Pick whatever you want…

I’ve suddenly had a lot more free time in my life… and no longer have to follow company restrictions about data protection. It’s been a psychologically strange journey, taking some time to unwind and think about what I want to do now, and how I want to do it.

While I could use Things again, and experimented with it for a bit, and I could use Bear or build out something in Obsidian, I’m finding a lot of comfort with a slightly more simple toolset that works well across all my devices:

Reminders for literal reminders and to-dos. This can be the simple reminders about when the trash needs to go out etc, which often is reminding my son to take the cat litter, or it may be projects or ideas I want to work on in the short term.

Apple Notes

One thing that’s changed is I’m not keeping on it as a someday / maybe list, or all the possible steps for a project, instead I’ve been keeping that in notes. So, for instance, instead of a Reminders / Things / Omnifocus Project with

• Research deck coating
• Research deck prep
• Purchase deck sealant and cleaner
• Purchase rollers
• Power Wash Deck
• etc .

I’ve got a note going with deck stain shades we like, notes and ideas around what brands I might want to buy etc. I won’t drag that into reminders until I’m getting ready to commit – and honestly, I don’t need to run that as a checklist as much as make time in the day to go get the supplies, to do the prep based on the weather etc.

I’m also journaling in apple notes, with a little shortcut that automatically adds the date and time and puts it in the journal folder.

I can still do slick things, like have links between notes to make a little wiki for the family with insurance info, key contact information etc, and lock those notes.

Overall, I’m trying to remove a little friction and be more in the moment.