KANBAN VSTRADITIONAL LISTS
A Brutally Honest Take (From Someone Who's Tried Both)
I have bounced between every task management method known to humanity like a productivity ping pong ball. Here's my honest review, complete with my spectacular failures.
Right, confession time. I am that bloke who has tried literally every productivity system ever invented while eating leftover takeaway for breakfast and questioning my previous life choices. Getting Things Done? Yep. Bullet Journal? Absolutely. Post-it notes on the edge of monitor like some sort of yellow paper shrine? Trust me I've been there.
I have spent years searching for the perfect task management system, mostly because I am terrible at remembering things and my laptop has 97 tabs open across three different browsers. Anyone who has worked with me at a hackathon or has even sat next to me can confirm it. Distractions break my concentration in seconds, and I really should look into why. Add in the classic ADHD mix of hyperfocus and complete chaos, and you can see why, when people ask me about kanban versus traditional to-do lists, I must say I have some... opinions.
MY SPECTACULAR JOURNEY
Let me set the scene. Picture a chill but slightly unhinged Australian developer, sitting in a messy home office somewhere in Europe, surrounded by half-empty filter coffee cups and the remains of what was supposed to be a "proper breakfast" (spoiler: it was instant porridge again). This is where I've tested every task management method known to civilisation while procrastinating on actual client work.
The Traditional List Years
(Or: How I Learnt to Stop Worrying and Love Chaos)
I started with the classic approach - good old-fashioned to-do lists scratched out on architecture tracing paper. You know the drill you are probably doing it right now:
Write down everything you need to do
Cross things off when done
Feel superior to everyone who doesn't have their life together
Realise you have forgotten to write down half the important stuff
Panic
For a while, this worked brilliantly. There is something deeply satisfying about crossing off completed tasks. It is like a tiny dopamine hit every time. "Look at me go! I'm actually functioning like a proper human being!" Then reality hits.
Where Lists Started Falling Apart
But here is where it got messy (and I mean properly messy, like my desk after a 12-hour coding binge fuelled by too much coffee and questionable life choices). As my freelance work grew and I started juggling multiple clients while living the digital nomad dream, my simple lists became absolute chaos:
Context Switching Nightmares
"Fix bug on Project A" followed by "Buy milk" followed by "Complete redesign for Client B"
Priority Paralysis
Everything was urgent, nothing was urgent, I couldn't tell the difference
The Endless Scroll
Lists that went on forever with no sense of progress or workflow
Dead Task Syndrome
Tasks that lived on the list for weeks because they were too vague or overwhelming
I tried numbering priorities, colour coding, using different apps, dividing lists by projects, even tried those fancy productivity frameworks with acronyms I can't remember... Basically everything except what I should have done: admitting that simple lists weren't cutting it anymore and I needed to level up my game.
Enter Kanban
Or How I Learnt to Stop Worrying and Love Columns
Eventually, I discovered kanban boards. Now, I'll be honest - at first I thought they looked a bit over-engineered. "Why do I need columns? Lists work fine!" (Narrator: Lists did not work fine. Lists were, in fact, a complete disaster.)
But after building BlendLines in a week (plus many sleepless nights fixing the inevitable scaling issues) and actually using a proper kanban setup for a few months, I had one of those "oh shit" moments. You know, when you realise you've been doing something the hard way for years while complaining about productivity gurus on Twitter.
WHY KANBAN MAKES SENSE
(Who Knew?)
Visual Workflow
(Your Brain Likes Pictures)
Instead of a never-ending list of doom, I could see exactly where everything was in my process. Tasks → Waiting → Doing → Done. Simple, visual, and my chaotic brain could actually process it without having an existential crisis about my life choices.
The "Doing" column taught me something revolutionary: I can only actually work on 2-3 things at once without my brain melting like a chocolate bar in a Tasmanian summer. Who would have thought multitasking was a myth? (Everyone except me, apparently.)
WIP Limits
(Stop Being a Heroic Idiot)
Context Grouping
(Finally, Some Organisation)
With tags and filters, I can focus on one client or project at a time. No more "fix bug for Client A, then immediately switch to completely different work for Client B while also trying to remember what I had for lunch" madness.
