For me, lists work great... as long as they don't turn into obligations.

I keep a legal pad on my desk. I keep a running list of anything I want to learn, accomplish, research, etc. If I finish an item, I mark through it. Once I turn a page, I rarely revisit. If something is important, it'll make a second or third appearance on the list and eventually get scratched off. Once I fill up a pad, I throw it away and start fresh.

Treating lists, and really, nearly all my personal notes, as disposable is incredibly freeing.