We’re all busy people. Between work, life, finances, and children (don’t know about that last one first-hand yet), prioritizing our time can be especially frustrating. In this distraction-laden world, we need something to keep our focus on one task. With so many options out there, it can be difficult to know what productivity tools are really worth our time.
I’m a Mac guy, so naturally I searched for Mac software that could manage my busy schedule. I’ve tried Lifeshaker, ToDoIst (not just for Mac), and now Things for Mac. All of these applications have their pros and cons, but I have to say that Things fits my lifestyle the best and really helps me manage all of my tasks – as well as my finances.
GTD Methodology
I’d like to discuss a few of the features of Things that really caught my attention and led me to buy the software. First, Things uses the Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology. This process intends that we collect tasks, organize them (by area of responsibility and by due date), and focus on those areas of responsibility to get them done (similar to Dave Ramsey’s concept of focused intensity).
Hense, within the Things application there is an inbox to collect tasks as they come to mind, a “today” list for things we want to get done today, a “next” list for things we have planned to do, a “scheduled” list for things that you want to do regularly (repeated tasks) or things that have a due date, a “someday” list for things you want to get to someday, and a “projects” list for things that might take a long time to complete or have several parts.
Things for Mac also has the ability to assign areas of responsibility. For myself, I have five areas: Home, Finance, Online (The Christian Dollar), Health, and Work (day job). Areas of responsibility help me focus on one area of my life at a time, ensuring that there are no distractions from other areas. When I’m working on home chores, that’s all!
Syncing Capabilities
Things is really a full-fledged productivity tool with its synchronization capabilities. I can sync Things for iPhone with Things for Mac, so if I have a task pop into my head on the go, I can put it on my iPhone and have it show up on my Mac when I get home. Things currently syncs via WiFi, and is very quick in doing so. Launching the application on both devices allows an instantaneous sync.
Things is now available for iPad, but you know I haven’t tested that out yet.
Tags and Other “Things”
Things for Mac also includes the ability to set tags on your tasks, so if you want to include how long it will take to complete a task, you can do so! Then, you can use the Things Search feature to sort your tasks by how long it will take you to get the activity accomplished.
For the manager inside of you, you can delegate tasks to other people. Now that’s productivity! Include various people in your Things list and tell them what to do (or ask politely, it’s your call).
Dock badges help you see how many things you have left to complete, which can be a real motivator. I recommend keeping this feature on so that you can feel the rush of exhilaration when you get something done.
5 Stars out of 5 Stars
Things is great. I love Things! Truly, if you have a Mac, I recommend buying this application. For those of us who are more financially-minded, Things provides a great way of keeping track of bills, due dates, and everyday life.
You can buy a single license for $45.95 (at the time of this posting). I recommend you do so! You’ll become more productive by being able to focus on one “thing” at a time.
! John wrote two articles for the book: "Budgeting for Groceries" and "How Grocery Stores Work."
{ 2 trackbacks }