Just Use Apple Notes.

Shree Nadkarni
23 Oct 202210:58

Summary

TLDRThis video script emphasizes the importance of consistency in note-taking for productivity. The speaker shares their experience of jumping between apps like Evernote, Obsidian, and Notion, only to realize that sticking to one app, in their case Apple Notes, is more effective. They argue that changing apps frequently is akin to moving houses frequently, which is unproductive. The speaker highlights Apple Notes' simplicity, cross-device syncing, and user-friendly features, suggesting it as a solid starting point for a note-taking system. The script also touches on the psychological aspects of decision fatigue and the importance of taking action with the tools we have, rather than endlessly seeking the perfect app.

Takeaways

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Sticking to one note-taking app can improve productivity rather than constantly switching between apps.
  • ๐Ÿ  Changing apps frequently is akin to moving house frequently, which is disruptive and unproductive.
  • ๐Ÿ“š Apple Notes was the speaker's choice due to its availability across all Apple devices and even on Windows via iCloud.
  • ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Starting with a simple note-taking system is crucial, as complex systems designed from scratch often fail.
  • ๐Ÿ‘Ÿ The speaker initially used a single 'things to do' note and later categorized tasks into 'life buckets' and 'interests'.
  • ๐Ÿ”— Consistency is key in forming a habit; the speaker used the same note-taking system for 30 days without changing it.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Switching apps can lead to decision fatigue and loss of productivity due to the learning curve and potential data loss.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Apple Notes offers user-friendly features like syncing across devices, voice input with Siri, and document scanning with OCR.
  • ๐Ÿ‘ฅ Collaboration is facilitated with Apple Notes' ability to share notes with family and friends.
  • ๐Ÿ“ Taking action by consolidating tasks into one app can reduce stress and improve focus on actionable items.
  • โฐ Productivity apps are tools to help decide and act on what matters, rather than just a means to list tasks.

Q & A

  • What was the speaker's initial approach to productivity apps and how did it affect them?

    -The speaker initially jumped around from one note-taking app to another, such as Evernote, Obsidian, and Notion, hoping that changing apps would make them more productive. However, this approach resulted in spending time watching tutorials and not actually becoming more productive.

  • What comparison did the speaker make to illustrate the inefficiency of frequently changing productivity apps?

    -The speaker compared changing productivity apps to moving from house to house every few weeks, which is impractical and unhelpful for becoming more productive.

  • Why did the speaker's parents often get mad at them when growing up?

    -The speaker's parents got mad at them for forgetting things easily, as their brain was like a sieve and forgot information readily.

  • What did the speaker realize they needed to change about themselves before using note-taking apps effectively?

    -The speaker realized that they needed to change their approach and stick to one note-taking app in order to use it properly and effectively.

  • What is the Paradox of Choice and how does it relate to choosing a note-taking app?

    -The Paradox of Choice, as explained by psychologist Barry Schwartz, is the idea that having too many options makes choosing difficult, and choosing well becomes even harder. This relates to choosing a note-taking app because with so many options available, it's challenging to decide which one to use.

  • Why did the speaker eventually choose Apple Notes as their note-taking app?

    -The speaker chose Apple Notes because it was the default choice on all their Apple devices, eliminating the need to migrate notes. Additionally, it was available on their Windows desktop through iCloud.com, making it accessible on all systems.

  • What principle did the speaker refer to when explaining the importance of starting with a simple note-taking system?

    -The speaker referred to the principle that a complex system that works is usually evolved from a simple system that works, as stated by John Gall. This principle emphasizes the importance of starting with a simple system to build upon.

  • How did the speaker initially organize their notes in Apple Notes?

    -Initially, the speaker had one note called 'things to do' where they put everything, including tasks, blogs, podcasts, movies, videos, articles, and emails. Later, they realized they could split the content into categories like 'tasks', 'life buckets', and 'interests'.

  • What is the significance of using a note-taking system for 30 days without changing it?

    -Using a note-taking system for 30 days without changing it is significant because it allows the speaker to form a habit. This period is crucial for understanding what works and what doesn't in the workflow.

  • What does the speaker suggest is the cost of switching apps frequently?

    -The speaker suggests that the cost of switching apps frequently includes the loss of productivity due to learning curves, potential loss of data, and decision fatigue, which deteriorates the quality of decisions.

  • What feature of Apple Notes does the speaker find particularly useful for work and school?

