Over the last few weeks, I have been getting into using an app called Todoist and — as the name suggests — it is a to-do list app. There are many out there, and I have used quite a few myself, but this one seems to be one that my brain has clicked with. There are many aspects that I really enjoy over other productivity apps that I've used. To be honest, I just wanted to share my enthusiasm for this app because it just got me so excited, and I thought that it could be helpful for anybody reading this.
The simplicity
The first thing I'm really liking about it is the simplicity of the interface. You sign into the app, and you are faced with the home screen — which is a list of all the tasks that you have set yourself to do on this particular day. Next to this, you have the “upcoming” tab, which is an overview of all the tasks that you have scheduled in the coming weeks and days. I really like the idea that you can focus on each day, but also have that overview at the same time. As I've said, the interface and layout is very simple, so you can tick off each task as you complete it. The interface is very easy to access; making it easy to use — and if it is easy to use, then I’m more likely to use it. The point being that there are not too many hoops to jump through.
I like that their free version gives you everything that you need. There is a paid version, which gives you a few more options, and a bit more flexibility, but for the ‘average person’, the free version has everything that you need — which is a refreshing prospect.
Filtering and category options
As you are setting your tasks, it gives you the option to set the date and time of this particular task — as well as create categories in which to put these tasks. So, for example, I have categories of ‘life admin’ and ‘writing’ in which to filter particular tasks. Although I could actually make do without these categories, it is helpful to organise with what's what, and what tasks to do across multiple aspects of life. It's just nice to see everything organised and in place.
The next option is ‘labels’. I haven't used this option yet because I didn't really understand how it would be used, but I'm going to start using this in the next few days. Labels, as I understand it, allows you to categorise tasks further, no matter what parent category they're in. For example, you could label a task as a ‘long task’ or a ‘small task’, or any label that you need.
There is even the option to create ‘sub-tasks’. So, you have a parent task — as an example let's say Christmas shopping — and I might want to set a sub-task of what present to buy each person. Each sub-task acts as its own task, so you can tick them off individually, as you would a parent task.
It is worth noting that if you tick off the parent task without ticking off the sub-tasks, it looks as though you won't gain the points of the sub-tasks; you will only gain the points for the parent task. But if the point system is not an important aspect for you, then that is not a worry.
The data and point system
This is where I really had a smile on my face! I love it when you can access graphs and statistics that show you how productive you've been. It acts as a bit of motivation and gamifies the process. There is, of course, the other side of things, where you can be really productive one week and less productive the next. You end up being hard on yourself because you deem yourself as being less productive, when actually you have just had less things to do. That is the way that life is
Every time you complete task, edit a task, or reach a daily goal (which you can set yourself), you get a certain amount of points. This allows you to go up in the ranks, as it were. When you first use the app, you begin as a “novice” and I believe the last rank is “enlightenment,”which is something like 50,000 points. Not only are you getting tasks done, but as you are getting these tasks done, you can see the numbers just ticking up slowly (or sometimes very quickly). These points are particularly good because, as you gain points and do things on the app, it creates a graph on the “browse” section. in this section, you can see the days where you have been most productive, and what types of tasks you have done — according to the categories you have set. So, one day I might do more life admin tasks than writing tasks, for example. To some people that would be really tedious, and a bit geeky, honestly. But I find it really satisfying to be able to see everything I've done over the course of time.
Ever since I have been trying to use the app, I have started raving about it to everybody that I know because I'm excited that this is the first app that seems to click with my brain. To be able to see these statistics and the graphs is really exciting, and I needed to share that excitement.
What happens if you do not complete a task?
Some days you might not be able to complete all the tasks that you have set for yourself. Firstly, that is indication that you are being overly ambitious in your expectations, but sometimes life just happens. The app automatically puts them as overdue tasks for the next day. I quite like the fact that I don't have to do that myself; it just carries over. You can move the tasks to another day if at some point you realise that they're not going to get done — and they will not be noted as overdue, because you have moved them.
Setting yourself goals
As I alluded to above, you can set yourself daily, weekly, and monthly goals. Again, this is not a vital part the app, so if goals are something that are going to get in the way you can also turn these off. You can also set yourself goals of a certain amount of tasks to complete each day, week and month. So, I have my tasks currently set at five tasks per day (which I regularly surpass), and 30 tasks per month (which I also regularly surpass). It is just another piece of data, but is both very useful and satisfying to watch. I will actually be increasing these goals, because I'm currently surpassing them very regularly, and that almost defeats the point of being a goal. But that is another thing that is so great about the app: you can things as and when you need to; there is so much flexibility.
(I even put the fact that I was going to be writing this blog post as a task).
As I mentioned, this app may not be something that works for you, but I wanted to share my excitement, and the fact that I have finally found something that works for me. I obviously hope this app becomes something that is very useful to you — but it is also okay if it is not. Part of life is working out what works for you, and what doesn't.
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