1. A method for implementing an action-based to-do list comprises: accessing a task definition file listing an external application in which a to-do task on the action-based to-do list is to be performed, in which the task definition file comprises a number of criteria which are tracked and used to automatically manipulate the action-based to-do list; automatically configuring the external application within the user's computing environment to facilitate the user accomplishing the to-do task; monitoring, with a personal management device, user actions within the external application; comparing, with the personal management device, the user actions within the external application to the number of criteria in the task definition file; determining when the user actions within the external application fulfill a criteria within the task definition file; and automatically modifying the to-do list with the personal management device based on the fulfilled criteria.