Note: Since posting this article years ago, I have since moved on to the task manager, Clickup, which I think hands down is the best task manager for those who want advance features that go well beyond traditional linear lists of tasks. Here’s my review of ClickUp.
Hi Bakari,
I’m sold on Dragon Dictate. I think I’m going to purchase it today. I’m an American living in Sydney Australia so I don’t know ifI can still get deals through amazon.I’ve been looking around you site. I wish I had found it years ago. You use all the apps I own (and many more). Well done.I’ve been using Omnifocus for a couple years now, but it almost seems overkill to me. I noticed you use 2Do. How do they compare? Are you happy with it? I’m assuming you can use it both on a Mac and an iPhone?
Enter Informant
Other Useful Features
Beside the week and current day views of tasks, I especially like that Informant includes the ability to create event and task templates.
For example, my “Doctor’s appointment” task template includes the title of the task (“Call and make doctor’s appointment), two custom alarms, a color code, and an icon for the task. When I use the template all I have to do is apply the date, and everything else is already set. I have a similar template for setting a doctor’s appointment event.
Since I make changes to tasks and events in mainly the Mac version of Informant, I like how easy it is to right-click on a task and defer the date.
The week and day views of tasks and events is also very convenient, especially on the iOS version of Informant. I like how easy it is to check off completed tasks, and to always see what the rest of my week looks like.
How I Use Informant
One of the lessons I learned from using 2Do is to not use my task manager as a tool for brainstorming tasks, lists, and ideas. I did that a lot in 2Do and after a while the application became cluttered with content that distracted me from the real tasks I needed to get done.
I especially use Informant for recurring events and tasks, as well as tasks that are truly time sensitive.
On the other hand, I use Wunderlist for brainstorming lists of tasks, ideas, and step-by-step workflows that are not tied to dates and times.
Informant also of course includes project folders that can be set to handle parallel, sequential, and single actions, just like in Omnifocus.
I’m still not as good about using Informant as a project manager, mainly because I have difficulty focusing on projects as a list of tasks to complete. Wunderlist works better for me in regards to planning out projects. It’s even easier in Wunderlist to hit the return key and input a new task instead of having a new task window pop up like it does in Informant. In working with projects, I do create related time sensitive tasks in Informant.
Your Task Management?
The above is a fairly long response to the Ask Mac Automator question, but it gave me the opportunity to write about an application that I find very useful, and that I recommend for Mac and iOS users trying to decide which task management application they should use.
I’ve shared my preference, but let’s hear about yours. What management system do you use and why? Are there features missing in your chosen task management system that you would like to see added? And also, are you using Mac automation hacks or actions with your task management system? If so, let us know about them.
I use TaskPaper and an Alfred Workflow that I wrote to automate the daily creation of repeated tasks. I also have a menu view of my task list in BitBar. I use Keyboard Maestro to launch the task builder command I have in Alfred when I log in. The system uses several pieces, but is very flexible and convenient for me.
Hi Richard, thanks for sharing your setup. I’ve never seen TaskPaper. I just peaked at it, and I like how it has a clean, clutter-free user interface. BitBar is also new to me. I’ll need to download and check it out. And as for Keyboard Maestro, you’re definitely on track with it. It’s really great when Mac automators know how to map actions between programs to save clicking and other manual actions.
Definitely keep in touch. Glad to have you as a reader of my site. I welcome your feedback anytime.
Found another neat one: NotePlan (http://noteplan.co/). It like combining TaskPaper with a Calendar.
Awe, thanks for sharing this one. I’ll check it out.
I would recommend SkedPal which I wrote about here – https://medium.com/@fwade/the-evergreen-guide-to-choosing-your-next-task-management-app-5e4ad21212af It’s now available on the Apple platform.
Thanks, Francis, for sharing this. I’ll check it out.