The list of to-do list apps on the market is endless. Both of the major app stores are packed with task management software that claims to solve your to-do list problems.
For beginners, there is a healthy selection to choose from. But for those who make a habit of switching between task apps, the problem only adds complexity.
Switching to-do list apps on a whim has become routine for many, and that's not good for our productivity. Let's explore the downsides of switching apps and how you can find the perfect to-do list app for yourself.
Chances are, if you've installed a to-do list app, it wasn't your first.
Popular task management solutions include TickTick, Todoist, Wunderlist, Microsoft To-Do, Any.DO, Things 3, 2Do, and many more. Switching to-do list apps is not a crime. But you have to regulate it..
Regular switches for the sake of a feature can break your workflow. Many people compare moving to a new app to moving to a house. Bring all your details, information and tasks with you. And once you're inside, changing all the rooms to your liking. Moving apps can take a long time!
It can bog down your productivity. By stopping and starting, you can put pressure on your time. But not everything is pessimism. Many people have changed with enormously successful results. iOS Productivity Tool Workflow Is Now Free:Why You Should Care iOS Productivity Tool Workflow Is Now Free:Why You Should Care Apple Bought Productivity Workflow Workflow iOS and made it free on the App Store, which is great news if you want to do more with your iPhone or iPad in fewer steps. Read more . And in some cases, it is necessary.!
It's about assessing your need to change. From here, you can decide if the switches are necessary and appropriate for your job. And that's valuable as you go with any productivity software.
Helping productivity app fanatics on a daily basis with their app decisions is a part of our routine.
When it comes to task managers, I've seen people committed to paying for expensive software, only a week later, see a crash and switch apps. It's scary when the money is spent. With most cases, decisions tend to be rushed. The right decisions can save money.
You only need three keys to find your to-do list app idea:
The first key is patience.. Patience can help when it comes to making decisions. Mistake number one is impulsive experimentation before exploring the full set of features.
The second key is your needs.. What are your needs? Why are you looking for a new to do list app? Is it for work or personal, or both? Shortlisting based on your needs will pay dividends.
The third and last key is testing.. Light testing of your application over a period of one week will give you a better perspective. Spending hours configuring your optimal layout won't solve anything. Everything should be about your process, not anything else. This will test if your solution stands the test of time.
Determining what type of resource you need is a good starting point. These four types help distinguish style from features. There is no ideal goal here, it is about what works for you in this current scenario in time.
This breakdown will help you confirm what you're looking for before you jump in. Of course, it will change over time as you expand or reduce the use of your task management software.
Let's explore examples for each app style, with some other notable recommendations.
Google Tasks provides everything you need to add simple tasks. Add due dates, sub-tasks and task notes. It makes a great personal light thanks to its simplicity. You can access Tasks through the iOS and Android app, or in Gmail for Web. If you're looking for a simple task manager, this is one of your best bets!
Other recommendations for lightweight personal task managers:
Trello is a favorite productivity app used by millions every day. The great thing about Trello is the way you can manage any task in your life. Organize them into “cards” and then easily create boards for your projects. Then when it comes to sharing with teams, just share your board.
Other recommendations for lightweight professional task managers:
Things 3 is one of the best designed to-do list apps on the market. Things 3 comes to life with its responsive design and range of features. It has won the hearts of many Mac and iOS users as a great way to organize tasks. With the ability to implement things like GTD, it's a favorite tool for increasing personal productivity.
Other notable recommendations for "staff heavy" task managers include:
Todoist is one of the most advanced to-do list apps out there. Features range from due dates, sub-tasks, projects, tags, and even filters. You can share tasks with colleagues, very easily! It's actually my to-do list app of choice. It is a very versatile solution, ideal for a range of professionals and even students..
Other recommendations for “heavy professional” task managers:
Once you have found your resource type. The following is the actual features within the tools. This largely depends on the features you need to get things done. Do you traditionally work well with kanban boards? Or even tags to help organize tasks?
One person may be interested in one feature, while others prefer another. It is totally open for discussion..
First things first, take some time to shortlist the top five apps that match the features you need. Use a little paper, the top five pros and cons for your needs, for each application.
This exercise will help you extract the initial flaws from your website's research randomizations.
From this analysis, you should get a full opinion of the pros and cons. Time to choose.
Choosing the resource with the best pros and the weakest cons can be more difficult than it seems.
Once you're there, it's time to try out for a full work week .
The work week will help put your app in the spotlight. Bringing your attention to game-changing glitches or issues. This full 5-day period should help gather your ideas about the app without committing to the resource.
Most of the to-do list apps have some sort of trial for their cousin, giving you plenty of time to run this little experiment. Use the app until the end of the entire week.
Exercise time.
Grab a pen and paper and rewrite your pros and cons based on your one week experience.
After this, move on to your next app in the top five list. After another week write down the pros and cons of this app. Place these two apps against each other to determine what it will target.
Determining between these two will only help put things into perspective. If these two don't make the cut, just explore one more app. If you've been to three of your top five, you may need to repeat your research on which type works for you.
The more time spent on research, the better.
Spending time ahead of time researching the pros and cons will curb your impulsive streak, help you improve your decision-making, and lead to a longer-term solution. The time saved from pausing to research will save your hours in the future, changing resources.
These final tips and recommendations should help when you begin your search:
Changing the way you think about change is the most important element of this process. The change should be made only when you are sure and have done your research. This will pay off in the long run. From someone who's been with their to-do list app for five years, it was worth evaluating in such detail.
And at the end of the day, moving from to-do list app to to-do list is nothing more than a time-wasting habit you need to kick 10 time-wasting habits you need to quit today 10 time-wasting habits What Should Come Out Today A minute here or there doesn't seem like much, but it all adds up! Could it be that you are wasting your time on mindless habits? We will show you daily tasks that you can abandon. Read more . Find one that works for you, then stick with it!
