As an avid problem solver, I find joy in discovering and implementing my own solutions. One persistent challenge has been finding the perfect notetaking and task management app that truly meets my needs.
Let me tell you about my frustrating journey to find the right app for keeping track of my thoughts and to-dos.
I've tried most of the apps available readily.
Google Keep seemed okay at first.
Microsoft To-Do looked promising.
Trello was great for big projects, but too complicated for daily use.
Then I discovered Obsidian, which looked amazing but felt like trying to use a rocket ship just to drive to the grocery store.
...
What do I really want? Something super simple.
I need an app that:
- Opens quickly
- Let's me add notes in seconds
- Doesn't require a manual to understand
- Works like I think
Imagine a digital notebook that just... works.
No fancy bells and whistles. Just a clean, fast way to capture ideas, tasks, and random thoughts.
My dream app would be like a best friend for my brain. Always ready, never complicated. Just pure, simple note-taking that feels natural.
Currently, MS Notepad has become my go-to solution. Its simplicity is its strength:
Note Taking:
I have simple and straightforward approach to note-taking.
- I use bullet points to capture information
- I document everything, including details from images
- For images I can't describe, I take screenshots and add reference names
- Notepad's infinite writing space eliminates concerns about structure or formatting
- Windows 11's Co-Pilot integration adds extra functionality
- I use it for work notes, class notes, internet discoveries, and link storage
The beauty is in the simplicity. No fancy apps, no complicated systems. Just pure, unfiltered information capture.
To-Do Management:
- I plan tasks using a weekly sprint approach (Monday to Friday)
- I use an emoji-based status tracking system
It sometimes requires only the simplest tools to achieve the most effective output. By leveraging Notepad's basic functionality and creating a personalized system, I've developed a flexible, no-frills method of managing tasks and notes that works perfectly for my workflow.
Of course, it's quite hard to manage the notes and file. But I put them in designated folders on my drive and computer so that I can find them easily. It does take time, but once the effort is put, I can easily segregate the file and retrieve them when needed at ease.