What if you could only use ONE APP on your iPhone?

So this is a completely random but fun experiment… but what app would you pick if you could only pick ONE?

I know, I know. It’s an impossible choice. I’d be so torn between several: camera, notes, music, messages, tasks…

And, as nerdy as it sounds, I think I’d pick the app Things. (The to-do list manager.)

Things is not my most used app at all. But… it’s super fast, very easy to use and navigate, and very versatile. I think it’d work as the single spot to keep all my ideas, reminders, projects, tasks, notes, etc.

I think I’d prefer the simplicity and speed over the missing features.

If it was a different device — say iPad or Mac, I’d pick a different app. I’d probably pick Ulysses as the only app I could use on my iPad. And Notion as the only app I could use on my Mac. (Or I would totally cheat and say Safari on Mac.)

What if you could only use ONE APP on your iPhone?

Five alternative things you can do when you’re bored instead of scrolling social media

  • Scroll through your photo timeline and browse past photos and memories.
  • Open Day One (my favorite journaling app) and write down one highlight from your day so far.
  • Write down 3 new ideas in the Notes app.
  • Send a text message to a friend or family member to tell them how awesome they are.
  • Don’t get out your phone at all.
Five alternative things you can do when you’re bored instead of scrolling social media

Boredom is a choice

It’s not so easy to be bored anymore. You have to choose to be bored. Back when I was a kid (ha!) it used to be that boredom chose you — if you were waiting somewhere and there was nothing to do and you were bored. Now, you’re never bored. You can see 9 second videos of some stranger surfing on the other side of the world, or get a live video stream of someone’s hike over Tokyo. This stuff is amazing.

But it means we have to be proactive about our boredom and down time. It means we have to be intentional about creating margin for thought. If 100% of our down time is filled with passive entertainment and bits of information, then when does our mind have a chance to be calm? When do we have a moment to think without needing to think?

Boredom is a choice

A Time Management Myth

Myth: “Taking the time to schedule my time is a waste of time — the schedule never works out perfectly anyway”

This common myth is tricky because there is some truth mixed in with it.

While it’s true that a schedule never works out perfectly (nobody’s does — the mess of real life always plays a factor).

But…

  • With a schedule you’ve got a plan for when you’re going to do work that matters. This means you’re FAR MORE LIKELY to do the most important work in your day.
  • With a schedule you can budget the time you need for other important activities ( family, exercise, rest). And these are HUGE contributors to your overall health and baseline level of happiness.

It’s okay if your schedule doesn’t work out perfectly. In fact, that’s normal. Your schedule is just a blueprint for how you’re hoping to spend your day. It keeps you moving forward and helps you stay proactive instead of reactive with your time. When things come up, take longer or shorter, etc. that’s fine. Just roll with it.

A Time Management Myth

The Mere Urgency Effect

Billy Oppenheimer put together an excellent summary of some pretty alarming findings from this research study. In short, when folks have a task list that is full of various “levels” of to-do items — some that are important, some that aren’t, some that are urgent right now, some that aren’t — folks end up prioritizing only the tasks that are urgent right now but are not very important at all.

(Inside the Focus Course, we have a simple framework for eliminating Urgency Mindset and the Urgency Effect for you and your organization.)

The Mere Urgency Effect

The Power of Goal Setting for Your Business

Goals give you a direction and help you make progress. If you had to stop everything you were doing and could only pursue one goal what would that be?

If your organization is spending time on things that are not important, it will be nearly impossible to maintain motivation for yourself and your team; it will be difficult to find enjoyment within the tensions and pressures of business.

When you can get clear about your goals, you can get clear about the action you need to take. Goals help you and your team move from a passive / reactive state to an intentional and proactive one.

PS: If you’re a business owner, next week I’m hosting a two day intensive for business owners only. Find out more here.

The Power of Goal Setting for Your Business