I keep a printed list in outline form, edited and annotated as I make progress throughout the day. My list contains items as diverse as building mind maps and writing blog posts for re:Invent, flattening out some boxes in my recycling pile, updating my will, and adding final screen shots to those blog posts. So far so good.
The key to productivity for me is to make the actual act of checking something off of the list a cause for a tiny internal celebration. As I make that checkmark I make sure that I feel a sense of accomplishment. This might sound trivial, but it works!