Downside of to-do lists

1. You spend too much time optimizing your to-do list. 2. You realize you are spending too much time optimizing your to-do list and you give up in frustration because you feel like you don't get your actual work done.

With a text file, it's a free for all, you don't feel obligated to keep it clean, when you have to make a note you just "do it".