The Best Ever Solution for Your Cluttered To-Do List
If you're anything like me, you'll get gung-ho about a new product or app you downloaded, use it for a few weeks, and then find yourself deleting it to make room for more photos on your iPhone storage because your camera won't work. For some people, it could be a mobile game like Among Us! that was hyped up and lost its steam. For others, it's the Fantasy Sports app you downloaded so you could set your line up and make it to the playoffs for once. For me, it's productivity and to-do list apps.
With so many to-do list apps out there, it is super difficult to figure out which one works best for you. How unproductive! Most of these apps, while packed with so many features, have clunky interfaces and cost more than what I want to pay. Let me introduce you to my favorite productivity app for 2022: MinimaList.
MinimaList takes after its name well. Behind its simple interface lies a powerful app that will boost your productivity. Here are the reasons why I recommend downloading this app today.
MinimaList follows through and delivers a beautiful, minimal experience.
A clean, distraction-free interface is important–especially for a productivity app. I never want a to-do list app that makes me play an ad to function. I want to open it up when I first sit at my desk, write down the things I need to do, and then conquer my workday.
Visually, MinimaList delivers a beautiful, minimal experience. It features a blank white background anchored by an elegant sans-serif typeface. It sprinkles clean, simple icons throughout the app, as well. Its visual design doesn’t take away from the purpose of the app: productivity.
Beyond the visual side, it’s super easy to use! To manage your tasks, MinimaList utilizes a few simple gestures. You pull down to add a task or reminder. Swipe right after you finish that task. Swipe left to delete a task. Double-tap to edit. That’s it.
If you are easy to please, that is all you will need to track your tasks and reminders. But if you’re nerdy like me and need more than that…
You’ll get premium features without a premium cost.
When you peel back the mask of simplicity, you’ll find out how powerful this app is. With the FREE version of MinimaList you have some powerful tools at your disposal.
Manage tasks and to-do list
Reminders
Focus Mode: Pomodoro timer and more (I’ll touch on this in a second)
Create a widget for your home screen
If you are looking to use the app to its full potential, here’s the good news. The premium features cost as much as ONE of your fancy morning latte. That $6 per year buys you:
Time and location-based reminders
Cloud/Device Sync
Calendar Sync
Multiple and shared lists
Custom themes — change colors, font, etc.
Face/Touch ID
SO MUCH MORE!
Now, if you don’t care about any of that, ignore it. Because my favorite feature does not require an in-app purchase.
You cannot use this app without using Focus Mode.
As a creative professional, I spend a lot of my time knocking out designs, writing scripts, planning shoots, and so much more. When you sign up for a creative field you are bound to be juggling a lot of different tasks.
The one thing that has changed the way I work is the Pomodoro technique. This is where you decide on a specific task to work on, set a timer, and take a short break when the timer is up. This approach allows you to work in concentrated intervals and minimize interruptions in your focus.
MinimaList uses this technique by default in its Focus Mode. I love this because I used to use several apps for a Pomodoro timer, a to-do list, and a reminder. MinimaList creates a perfect all-in-one solution while adding some classy touches.
While your Pomodoro timer is on, it pulls up some short prompts at the bottom of the screen to motivate you. It even has a prompt that tells others to stay away from you (which I love). You also have the option to add different background sounds if you’re into that.
Once your timer is up, it sets a 5-minute timer for you to take a break, which is pivotal in Pomodoro. These breaks help you
How do I use this app in my daily life?
I’m glad you asked! Since I primarily use MinimaList for work and in the office, I’ll share how I implement this app into my workflow. I hope some of these tips elevate your daily rhythms and routines.
Create your list at the beginning of the workday.
The moment you arrive at your desk, take 10-15 minutes to start thinking through your day and the tasks that need to be done. Write down these tasks on a sheet of paper or a journal. Doing this will help you tackle your day knowing what to expect. It will also help you avoid external asks that may derail your productivity. Once you’ve done this, you can move on to prioritization.
Prioritize your tasks.
Prioritization of your tasks is important. You don’t want to just knock out your to-do list, you want to tackle the tasks with the highest priority, making you more effective. While MinimaList gives you an option to prioritize tasks as you create them, I actually take a different approach.
A couple of years ago, my good friend taught me about the Eisenhower matrix, a time management strategy that helps you navigate the constant tension between what is important and what is urgent.
The Eisenhower matrix separates your tasks into four categories (or quadrants): Do, Decide, Delegate, Delete.
These four categories help you determine what you need to do now, schedule another time, delegate to someone else, or completely remove it because it’s a distraction. Within MinimaList, I separate my tasks into these quadrants using the multiple list/cards function. Once I have done that, I jump into my “Do” list and start tackling my tasks using Focus Mode.
For more on the Eisenhower matrix, this quick video explains it perfectly.
Take advantage of Focus Mode.
Pomodoro might be funny to say, but it will help you tackle your tasks seriously. Working this way has made me a lot more effective in my work and it pushes me to rest in between each concentrated interval. That’s a huge deal if you’re like me because sometimes my co-workers have to force me to take a break and eat lunch.
Office Tip: I like to have this up on my iPad or my computer monitor because it signals to everyone in my office that I don’t want to be bothered.
Track your stats at the end of the day or week.
Crossing a task off of my list isn’t enough for me. At the end of the week, I like to track my stats through MinimaList. The built-in stats feature gives me an objective snapshot of my productivity and helps me see where I need to grow. What good is a productivity app if it doesn’t give you insight and help you get better?!
That, my friends, is why MinimaList is my favorite app right now! If you have a productivity app that you love, share it in the comments! I’d love to take a look. Either way, I hope this post has been helpful in some way. Now go! Create and change the world!
