A to-do list is the list of tasks that must be completed within a specific time frame. It's a very simple, efficient, and widely used productivity tool; the only problem is that there's a lot of conflicting online advice about whether to-do lists work and whether you should keep them in your productivity tool belt. Some people claim that to-do lists don't work for them, which is usually because they make some common mistakes when attempting to implement them. To-do lists must be maintained regularly, or they will become obsolete.