REVIEW: productivity apps

Productivity
I’ve used way too many productivity apps in the past, and none of them really stuck with me. Here are some:

• Trello: organizing by cards.
  Good: easy to switch around tasks
  Bad: didn’t keep a good track of completed tasks, UI sometimes glitchy
  Conclusion: no longer use - other apps are better

• Flora: focus timer - if you go on other apps, you’ll kill a tree
  Good: for focusing
  Bad: only mobile, sometimes I need to go on other apps that aren’t entertainment but it locks me out
  Conclusion: no longer use - other apps are better (use Pomodoro instead)

• Todoist
  Good: good UI with to-do list
  Bad: cannot keep track of tasks, once completed it disappears
  Conclusion: no longer use - other apps are better (use Minimalist instead)

• Old school planner
  Good: very pretty layout
  Bad: hefty to carry around, weird to carry to school and take it out every time, bad at switching tasks around
  Conclusion: no longer use - other apps are better (use Minimalist instead)

• Google Doc To-Do List
  Good: simple and effective, kind of like Minimalist, it’s good for when you need to quickly whip out a to-do list
  Bad: it’s boring and gets glitchy if too many entries
  Conclusion: no longer use - other apps are better (use Minimalist instead)

• Pomodoro timer (w/ music)
  Good: good time blocks
  Bad: cannot keep track of tasks
  Conclusion: use when need to effectively time-block for a long task

• Minimalist
  Good: good for making dispensible lists like grocery list
  Bad: exactly same reason as good - it gets rid of all that you have completed, cannot time-block
  Conclusion: use when need to quickly whip out a to-do list for a project or the next day, like a rough draft

• Notion
  Good: for everything. I still like using this one for taking notes
  Bad: it’s really, really comprehensive, and sometimes it gets overwhelming.
  Conclusion: use when need to organize notes or need to brain dump convoluted projects

QUALITIES OF A GOOD PLANNER

• Effective, easy time-blocking
• Easy to create tasks
• Can organize tasks according to categories like “school”, “math”, “relax”
• Can view previously completed tasks to be proud of progress
• Be interesting in UI
• Preferably on computer, but can sync across mobile so it’s not hefty to carry around
• Be able to easily plan ahead
• Doesn’t get glitchy if too many