26 Comments
User's avatar
Katie McCarthy's avatar

To Do List apps and productivity tools are sooo not minimalist. They all come with a learning curve and far more functionality than I need. I have a small notebook and Google sheets + calendar; they do the trick with minimal fuss.

Anfernee's avatar

Yes. Always go for whatever suits us best.

Process > tools

Alberto Cabas Vidani's avatar

I could never survive with only Google sheets and a calendar. I choose a good enough app and ignore the useless bells and whistles

Anfernee's avatar

Definitely, which is why everyone should stick to whatever works for them.

Jamie Northrup's avatar

Love this Anfernee, going to share in my newsletter tomorrow :)

Anfernee's avatar

Thanks 🙏🏻

Alberto Cabas Vidani's avatar

Minimalism for me is starting to look like the panacea.

Keeping things decluttered may be the harder aspects. The behaviors that led to decluttering have to be inverted.

For example, we often have the itch to try new tools. I think allowing a limited time each week or month to this kind of exploration is the healthiest option.

Anfernee's avatar

Totally agree for people who has that itch. Better satisfy that itch than to deprive it!

NEMM Design's avatar

I’m working on it 😉

Anfernee's avatar

Great! Tell me more about it! Write in a post!

NEMM Design's avatar

Yes that’s a great idea! Well, I’m getting back to using Notion and systemizing everything, like posts, design process, daily life, etc…

Angelina Radulovic's avatar

Great article.

It’s really challenging to find all-in-one tools for small businesses - and we often end up paying multiple subscriptions for services that can’t integrate each other.

In my 5-9 I’m trying to streamline my workflow and avoid “shiny object syndrome” because I love tech and enjoy trying different tools.

Anfernee's avatar

Thanks. 🙏🏻

Yes it is an issue all of us have. This is because while we are always trying to find that perfect tool, that perfect tool doesn’t exist.

Ramon Salinas's avatar

Absolutely great recommendations.

If I may add one more, for Apple users, take advantage of the Focus feature.

It automatically silences notifications during meetings, focused sessions, etc. You set it up in one device and syncs to all.

I have it schedule to be in Work Focus from 8am to 11am every day.

Zero distractions while I work on my most important tasks of the day, during my best cognitive hours of the day 😊

Anfernee's avatar

Yes Focus mode has been a life changer for me as well!

I also have it to change the app that I can see on my 📱

Lee Drozak's avatar

Love all of this. I think I may be the only person who uses their phone as a phone only.

Anfernee's avatar

Wow this is God mode of productivity!

Break Free From the Internet's avatar

Minimalism in this sense is the only way. Clear the clutter, see the light.

Anfernee's avatar

What we don’t see, can’t distract us 💪🏻

Xinran Ma's avatar

I was reading this newsletter and kept thinking of Cal Newport, then I saw his quote :)

What's your favorite tip/tool for digital minimalism, Anfernee?

Anfernee's avatar

For me, I use Notion (just ONE app) for everything work and personal life. Ideation, content writing, planning, production, you name it.

This helps me to focus and stay on Notion and get things done.

Xinran Ma's avatar

Got it. I'm pretty much the same. I put a lot of things on Notion, but probably not as organized as yours.

Anfernee's avatar

🤣🤣🤣

No I’m not. Haha

But my Notion has everything and I can use AI to search. So I’m safe.

Kathleen Thorne RN, LMT's avatar

The timing of your article is NOT coincidental.

Started on Substack a few months ago, hurricanes and medical issues happened, back in the saddle again. Was thinking yesterday of apps that I don’t need anymore that need to be deleted off my iPhone and tablet. Publications and other things I’m signed up for that won’t serve the purpose of what I need them for. Too much redundancy have to scale back.

So today that’s what I started doing and getting more organized!

Thanks Anfernee!

Anfernee's avatar

Thanks 🙏🏻

Glad this article help

Kathleen Thorne RN, LMT's avatar

Very much so and perfect timing! ⏳