# ToDon’tList

> Prioritize tasks with a limited 'do' list and an automatic 'to-don't' list. (iPhone/iPad app by Donald Roos.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/todontlist/id1108348991 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Donald Roos](https://appshunter.io/developer/1108348510)
- Category: Productivity, Lifestyle
- Price: Free
- Rating: 3.50/5 from 6 App Store ratings · 6 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 8.0 · 2 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2016-09-07
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/todontlist/id1108348991/reviews.md

## What is ToDon’tList?

Creative people have many things to do and even more ideas. But most of these never get done, and even brilliant ideas never see the light of day. Why? If you ask a creative person, the answer will always revolve around time. We simply need time to execute an idea (and do it well)—more time than we have.
 
The ToDon’tList App supports you in making the hardest choices: what will and won’t you do.
 
— How it works
You have 3 lists — a Do list, a Done list, ​and a ToDon’tList. You can only put 3 items on your Do list. The rest of your to-dos automatically go on your ToDon’tList.
 
When you’ve finished a task, the corresponding to-do will be transferred to your Done list (giving a nice sense of accomplishment). This will leave space for a new item on your Do list, which will be added from your ToDon’tList.
 
Tasks remaining on your ToDon’tList for longer than 3 months automatically disappear, without notification. After all, if they had been important enough, you would have done something about them by that time.
 
 
— Background
Once a psychologist was invited to the Pentagon to give a workshop to generals on time management. He asked the group to each write down in 25 words what their strategy had been so far for managing their time.
 
Nearly all generals already hit a wall there. 25 words were too little. The only one who succeeded in completing the task was the only female general at the gathering. She came up with the following strategy: “First I make a list of priorities: one, two, three, and so on. Then I cross out everything from three downwards.”
 
What the general had done was turn her to-dos into to-don’ts. She placed all her to-dos on a to-don’t list and only chose three to-dos to complete. Anything below the line would simply not get done. This gave her more time to do those 3 things well.
 
Just like the general, you can only place three items on your DoList. The other items stay on your ToDon’tList.
 
This general’s method is a simple, but extremely effective way of making choices. It inspired this app, which in turn inspired a book (‘Don’t Read This Book, Time Management for Creative People’).
 
— Creative Credits
Idea & Design by Donald Roos
App Development by Frank van der Peet

## Key features

- Limited Do List (3 items)
- Automatic To Don't List
- Tasks disappear after 3 months
- Sense of accomplishment tracking
- Inspired by time management strategies

## Recent user reviews (6 of 6)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/todontlist/id1108348991/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Broken

*2023-01-14, version 1.4*

Doesn’t work

### 3/5 — Can’t figure out how to see the done list

*2022-05-24*

Also, I wish the to-do list would let me mark something as done and not “promote” a to-don’t until the next day. Then it becomes a never-ending to-do instead of just three.

### 5/5 — Simple & brilliant

*2021-06-17, version 1.4*

When you’re short on time the last thing you want is a complicated app to have to learn how to use. This one is perfect, simple & effective. I use it regularly.

### 4/5 — Easy but could be better

*2019-06-15*

Got this app after reading the book. It works as promised but would have appreciated some instructions on how to use it. Or perhaps some moving around of tasks. Nice effort anyways!

### 5/5 — Very useful

*2018-09-07*

I got this app while reading Roos’s book, Don’t Read This Book: Time Management for Creative People, and it’s been super helpful in helping me clear the tasks I have stored in my head. It helps you prioritize tasks and mark them as done as well as keeping all of your other tasks on hand to be moved to your prioritized list. I love it and use it every day!

### 3/5 — Love the concept

*2018-05-16*

Love the concept, just wish the app actually worked/was more intuitive. For instance, we’re unable to actually add any items onto the ToDon’t list —the ones you add there somehow make their way to the ToDo list instead.

## Frequently asked questions about ToDon’tList

### How does ToDon’tList help manage time?

ToDon’tList encourages focus by allowing only three items on your 'Do' list at any time. This forces difficult choices about what to prioritize and what to defer.

### What happens to tasks on my ToDon’tList?

Tasks remaining on your ToDon’tList for over three months automatically disappear without notification, prompting users to act on important items.

### Is ToDon’tList available on Android?

Based on the provided data, ToDon’tList is currently supported on iPhone and iPod devices.

### How often is ToDon’tList updated?

The app's latest version is 1.4, and it was last updated on August 6, 2018. Further update frequency is not specified.

### What is the user sentiment for ToDon’tList?

ToDon’tList has an average rating of 3.5 stars from 6 ratings, suggesting mixed user reception.

### Does ToDon’tList have ads?

No, ToDon’tList does not contain advertisements, as indicated by the 'hasAds' flag being false.

### What is the age rating for ToDon’tList?

ToDon’tList has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users.

### Can I export my lists from ToDon’tList?

The provided description does not mention any export functionality for lists within ToDon’tList.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.4 — 2018-08-06

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

Items are still removed after 90 days when on the Do/Don't Lists. When an item is on the Done List it is only removed after 365 days.

### 1.3 — 2017-09-24

Added support for iOS 11.

### 1.2 — 2017-01-27

You can now scroll the ToDon'tList while dragging an item.

### 1.1 — 2016-09-21

- You can now move items from your DoneList back to the DoList
- You can now delete individual items from your DoneList.
- When you mark an item as Don't, it will be placed on the top of the ToDon'tList instead of at the bottom.

### 1.0 — 2016-08-20

No release notes.

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## More apps by Donald Roos

- [ToDon’tTimer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/todonttimer/id1218710160)

All apps by Donald Roos: https://appshunter.io/developer/1108348510

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*