I really don’t like “push” reminders. When I’m in the middle of doing something and I get a text or a pop-up from my calendar or an app (or both), reminding me that I should be doing something else. . .
Kinda annoying.
Like your dad reminding you to get up and get dressed for school. Or you’re watching your favorite show and your mom barges in and reminds you to finish your homework.
Yeah, that kind of annoying.
I still use reminders, but I’m thinking about turning them off for everything except appointments (and maybe for those, too.)
What’s the alternative? To do what I do every day for all of my tasks:
In the morning (or the night before if I remember to do it–hmmm, maybe I need a reminder for this. . .), I go through my calendar and task list and my projects and decide what I’m going to work on that day, and put this on a “Today” list.
I usually have 3 to 5 items on the list. Today, I have 7 tasks on the list. Some days, I have only one or two.
Once I have my “Today” list, I close up everything else and keep that one list in front of me. Keeping it visible is the only reminder I need. If I go out, I have that list available to me on my phone.
If I finish my list and I want to do more, my “next” list is always nearby, but not in front of me.
One list, no distractions or interruptions.
It’s a digital version of what I used to do in my law practice with file folders. I’d make a stack of what I needed to work on that day, start at the top and work my way through it.
I also had a desk calendar to see the day’s appointments.
No annoying reminders.
Yes, my secretary would remind me if I forgot something, but only if I forgot something (which I usually didn’t).
As I write this, I think I’ve convinced myself to turn off reminders.
And with that, I’m off for another cup of coffee. No reminder necessary.
