Today we’re talking task mastery. As if there were such a thing. I love task lists. I make them. I lose them. I start new ones. I write things on them I’ve already done just so I can check them off. I get bored with them and drop off the map for extended periods of time. It’s a problem!
I know they work. I’ve tried nearly every type of memo pad, post-it, and app known to woman. All work if used all don’t if not used. Some fit life at one stage and then don’t if something in life changes. I’ve been using one app for about four years on and off and it’s the one I keep coming back to so I’ll explain what I love, like, dislike and hate about it. Read on and then drop me a line on what you use and why.
For me it’s all about Todoist. I was torn between the very simple Google Keep until Google screwed that all up with Google Home’s lack of Keep integration. *If you’re in try an app stage give Keep a try. It’s free and will get you started on the path of app tasking. If you want to be able to hollar out additions to your list while you’re elbow deep in a sink full of dishes skip Keep and read on.
My dad got me a Echo Dot for Christmas over a year ago. I used it a little and could see the benefit but I’m a Google gal so I wanted to see what Google could do so I got me one of those too. Put them side by side on the outskirts of my kitchen which is where nearly everything in my house happens when you are not in the office infront of a computer. This was awesome. We’d pit them against each other and see which gave use the best info. Bottom line – it’s a tie. They are both totally awesome and totally horrible depending on the request. However Amazon just completely won my heart!
When I first got the Google Home one of the first things I wanted to use it for was adding tasks and items to my grocery list. For like a week this was possible with Keep and as I said before Google F’d this up. They removed the Keep integration and replaced it it with a web based list that can’t be accessed in the middle of freaking Walmart where the connection is terrible. This left me having to screen shot my grocery list before entering the store and not being able to check off items. In addition adding tasks was a nightmare and basically completely unrealistic. Every time you wanted to add a task to Todoist you’d have to say “Hey Google, let me talk to Todoisit” wait for a response and have something that felt like a never ending conversation to get a task added. I just got to the point where I didn’t use the grocery list at all and only used my Todoist for work tasks when on my computer.
My renewal for Todoist came due (I use the paid version – there is a free one) and I had to really contemplate if I wanted to renew. I have recurring tasks for each of my “real job” clients, have lists for blog ideas, books to read, and a multitude of other things neatly organized on there. Not sure I want to lose that stuff but if I rarely use it for what I wanted to use it for is it worth it????? One last ditch effort to find a way to talk to it research began. And bam, I discovered Amazon’s Alexa has a skill for that.
Wait? What? Alexa can do this too? OMG yes she can and sooooooo much better. All I had to do was enable the skill on both and HALLELUJAH I’m hollering out items to add to my “shopping list” in my kitchen while I’m cooking and they are added to my “shopping list” on Todoist and Amazon. Tasks are just as easy to add. Now I just have to retrain my brain to do what it wanted to do nearly two years ago and I’ll be set.
Oh and as far as how it works in the store. AMAZEBALLS y’all. Install Todoist on the phone and use the widget to put whatever list you want on your home screens. I have my “next 7 days” task list on my main home screen and my “shopping list” on my second page. A tap tap and tasks or items and complete and moved off the list. Easy breezy.
If you’re tired of feeling scattered, having lists all over the place or only in your head thing about giving Todoist a try. If you don’t have Alexsa you can still open the app on your phone and use voice commands to add stuff. It’s just a little extra step but very doable.
Apps for tasks takes some major getting used to. I won’t lie. But once you get the hang of it, it can be really awesome. I’m still getting used to it four years later but I use it more than not now and a lot has changed in that four years – technologically (is that a word??)
By the way, I get no discounts or other kickbacks for writing this. Todoist does have a kickback but you’d have to give me your email address and then I’d have to “share” Todoist with you and then if you bought the paid version I’d get two months added to my annual subscription. One, it’s pretty cheep already and two, that’s a lot of trouble within the confines of a blog post so it’s not worth that to me. Therefore this post is just totally from the heart of a task master wannabe.
