Andy Bell –

I’ve tried Notion, Obsidian, Things, Apple Reminders, Apple Notes, Jotter and endless other tools to keep me organised and sure, Notion has stuck around the most because we use it for client stuff, but for todo lists, all of the above are way too complicated.

I’ve given up this week and gone back to paper and a pencil and I feel unbelievably organised and flexible, day-to-day. It’s because it’s simple. There’s nothing fancy. No fancy pen or anything like that either. Just a notebook and a pencil.

I’m in an ultra busy period right now so for future me when you inevitably get back to this situation: just. use. fucking. paper.

I’ve tried many of the apps he mentions. Notion is good as an organized database, but I can’t really see myself using it as a to-do list. Believe me I have plenty of Notion templates to show for it. Things was way too complicated, and I don’t see Apple Reminders and Notes as to-do tools.

I’ve also tried paper planners and notebooks, but the habit never sticks. Even when I spend too much money on the planner, pen, or both.

My company uses Workfront to assign work and manage jobs, so I might be biased on digital versus paper. Also, I don’t have to assign jobs to myself while managing my assigned jobs. I’m sure it would be different if I direct reports, but I don’t.

One day, I might try using Patrick Rhone’s setup. It sounds the most like me and I won’t have to spend a fortune on planners.