    -The speaker finds the ability to scan documents and upload them to Dropbox directly from Apple Notes particularly useful for work and school, as it is quick and the scanned documents are searchable due to OCR text.

  • Why does the speaker recommend using Apple Notes for note-taking?

    -The speaker recommends Apple Notes for its user-friendly features, seamless syncing across devices, use of Siri for hands-free note-taking, and the ability to share notes for collaboration. It also allows for actionable tasks and reduces stress by focusing on life rather than deadlines.

  • What is the main takeaway from the video according to the speaker?

    -The main takeaway from the video is that the cost of switching apps is high and focusing on actionable tasks rather than the app itself will lead to a more fulfilling life and easier task completion.

  • What action does the speaker suggest the viewer take immediately after watching the video?

    -The speaker suggests that the viewer should open their notes app right away and start taking stock of all the tasks they have to do, as taking action is the first step to getting control over one's tasks.

Outlines

00:00

๐Ÿ“’ The Struggle with Note-Taking Apps

The speaker reflects on their past productivity issues, particularly the mistake of frequently switching between different note-taking apps like Evernote, Obsidian, and Notion. They likened the inefficiency of this habit to moving houses frequently and emphasize the importance of settling on one app to build a productive routine. The speaker also discusses their personal struggle with forgetfulness and the need for a consistent note-taking system. They advocate for Apple Notes as a simple, effective solution that integrates seamlessly across all Apple devices and is even accessible on Windows via iCloud, thus eliminating the need for constant app migration and simplifying the digital workspace.

05:01

๐Ÿ”„ The High Cost of Switching Productivity Apps

The speaker delves into the downsides of frequently changing productivity apps, drawing a parallel to decision fatigue as described by Greg McKeown in his book 'Essentialism'. They explain how the process of adapting to new interfaces and features can be cumbersome and time-consuming, leading to a loss of productivity. The speaker shares their personal experience of confusion and lack of accomplishment when using both Evernote and Todoist simultaneously, highlighting the importance of consistency in choosing and sticking with a single productivity tool. They also touch on the Paradox of Choice, a concept by psychologist Barry Schwartz, which suggests that having too many options can make the decision-making process more difficult and lead to poorer choices.

10:02

๐ŸŽ Embracing Apple Notes for Simplicity and Efficiency

The speaker extols the virtues of Apple Notes as a user-friendly and comprehensive note-taking app that meets all their needs. They appreciate its seamless synchronization across multiple devices, its reliability, and the convenience of features like voice dictation via Siri and quick note-taking through the Command Center. The ability to scan documents with OCR and share notes for collaboration is also highlighted as beneficial for both work and personal use. The speaker contrasts the simplicity and effectiveness of Apple Notes with the complexity and inefficiency of trying to manage multiple apps. They reference David Allen's 'Getting Things Done' philosophy, advocating for action and value addition over mere task management, and suggest that Apple Notes facilitates this approach by helping to transform thoughts into actionable tasks.

๐Ÿƒโ€โ™‚๏ธ Taking Action with Apple Notes

The speaker encourages immediate action by consolidating all tasks into the Apple Notes app, which serves as a central repository for organizing and managing responsibilities. They stress the importance of taking control of one's tasks and life by being mindful of time and focusing on actionable items rather than getting lost in the complexity of productivity tools. The speaker also emphasizes the significance of Viktor Frankl's existential philosophy from 'Man's Search for Meaning', which underlines the importance of making conscious decisions about one's life and existence. The video concludes with a call to action, urging viewers to start simplifying their productivity systems with Apple Notes and to prioritize meaningful tasks over the pursuit of perfect tools.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กProductivity

Productivity refers to the efficiency with which an individual or system performs tasks or produces goods and services. In the video's context, it is the central theme as the speaker discusses the impact of using different note-taking apps on their personal productivity. The speaker initially believed changing apps would increase productivity but later realized that consistency and sticking to one app is more beneficial.

๐Ÿ’กNote-taking apps

Note-taking apps are software applications designed to facilitate the creation, organization, and storage of notes. The script mentions several apps such as Evernote, Obsidian, Notion, and Apple Notes. The speaker's journey through different apps illustrates the trial and error process in finding the most effective tool for their productivity needs.

๐Ÿ’กApple Notes

Apple Notes is a note-taking app developed by Apple Inc. for its ecosystem of devices, including Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iWatch. The speaker endorses Apple Notes as a simple and effective solution for all note-taking needs, highlighting its seamless synchronization across devices and user-friendly features as key advantages.

