In a world where technology is increasingly conspiring to steal our focus and attention, my goal is to teach you how to be more productive with Apple technology. I want to help you achieve what is most important to you and enjoy your life at the same time using technology instead of becoming another one of its victims. Pretty much everything I make points at that North Star. I believe in this message so much that I’ve staked my livelihood on it.
Constraints-Based Software
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Hello friend, I recently read Dr. Drang’s post, which explained a new workflow he’s trying to sort out with the text editor Tot, a beautiful little app that’s perfect for tracking just a few notes. Towards the bottom of his post he explains why he’s not using Drafts: I was worried that my notes would get lost in its infinitude ...Tot’s limitations impose a discipline that will (I hope) have me going through my dictated notes and clearing them out frequently. There is a trend for users to adopt a constraints-based approach to productivity tools. Dr. Drang isn’t alone. I’ve been feeling the pull, and I’ve heard from many readers who are doing the same. For so many years, productivity software was … well … terrible. However, as Apple built more robust APIs, cloud sync got easier, and many people (from small to large teams) began creating quality software. Apple’s own productivity apps, so long a subject of scorn, also became workable options. Now, folks are noticing that the most powerful option isn’t the only workable option. Indeed, sometimes less is more. So now there is some pushback against feature-rich software. People are choosing well-made software with less to simplify. Indeed, I’ve considered this myself in some cases. For most of us, the most powerful tools are not necessary. That wasn’t true fifteen years ago because the only tools that worked back then were the most powerful. I don’t know if this is just a breathing point where we’re all going to stop and sit a moment before artificial intelligence features arrive and the deck gets shuffled again but, like Dr. Drang, I find myself considering less powerful software in favor of simpler software that can still get the job done. P.S. All that said, I’m still using Drafts. :) LifeHQ: Run Your Life with Obsidian (Sponsor)Mike Schmitz has been hard at work designing an Obsidian Vault with all the tools you need to get your act together. It’s called LifeHQ and you can get it now. With LifeHQ, you get an epic done-for-you Obsidian vault with pre-configured values-based PKM workflows. It’s based on Mike’s PKM Stack framework for aligning information, ideas, and action with your vision and values to help you do more of what matters and get more value out of your PKM system. It incorporates Mike’s LifeTheme and Personal Retreat frameworks to help align all levels of your PKM Stack so you can do more of what matters. There is documentation for all the workflows with detailed instructions and annotated screenshots that explain exactly how each workflow is built so you can customize and make them your own. It also includes a library of 100 of Mike’s personal mind map book notes and an entire values-based productivity and creativity curriculum. (Mike wrote over 60,000 words.) Not only is the system already built for you, it’s in Obsidian, so you can adjust it to your needs. Mike Schmitz is the perfect person to make this product. You can get LifeHQ now. |
David Sparks (MacSparky)
In a world where technology is increasingly conspiring to steal our focus and attention, my goal is to teach you how to be more productive with Apple technology. I want to help you achieve what is most important to you and enjoy your life at the same time using technology instead of becoming another one of its victims. Pretty much everything I make points at that North Star. I believe in this message so much that I’ve staked my livelihood on it.
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