Stop Using 20 Apps for Productivity — Here’s What Really Works

## Stop Using 20 Apps for Productivity — Here's What Really Works (Because Less Bullshit, More Doing) Alright, let's be honest. We've all been there. Drowning in a sea of productivity apps, each promising to unlock some mythical super-human efficiency. You've got Todoist, TickTick, Asana, Notion, Trello, Obsidian, Evernote, and a whole freakin' alphabet soup of acronyms designed to make you *think* you're productive, when really, you're just endlessly configuring dashboards and watching YouTube tutorials on GTD. Stop. Just. Stop. You're not gonna magically become Elon Musk because you downloaded the latest shiny task manager. Productivity isn't about the *number* of apps you use. It's about the *effectiveness* of the ones you actually *use*. And guess what? You probably only need, like, three. Maybe four if you're feeling fancy. Here's the brutal truth: Most of these apps are just glorified digital to-do lists with bells and whistles. Bells and whistles that distract you, overwhelm you, and ultimately, prevent you from actually getting shit done. So, what *actually* works? Glad you asked. Here's my no-bullshit breakdown: 1. A Solid Task Manager (Just ONE, You Hoarder): Look, I don't care if you're a Todoist devotee, an Asana aficionado, or still rocking a paper planner from 1987 (kudos to you, by the way). The point is to pick ONE system and STICK WITH IT. Don't bounce between apps every other week searching for the holy grail of task management. You won't find it. Personally, I use Todoist. It's less suck and do the job. Boom. Done. No endless features, no overwhelming options. Just tasks, deadlines, and the sweet, sweet feeling of checking things off. Pro Tip: Master the basics. Learn to create projects, prioritize tasks, and set realistic deadlines. Ignore the fancy features you'll never use. 2. A Reliable Note-Taking App (Seriously, Enough With the Zettlekasten): We've all fallen prey to the allure of elaborate note-taking systems promising to connect every thought to every other thought in a web of intellectual enlightenment. Yeah, right. You're just gonna end up with a digital hoard of half-baked ideas and a crippling fear of actually writing anything. I keep it simple with Bear. It's It's less suck and do the job. I use it for everything from jotting down meeting notes to brainstorming blog post ideas. Pro Tip: Don't obsess over organization. Just capture your thoughts. You can always sort them out later. The important thing is to get them out of your head and into a place you can actually access them. 3. A Calendar (Duh): This one's a no-brainer. But are you *actually* using your calendar effectively? Don't just schedule meetings. Block out time for focused work, exercise, and even downtime. Treat those appointments as sacred. I use Google calendar. It's less suck and do the job. Pro Tip: Time-blocking is your friend. Schedule everything, even the seemingly mundane tasks. It forces you to be realistic about how much time you actually have and helps prevent you from overcommitting. Bonus: Focus Mode (The Real MVP): Okay, this isn't exactly an app, but it's arguably the most important tool in my productivity arsenal. Whether you're using Forest, Freedom, or just the built-in Do Not Disturb mode on your phone, learn to shut out distractions. This is non-negotiable. Pro Tip: Experiment with different focus techniques. The Pomodoro Technique, the Eisenhower Matrix, whatever works for you. Just find a system that helps you stay focused and stick to it. The Bottom Line: Stop chasing the latest and greatest productivity apps. They're not going to magically make you more productive. Pick a few essential tools, master them, and focus on the actual *work*. Now go forth and get shit done. And for the love of God, unsubscribe from those productivity guru newsletters. You'll thank me later.