start working on something, get distracted trying to find, fix, or build what I need for a project, and end up with a longer list.

 

[bczygan]

Like someone else said...

https://www.google.com/keep/

I just started using this. I can jot notes into it from a browser on the laptop, or I can add stuff to it from the phone.

As far as ordering the things in the list, I just work on whatever strikes my fancy at that time. Most of my projects are weekender type projects. I don't have room in my 'shop' for long-term projects. If I'm working a long-term project, then that's the only focus I have... especially if it's big enough to keep the wife's car from fitting in the garage.

I tried the white board method at the last house. It worked well, especially for brainstorming ways of doing something or calculating sizes, but it wasn't sustainable for me to keep up with projects on it. I always found I thought of a new project when I wasn't where I could write it down.

Thanks!

Just got it and works great!

Bill

 

[engineer2]

Excel spreadsheet on a waterproof key ring flash drive.
Column A is the calendar date. Columns B, C, D are projects.
Good for scheduling and planning. Drag and drop as plans change.
As a day or days pass, cut and paste to a "Done" sheet for historicals.
History is nice to have: When did I replace that sump pump?
Additional sheets:
Appliance/tool model numbers if I need to look up a manual or parts list on the web.
Sheets for each cars' maintenance log and scheduled maintenance.
Sheet for long-range house projects and honey-do list.
It's pretty easy to keep up once you get in the habit.

Why did I start it? I had a bunch of springtime yard projects and the schedule kept changing because of the weather. Excel is prefect for that.

 

[Balor]

Hi Mike, I use OneNote to take care of my "to do list" plus I can draw, diagram, doodle, make changes to anything I've drawn with out starting over from the beginning and best of all I use OneNote on my PC and iPad (I use iCloud which lets the PC & iPad share OneNote changes from one to the other).

rngr1

 

[zmotorsports]

I use a 2'x3' white board in my shop. I use various categories such as shop projects, any vehicle maintenance coming due or things that are noted after driving, coach issues/repairs/mods, lawn & garden equipment and lastly any projects that I have promised out to other people. All go up on the board which is an ever changing list.

 

[stioc]

When I feel overwhelmed by the number of garage projects or any other projects for that matter the first thing I do is get it out of my head and on paper (or the whiteboards in the garage, kitchen refrigerator etc). Freeing your mind of trying to maintain a long list is very helpful. Then it's just a matter of assigning priorities (or doing whatever I feel in the mood to do) and then checking things off. Organization is key to busy life. I learned this early on in life from my dad and it's has helped me tremendously through college and my adult life.