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My productivity app is a never-ending .txt file (2020)

jeffhuang.com

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Re: My productivity app is a never-ending .txt file (2020)

#201

Post by Kaibeezy »

twothreeone wrote: post #79

I've been using chat apps "send to self" for this exact same workflow.. at work I just use Slack as it supports threads and basic formatting (e.g. render code blocks separately and clickable links). So every day has a few threads on different things I'm working on and I can just add notes on them as I go throughout the day. For my own projects I use a messenger app, which is not as nice because most messengers do not…

I like Slack-to-self for the reasons you list and also because I think of things to do whilst out walking the dog, sitting on the bog, or should be sleeping like a log (like now).

Re: My productivity app is a never-ending .txt file (2020)

#202

Post by mortify »

tarr11 wrote: post #6

OP uses their calendar as a supplement for their the todo file. There is a lot of functionality implied in that decision: - calendars have mobile apps which enable quick and precise entry - calendars understand time spans - calendars have many options to display events - calendars have cloud syncing - calendars are backed by a queryable data store Not saying using a text file is good or bad, but I think a more accura…

I love using my calendar as a data store. The "notes" section of the calendar is often full of info. E.g. for travel it includes my itinerary, confirmation codes, links to my boarding pass, etc. One stop shopping for an event.

However it's limiting for detailed lists of things to do (e.g. great for travel, lousy for packing list), and it's terrible for time-independent data: notes from talking to my heating contractor, screenshots of setting for my media player, etc.

Re: My productivity app is a never-ending .txt file (2020)

#204

Post by overvale »

danielrk wrote: post #193

I used to use a .txt file like this for over 10 years that I edited with Vim and could also edit on my phone using Dropbox. And then I used the Mac Notes app and realized the search, sync, autosave experience, and other properties made Notes way more useful for me. Similarly, for over 10 years I used to compile my CV with LaTeX using a fancy template I designed, until I realized the time it took to edit it was just n…

The same exact thing happened to me and I came to the same exact realization. I moved all my dot files to an archive and started using built-in software. It's been great.

Re: My productivity app is a never-ending .txt file (2020)

#207

Post by overvale »

nunez wrote: post #178

same, except I use MacOS Stickies. Way faster and much more persistent than Trello (where they end up, eventually)

Stickies is under appreciated. I saw someone in a coffee shop once outlining an essay or something in stickies. They had each point they wanted to make on a sticky, with some details, and they were moving them around the screen to re-order their ideas. Maybe not the most durable idea, but you could screenshot your screen if you wanted some kind of version control.

Re: My productivity app is a never-ending .txt file (2020)

#208

Post by overvale »

nnx wrote: post #177

Anyone using Freeform (the recently added iOS/macOS app) similarly? It feels to me like it can be a powerful yet simple productivity helper.

I like it! Kind of an infinite canvas app. I had a board with boxes for upcoming meetings, notes from calls, useful links, screenshots of things I was thinking about, etc. A really good system actually.

Re: My productivity app is a never-ending .txt file (2020)

#209

Post by ezst »

blackhaj7 wrote: post #65
BasilPH wrote: post #5

I'm doing something similar with Obsidian daily notes[^1]. I also have a weekly note that I use to plan the next week. Similar to how the author talks about scheduling their next day the evening before, I've started planning the big tasks for next on Friday afternoon, as this gives me momentum on Monday morning. Related: I've found the 3/3/3 technique from Oliver Burkeman[^2] and the concept of open and closed lists…

I use Obsidian but it is unbearably slow upon when opening the app for me, to the point where I want to move away. It’s also dare-I-say-it too customizable for me. I just want it to look nice and do standard notes stuff without having to spend hours tinkering. The only thing keeping me is that it is just markdown. I don’t like the idea of being locked in with the proprietary formats of other apps

May I suggest giving Trilium notes a try? It's like opensource obsidian plus typed notes plus self hostable sync plus a web frontend for places where you can't install it.
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