Linear Duck Arrangement? There’s an app for that.
C.E. Grundler
Downsizing can be downright overwhelming, and I’m coming to realize that this is going to go down in phases. Right now I’m getting rid of anything we haven’t used or no longer need — the easy, big stuff like the dining room furniture, knick-knacks, and random inheritances I’ve been gifted with. You know, those things that ‘go way back’ but no one else wants. Somewhere along the line I wound up housing these treasures, but it’s time they got a new home. Still, until the boat is liveable and the house is vacant, I’ll need to keep some furniture and such. Then there’s the boat to-dos. Sell-the-house preps, paperwork, daily life….and last but certainly not least, writing. The only way I’ve found to keep it all straight right now is with lists. I had lists in my phone, in Evernote, in Scrivener, on index cards and Post-its, both real and digital, everywhere. It was working, but bordering on unmanageable. If I was ever going to get my ducks in a row and finish the next book, get the boat done and clear out this house, I had to clear out my head first.
And then, by random chance I discovered Workflowy.
The beauty of this lovely little program is its simplicity — at first glance it seems almost too simple — but that’s what makes it such a pleasure. It organizes the brain clutter. Workflowy is quick, clean, and minimal, yet virtually limitless when it comes to tracking anything and everything you’d want to keep tabs on. It creates nested lists, which sounds as simple on the surface as the program is to use. The true brilliance lies in the infinite, unconstrained possibilities that those list offer. Evernote has grown to become my file cabinet for vast amounts of information — actually a bit too vast. I’ve stored volumes of information there, and while Evernote still remains my most used app, essentially my phone’s extension of my computer — for simple lists and outlines, Workflowy has become my go-to app.
As with Evernote, there’s a free version as well an upgrade to a Pro version, with a few more features, cloud backup and more storage. The free version comes with a decent amount of space, but suspect I’ll need more before long. It’s web and mobile application, which works perfectly for me, and it syncs seamlessly between my macbook and Andriod phone. I have much to do and only so much time to work with, and even less patience for anything that takes too much time to learn or use. This program respects users by not wasting that valuable time. The tutorial videos are easily accessible, straightforward and informative, and the program is so intuitive you can be off to a running start in minutes. You can tag or star anything you’d like, making organizing information absurdly fast and easy, and their blog provides yet more ideas, tricks, and shortcuts.
This responsive little application has become my go-to, not just for the house and boat, but for all chapter outlines, not to mention the next book, which is taking shape as I wrap this one up. Workflowy’s blog promises new features on the horizon that will only increase it’s usefulness. But if you’re a list junkie like me, this minimal yet infinite app might be just what the doctor ordered. Give Workflowy a try — it’s free, (and you’ll get twice the space because I referred you.)
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