Manage your To Do list in Gmail

This is actually not something I found on the Internet, but something that I came up with myself. I'm sure I'm not the first one to do this, it's probably been done and blogged about many times in the past. I recently came up with the idea myself and thought I'd share it with the world.

The key to this tip is the fact that Gmail allows you to practically have an unlimited number of email addresses associated with your account. Simply use the following syntax:
[yourusername]+[anyletters]@gmail.com (Do not include the brackets, obviously.)

Here's what I did to set this up:

First, I created a label in Gmail called "+To Do". Since the labels are listed alphabetically, I added the + at the beginning so my "+To Do" list would be at the top.

Second, I created a filter in Gmail:
Matches: to:([myusername]+todo@gmail.com)
Do this: Skip Inbox, Apply label "+To Do"
So now, any mail that gets sent to [myusername]+todo@gmail.com will automatically skip the Inbox and go to my "+To Do" list.

Last, I added a new contact named "To Do" with the email address [myusername]+todo@gmail.com.

Now, whenever I need to add something to my To Do list, I simply email it to "To Do". I try to put most of the information in the Subject line and I typically leave the body blank unless there is a phone number, address, email address or website associated with the task.

Managing my To Do list this way has some advantages, at least for me. First, I've always got Gmail open in my web browser. In order for a To Do list to be effective, you either have to see it frequently or make an effort to look at it. I've tried using Outlook Tasks and other methods of keeping a task list, but would often forget to look at it frequently. This way I see it all the time. Second, other people can add things to your To Do list. My wife, for example, can use it when she thinks of something I need to do. It's very convenient.

Anyway, I hope this tip was helpful to someone.