๐Ÿ’กParadox of Choice

The Paradox of Choice is a psychological concept that suggests having too many options can lead to decision fatigue and reduced satisfaction. In the script, it is mentioned by Barry Schwartz to explain the difficulty in choosing a note-taking app amidst a plethora of choices, which can hinder the decision-making process.

๐Ÿ’กDecision fatigue

Decision fatigue is the phenomenon where the quality of decisions deteriorates as the number of choices we are forced to make increases. The speaker cites Greg McKeon's book 'Essentialism' to explain how frequently switching apps can lead to decision fatigue, impacting productivity negatively.

๐Ÿ’กDigital workspace

A digital workspace refers to a virtual environment where individuals can access tools, applications, and files to perform their work. The script compares changing note-taking apps to moving from house to house, emphasizing the disruptive nature of frequent changes in one's digital workspace.

๐Ÿ’กSimplicity

Simplicity in the context of the video refers to the straightforwardness and ease of use of a system or tool. The speaker argues that a simple note-taking system is foundational for building more complex productivity workflows, as suggested by John Gall's principle that complex systems that work well evolve from simpler systems.

๐Ÿ’กHabit formation

Habit formation is the process of developing a routine behavior that eventually becomes automatic. The speaker emphasizes the importance of using a consistent note-taking system for a set period, such as 30 days, to form a habit, which is crucial for effective productivity.

๐Ÿ’กActionable tasks

Actionable tasks are specific, concrete actions that can be taken to achieve a goal or complete a project. The speaker advises using Apple Notes to write down tasks in a way that makes them actionable, which means they can be directly acted upon in a realistic amount of time.

๐Ÿ’กMindfulness

Mindfulness in the video refers to being aware and attentive to one's actions and decisions. The speaker suggests that productivity apps should not just be about figuring out what needs to be done but also about making mindful choices about what one chooses to do, as explained by Viktor Frankel in 'Man's Search for Meaning'.

๐Ÿ’กOCR (Optical Character Recognition)

OCR is a technology that converts various types of documents, usually scanned documents, into editable and searchable data. The speaker mentions this feature of Apple Notes as an underutilized yet valuable tool for scanning documents and making them searchable, which aids in productivity.

Highlights

The speaker suggests sticking to one note-taking app for productivity rather than constantly switching between apps.

Switching note-taking apps is compared to moving houses frequently, which is inefficient and unproductive.

The speaker's personal experience with Apple Notes as a default and effective note-taking app across all Apple devices.

The importance of starting with a simple note-taking system to build upon, as advocated by John Gall.

The speaker's initial method of organizing notes into broad categories like 'things to do', 'life buckets', and 'interests'.

The significance of using a note-taking system for 30 days without changing it to form a habit.

The cost of switching apps includes decision fatigue and potential loss of productivity.

The recommendation to avoid switching apps frequently to maintain consistency and reduce stress.

The advantages of Apple Notes' user-friendly features, such as seamless syncing and voice commands.

The underutilized feature of Apple Notes to scan documents and make them searchable with OCR text.

The ability to share notes in Apple Notes for collaboration with family and friends.

The principle that productivity apps should help with actionable tasks rather than just organizing to-dos.

The advice to take action by consolidating tasks in one app to reduce stress and increase focus.

The notion that productivity is about choosing what to do, inspired by Viktor Frankl's 'Man's Search for Meaning'.

The final call to action for viewers to start using their notes app immediately to take control of their tasks.

The emphasis on being mindful of how we work and the importance of not wasting time with unnecessary app switching.

The conclusion that focusing on actionable tasks and not the app itself leads to a more fulfilling and productive life.

Transcripts

play00:00

if I could go back in time and change

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one thing about what I was doing for

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productivity it would be to stick to one

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note-taking app instead I jumped around

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from app to app I went to Evernote to

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obsidian to notion and I thought that if

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I just changed my app I would become

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more productive however the opposite

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happened I was stuck watching tutorials

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on how to get started on notion for

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three plus years before it finally got

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to me that I needed to stick to one

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note-taking app in order to become more

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productive think about it like this if

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you're changing an app you're also

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changing your digital workspace it's

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like if you were moving from house to

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house every few weeks it doesn't make

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sense and it's definitely not helping

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you become more productive whatever that

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means growing up my parents always used

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to get mad at me for forgetting things

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my brain was kind of like a sieve and it

