Are You A Serial App Changer?

Constant changing is a productivity killer

Do you find you are constantly changing the apps you use? Are you always on the lookout for something else? Something better? Did you know that this could actually be harming your efficiency?

Changing apps constantly could actually KILL your productivity.

I’ll tell you why.

There are literally tons of applications and services available, all vying for your attention to download and use, offering a panacea to high productivity.

Many of them are very good, but there are also quite a few that don’t cut the mustard!

As you are being wooed, through great marketing, a brilliant website, and lots of promises, no doubt you’ll be tempted to download them and give them a try. And maybe, in some cases, this will be OK.

BUT, if you’re already using a particular tool, and you’re happy with it, then why change?

The grass is not always greener

You know and understand the app that you use day in, and day out, and you already have your workflow and processes set up.

When you change to a different app you will, without question, reduce your efficiency as you need to learn new ways of working. You need to build it into your processes and this takes time and effort. Time and effort that could be spent elsewhere. Why take a chance on slowing down your productivity, when what you have works well for you?

You’ll have built muscle memory for the apps you’ve been using, and this takes time to adjust.

For an example, let’s take a task manager.

I use Todoist daily, every day, without fail. I create new tasks, I have repeating tasks all with reminders, some with notes.

• I have notifications set up to prompt me when a task needs doing.
• I have projects setup, with tags and filters all in place.
• I know the shortcuts to use on my MacBook, making it quick and easy to add a task.
• I have connected Todoist with my email client (in this case Spark Mail), so I can easily add emails to my list of tasks.

My workflow is in place and I’m using it, as far as I’m concerned, efficiently.

Now, let’s say I’m intrigued by another app, and decide to take a closer look. Give it a proper assessment.

In order to do this, I need to learn the functionality.

So, I download the app and create a new account and login. Now, in all fairness, many apps allow you to import from other places, so getting my existing tasks into the new app should be quite straight-forward, assuming that it can be done.

Hopefully, I might have found that it’s possible in the marketing blurb I’ve read.

However, that’s just one part of the jigsaw.

Next I need to replicate the projects, add tags and, if possible, create the filters that I want.

This all takes time.

Then, I discover that I can’t actually integrate the app with my email client.

I can forward emails to the task manager, but not integrate directly!

In short; I’ve spent time and effort setting up an app.

• I’ve spent time learning how to use it.
• I’ve spent time evaluating how it works for me.

The outcome? I really wish I hadn’t. I’ve wasted time and energy making a change, for changes sake. There has been no significant benefit. In fact, no benefit at all.

Now, I accept this may seem extreme; but this sort of thing happens all the time.

Let’s take Notion as an example. It’s loved and revered by many. It seemed to be all things, and maybe it is.

But not for me.

I don’t have the time, or inclination, to delve into the many available functions. There’s too much in it, and it needs time; a lot of time, to get to grips with it. What’s more, the task management feature isn’t fully-fledged, and so doesn’t meet my needs.

Don’t get me wrong, I did spend some time looking at Notion.

I’ve been happy using Drafts. I use Todoist with recurring tasks. I have my workflow set up how I like it.

Now, never say never. And if Notion, or another app, comes along and offers EVERYTHING that I need, then I’ll take another look.

My point is, why upset the apple-cart? Why waste time learning new features and functions unless they give a material benefit?

Build a process. Use the apps for the purpose they’re designed and make the most of each one.

I should add that I have been a long time user of Evernote — whilst it’s the ‘old dog’ on the block, it is consistent. I’ve been using it since 2011. All my old notes are still there. However… Evernote lost their shine. It became sluggish, and sometimes unusable. I needed to find something that wasn’t going to slow me down.

I looked at Drafts as an alternative, and liked what I saw. I could incorporate it into my workflow quite easily.

In fact, over time, Drafts has become even more useful.

Of course, there will be genuine times when you need to change apps. The one you’re using is about to disappear! Hopefully not! Or, you genuinely have trouble using it. That has happened to me, when a previous email client was causing continual problems.

I moved to Spark Mail and have been happy ever since. Although, admittedly, changing email clients is much easier than changing a note-taking app or task manager; or any other app that requires set up and integration into a workflow.

Conclusion

My advice, for what it’s worth? Change apps as a last resort; unless you have time available to evaluate and risk your work flow.

Changing apps will slow you down and reduce your effectiveness and efficiency, at least, in the short-term; at worst, you’ll have to spend time changing back again.

If you have a routine / workflow in place, and it works for you, then don’t change it.

You know the adage; if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it?

This is the same thing.

Stick with what you know.

Thank you for reading

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