THE REAL TALK
Traditional Lists Win When:
You're just starting out
Simple tasks, single project, not much complexity
Quick capture
Jotting down shopping lists, quick reminders, brain dumps
Linear workflows
When tasks genuinely follow a simple start-to-finish process
You like simplicity
No judgment here - sometimes simple is better
Kanban Boards Win When:
Multiple projects
Juggling different clients or complex work streams
Team collaboration
Everyone can see what's happening at a glance
Process matters
When the journey from start to finish has important stages
You need perspective
Seeing the big picture helps you make better decisions
My Current Setup
(That Actually Works)
These days, I use a hybrid approach. My kanban board in BlendLines is the main hub for project work and client stuff. But I still keep a simple list on my phone for random thoughts, shopping, and "remember to call mum" type tasks (spoiler: I still forget to call mum).
The key insight? Different tools for different jobs. Revolutionary stuff, right? Who could have predicted this groundbreaking concept?
My Kanban Board Setup:
Tasks
New stuff that needs doing
Waiting
Blocked on someone else (usually clients)
Doing
What I'm actively working on (max 3 items)
Done
Completed work that makes me feel less like a fraud
Plus tags for each client/project so I can filter and focus without getting overwhelmed by the full chaos.
The Uncomfortable Truth
Here's something the productivity gurus selling $97 courses don't tell you: the system matters way less than actually using it. I've seen people with incredibly sophisticated setups who never update them, and others who absolutely crush it with a simple notepad and decent handwriting.
The best system is the one you'll actually stick with. For me, that turned out to be kanban because it matches how my chaotic brain works. For you? Maybe it's lists, maybe it's kanban, maybe it's a fancy notebook, maybe it's carrier pigeons. I don't judge (okay, I judge the carrier pigeons a little).
MY ADVICE
(Worth Exactly What You're Paying For It)
If Lists Work
If you're currently using lists and they work for you - brilliant! Keep going. Don't fix what isn't broken. Ignore people like me who overthink everything.
If You're Drowning
But if you're feeling overwhelmed, losing track of priorities, or spending more time managing your task list than actually doing tasks (been there, mate)... maybe give kanban a try. Start simple - Tasks, Doing, Done. Don't overcomplicate it like I did initially.
Remember
Productivity systems are tools, not religions (despite what Twitter says). You're allowed to change your mind, try new things, or even use multiple approaches. The productivity police won't arrest you. Trust me, I've checked.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Both kanban and traditional lists have their place. Lists are great for simple, linear stuff. Kanban shines when you need to manage complexity and see the bigger picture. Revolutionary insight, I know.
As for me? I'm sticking with my kanban board for now. It keeps my chaotic freelance life somewhat organised, and building BlendLines has given me the exact tool I actually want to use (which is rare - usually I build something then immediately want to rebuild it).
Will I switch to something else in six months? Probably. That's just how my ADHD brain rolls. But for now, I'm no longer drowning in an endless list of random tasks mixed with grocery items, and that feels like progress.
Reality check: Now if you'll excuse me, I need to move "write blog post about kanban vs lists" from "Doing" to "Done". That dopamine hit never gets old, and I'm definitely going to celebrate with some questionable snack choices.
Found a Bug? Got a Feature Request? Just Want to Chat?
Look, I don't have some fancy bug tracking system (yet). I'm just one chill guy building this thing between client work and trying to remember to eat actual meals instead of just snacks.
If you find something broken, have a feature request, or just want to argue about productivity systems, hit me up on X at @bigols. I probably should build a proper feedback tool, but Twitter DMs work fine for now.
Fair warning: I might get excited and turn your simple suggestion into another side project. It's a problem, really.
WANT TO TRY KANBAN?
I wanted to make a free kanban board that suited firstly myself, then my girlfriend, then my mates. Hopefully it helps you too. If you think it's missing something, I'm still manually fixing bugs and adding features between client work and trying to adult properly.