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forgot information really easily so I

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knew I needed a note-taking system to

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help me get on my my feet but before I

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did that I didn't realize that I needed

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to change something about myself in

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order to use those note-taking apps

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properly in this video I want to explain

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to you that Apple notes is the app that

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you should be using for all your

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note-taking needs and how it can help

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you in the long run

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when you're first starting it can be

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daunting to choose a note-taking app

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what app are you going to choose largely

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this is dictated by the Paradox of

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choice as Barry Schwartz a psychologist

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from Swarthmore College explains

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learning to choose is hard learning to

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choose well is harder and learning to

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choose well in a world of unlimited

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possibilities is harder still perhaps

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too hard the good part about Apple notes

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was for me it was the default choice on

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all of my devices I use the Apple

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ecosystem so I had the Mac the iPhone

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the iPad and the iWatch so I didn't

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really need to migrate any of my notes

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anywhere to top it all off you can even

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use Apple notes on your Windows desktop

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on icloud.com so I really didn't need to

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switch because it was available on all

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of my devices anytime that I needed it

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any system which starts up has to be

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simple or else no other complexity can

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be built on top of it the same goes for

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your note-taking system as John Gall a

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pediatrician in the 20th Century who had

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a side hustle for studying how systems

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function as a whole had this to say

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about simple systems a complex system

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that works is invariably found to have

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evolved from a simple system that works

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the inverse proposition also appears to

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be true a complex system designed from

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scratch never works and cannot be made

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to work if you're trying to add multiple

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apps to a productivity system it's never

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going to work if it's too complex you're

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never actually going to do it seeing

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others with a complex workflow may feel

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like you need to have a complex workflow

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as well to keep up with them however

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this can't be further from the truth if

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I was to get the same shoes car and

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lifestyle that LeBron James has I

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wouldn't be LeBron James for the simple

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fact that I can't do what LeBron does on

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the court and off the court in the same

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way that he does it the way that I

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organize my notes when I was starting

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out was that I had one note called

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things to do and based on that note I

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put everything in it everything that I

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was consuming everything that I needed

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to do when on that particular note all

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of the blogs the podcasts the movies the

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videos the articles that I needed to

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read my work emails my personal emails

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everything went into that note then

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after looking at it again I realized

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that they split into categories it went

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my tasks so I put that in things to do

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then I made two other notes called life

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buckets and interests and I put the

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things that were relevant to my health

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or productivity or car payments or

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anything that needed to go around my

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life in the life buckets note and then

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in the interest note I put all of the

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things that I wanted to do but I have

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never gotten around so all of the things

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that I was going to read I put into the

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interest bucket so things that were

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areas that I needed to do more research

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on for example if I was interested in

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the productivity system for note-taking

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I would put an article that I had read

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from Ali abdal or someone else into that

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particular note then I used this note

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taking system for 30 days and this was

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the most important part I did it without

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changing or without editing this

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workflow this is what I needed to form a

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habit you don't need to do exactly what

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I did but you need to have one place

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where you're capturing everything in

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order to then delegate and make

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complexity along with the simple tactic

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that you used at the beginning in order

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to truly make a very formidable

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productivity system principle 2 don't

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shift around like I said before

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switching apps comes at a cost it's like

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moving from one place to another it's

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not easy and you're probably going to

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lose some things along the way also when

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you're coming to a new app you're

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probably dealing with an unfamiliar

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interface and new buttons that you're

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gonna have to adjust to when you need to

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add tasks or remove tasks so it makes it

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very hard to switch this comes to a head

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when people are forced to choose a

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productivity app there's so many that

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it's hard to choose so you look at your

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favorite productivity Guru and you you

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choose what he's using until the next

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video when he comes out with another app

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and a few weeks later you want to switch

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to that one but knowing what I've just

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told you that comes at a cost and this

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cost is readily apparent when you go

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through the new app and you're not able

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to find any of the things that you need

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to in your previous app and you just saw

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it in defeat saying that it's not for

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you as author Greg McKeon explains in

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his book essentialism psychologists call

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this decision fatigue the more choices

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we are forced to make the more the

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quality of our decisions deteriorates

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switching apps comes with a cost of

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losing features that you loved in the

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previous app and porting over to the new

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app and straddling the two trying to

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keep features that you love from both

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and this breeds indecision about which

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app you're going to continue to use in

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the future this happened to me when I

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was using Evernote and todoist in the

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same month and I couldn't remember where

