Ask HN: How do you manage your home projects

In my experience, there are very few places where a paper & pencil or pen solution fails. It is definitely more involved, but there is something encouraging about it, visually present. This is not the case with an app; it takes multiple steps to consciously dig the projects to the surface.

I have a to-do list on paper in my office and in my kitchen. It is a roll of paper, that I keep pulling down, and rip off items that I completed.

In the office it is in a Steno pad, while in the kitchen in a "wall mount note roll" (search for it for visual).

The wall mount note roll works for the whole crew in the house. Everyone knows what needs to be done. It is satisfying to tear down a part when completed.

I like Steno pads because they are not too big to travel with, and when walking around I can shove it in the small of my back. Anything smaller and my giant hands cannot write into it, anything bigger and it becomes cumbersome. Also, I know shorthand which freaks out most younger execs when I take notes.

I hate it, but it just works. I hate it because it is in my face, it reminds me every time I walk by that the gutters need cleaning, or that report needs submitted. No way of not "opening the UI".

More important than the tools are the habits around, though. Once a year I define OKRs for my life, then have quarterly plans and weekly reviews to fill my Todo list, reflect on the progress and adjust plans. This takes no more than 15-30mins a week and could be done with pen and paper if you wanted.