Those of you who have read anything I have written in the past will know that I used Todoist more than any other task manager, and believe me, I have used lots of them.
My task manager has always been my central hub for managing my life. I used it for everything I needed to get done, for storing videos and movies I might want to watch later, and for setting reminders for calendar appointments. I know what you’re thinking: Doesn’t the calendar app do that for you? Yes, yes it does.
This has made me reevaluate how I am using my task manager, and not only how I am using it, but it has also made me change the app itself.
Task managers are not simple anymore
As I said before, Todoist was my favorite task manager I had ever used, but it has become bloated with added features.
That is the problem with subscription-based task managers: they need to keep improving the app they build, so they add more features, which makes the app more complicated to use.
The app maker can also charge more for its product due to the addition of these features.
When I first started using Todoist, the cost per year was $36; then they increased it to $48 per year, and beginning on December 10th, they will charge $60 per year.
The addition of these features does not always make you more productive, either. These features can make using the app more complicated.
Notion is my favorite example of this. It is excellent for what it does, and the things I see people doing with it are incredible.
It is not for me, though.
When I tried using Notion, I got lost in building the features I wanted my system to have, which distracted me from what I actually needed to accomplish.
This made me feel productive when I actually wasn’t.
That is why I knew I had to make a change, to something simpler that could bring me relief and help me regain confidence in my productivity.
What I am using now
When I started thinking about how I could make my task manager simpler, I tried TickTick.
TickTick is a great Todoist alternative that includes habit tracking and some calendar management, but I found it has features that also get in the way.
I was not sure what I was going to do, but while I was searching for another app to try, I noticed one that I had from years ago, Things 3.
What I like about this app is that it has not changed much over the years. They have upgraded the app to support the latest iOS update, but the app functionality is the same as when I downloaded it onto one of my first iPhones over a decade ago.
Things does what it is designed to do. Jot down tasks and get them completed. They don’t have AI built in, along with a bunch of other features I don’t use but pay for.
There are some things I wish it had, like the ability to add a file or image to a task or to use it on my work PC, but I have found workarounds for these.
Things is built for the Apple ecosystem only, so to attach a file or image to a task, I create those in Apple Notes and link the note to the task in Things.
At work, I have Things installed on my iPad and use it at my desk. When I am on the go, it is always on my phone.
Later on, I plan to write about how I am using Things, but I am still tweaking my setup and learning the intricacies of the app again.
Feel free to comment below and let me know if you have any questions.