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I put my tasks on my list in todoist or

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my list in Evernote and needless to say

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I got nothing done that month because I

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didn't know where my tasks were so I

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didn't know what I needed to complete

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principle three why Apple notes I like

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Apple notes because of its user-friendly

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features and it does everything that you

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needed to do out of a note-taking app I

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needed to sync between many different

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devices from my phone to my laptop to my

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tablet and my watch and it does that

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seamlessly without me even thinking

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about it I've never had it once crash on

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me in all of my time using it and I've

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been using it for over two years I can

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also use Siri to jot down a quick note

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while I'm driving riding my bike or even

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taking a shower I can use Command Center

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to write down a quick note when I'm

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thinking by pulling down Command Center

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hitting the quick note button and just

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jotting down my thoughts one of the best

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and underutilized features of Apple

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notes is the ability to scan documents

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and then later upload them to Dropbox

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this has been a lifesaver for work in

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school because I'm able to quickly scan

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a document and then upload it to my

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Dropbox and send it to whoever I need to

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just with a tap of a button and also

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it's searchable because it has OCR text

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attached to it Apple notes also allows

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me to share my notes to family and

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friends so that we can collaborate this

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has been especially useful when I'm

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trying to plan trips with them in order

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to update them in real time on things

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that we need to pack Apple notes has

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everything you want in a note-taking app

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and it's really helpful for me because

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it helps me write down my tasks into

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something actionable because then I can

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act on it and do it in a realistic

play07:45

amount of time rather than just spending

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time organizing my to-do's which I did

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with all of the other apps that I had

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David Allen in his legendary book

play07:54

getting things done write this use your

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mind to think about things rather than

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think of them you want to be adding

play08:01

value as you think about projects and

play08:03

people not simply reminding yourselves

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they exist you are the captain of your

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own ship the more you act from that

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perspective the better things will go

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for you understanding that our approach

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to productivity may be different than

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others is important I'm not suggest

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suggesting that you have to use Apple

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notes but it is a good starting point if

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you're looking for something simple and

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effective principle 4 take action now I

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want you to open your notes app right

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now and start taking stock of all of the

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tasks that you have to do this may seem

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hard because your life is spread across

play08:36

all different apps but taking action is

play08:38

the first step to getting that under

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control this step will be really

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informative because it'll allow you to

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take steps on the things that matter and

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forget about the things that you don't

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want to remember writing things down and

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taking it out of your brain and into

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Apple notes will be really beneficial

play08:53

because you know that you can just

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search Apple notes to remember the

play08:56

things you do and it'll lower your

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Baseline levels of stress remembering

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that you need to do something but you

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don't actually remember what the task is

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that you need to do then separate all

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your tasks after this day what went well

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what went bad and remember if you just

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don't want to keep some of the items you

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can always delete it the cool thing

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about this is that you don't need to tag

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or put into organizing folders you can

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just copy and paste text wherever you

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want to put them if you want to make

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another note with all of your tasks that

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are for a specific project you can do

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that and you don't need to worry about

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color coding or adjusting text or

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anything it's all the same text because

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it's Apple notes the most important

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thing that we need to realize is that

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productivity apps are not just a way

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that we figure out what we need to do

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but it's about what we choose to do as

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Viktor Frankel explains in his novel man

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search for meaning man does not simply

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exist but always decide what his

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existence will be what he will become in

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the next moment live as if you are

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living the second time and acted as

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wrongly the first time as you are about

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to act now if we're not being mindful of

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the way we work then we're going to be a

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slave to our task if we don't take

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action now then we're always going to be

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pushing off the things we want to do to

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later

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time is the best resource that we have

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and productivity apps are just a vessel

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if you're not being mindful of your time

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then you're just going to waste it and

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it's not going to work out for you my

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solution for this was Apple notes

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because it allowed me to focus on my

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life and not the never-ending stress and

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deadlines that come from school or work

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if there's one thing that you take away

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from this video it's that the cost of

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switching apps is tremendous and just

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focusing on actionable tasks and not the

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app itself will make your life much more

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fulfilling and your tasks much easier to

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complete thanks for watching the video

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if you're interested in more content

play10:48

here's a video of me living like Ali

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abdal for a week thanks again and see

play10:53

you in the next one

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Related Tags
Productivity TipsNote-Taking AppsApple NotesTask ManagementDigital WorkflowDecision FatigueHabit FormationSimplicity PrincipleActionable TasksTime Management