This is a simple tip but anyone can use it. One of the best ways I’ve kept my workday calm is by relying on start dates and a single Smart List that acts like a runway. My role involves juggling projects that don’t all start at the same time, and before I began using start dates in Remember The Milk, I constantly had a “too big” Today list. Now, I give every task a realistic start date so it stays hidden until I can actually begin it. To pull it all together, I built a Smart List I call “Runway” that shows me anything starting soon or due in the next 48 hours:

(startBefore:tomorrow OR dueWithin:"2 days of today")

This view keeps me focused on what’s actionable without overwhelming me with everything I’ll eventually need to do. It’s also flexible. I can quickly scan what’s coming up, spot dependencies, and adjust before things get urgent. With this one Smart List and the discipline of using start dates, I’ve found my workload much easier to manage and my stress level way lower.