Honestly, that's a perfect example of how managers see mystery in every little thing (like my old boss who thought my grocery list was a secret code). There's a real fear of not being in control, so they assume any private note is a threat. It turns normal planning into something suspicious, which just makes work more stressful. I've noticed this pattern where anything personal at work gets treated like classified info, even when it's just someone trying to stay organized. It's like we can't have anything for ourselves without someone thinking it's a plot.
Doesn't this come from a basic insecurity about their own role? They mistake private notes for secrets because they're scared of missing out on info, which just kills trust. That constant suspicion makes a simple to-do list feel risky.