I'm Getting Divorced
... from Google Tasks
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The closest relationship I’ve had to a legal marriage is the one I had with Google Tasks (GT).
It started as a whirlwind romance…from the moment I laid eyes on that Tasks tab in my Google Calendar, I was hooked. GT got me to commit in a way I never had before; I was no longer interested in trying the next new thing. I only had eyes for GT.
We went through many seasons together, GT and I. We made it through the highs and lows of business ownership, job changes, unemployment, and task management temptation. We were stronger than ever.
Then, something happened.
In my youth (approx 1.5 years ago), all I needed was a simple task manager that integrated with one Google account. But as I got older (by 1.5 years), my needs changed.
I tried to make it work as best I could. We went to couples counseling (Zapier.com), and I tried to convince myself that we could still hold on to what we once had. Maybe things will get easier?
But the truth was undeniable… I had changed. Neither of us were to blame.
I felt overwhelmed, scattered, and disorganized… a Type C brain’s worst nightmare! I couldn’t fight for this relationship anymore. We were no longer compatible. I needed to move on.
Now obviously, changing task management software is a lot less serious (and less expensive) than getting a divorce. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.
Some people love trying new software to the point where developing a consistent system feels impossible. Others are resistant to new technologies even when their current ones don’t work for them anymore.
I find myself teetering between both camps.
Like me, your reaction to change may depend on what triggered it, or whether or not that change feels contained.
For example, if you have to change your process because you got a new job, all that newness may cause anxiety. You may crave the comfort of some old systems of support. However, if you discover a platform that looks new and interesting, change may feel exciting and welcomed.
How I know I’ve found THE ONE…
The subtitle is a little misleading because I don’t really believe in “the one” (i.e. there is just one person software soulmate out there for everyone). I think you can find compatibility and fall in love with a lot of different platforms.
I’ve been raving about Google Tasks for such a long time. It’s been a staple in my systems toolkit for over a year and a half (which is huge for a software hopper like me!). I love its simplicity. The fact that I can check off tasks from my calendar. The overall aesthetic. But a couple months ago my workflows got too complex for Google Tasks.
One of the things I tell prospective clients is that I’m tech agnostic. I have some personal favorite technologies that I use/have used but I know they don’t work for everyone. In some cases they stop working for me too!
How I can tell when I’m with my software version of “the one” for right now:
It aligns with my values: Clarity, Quality, and Accessibility
It aligns with my needs: Simple, Low Cost, and Intuitive
It aligns with my wants: Automation, Customization, and Integration
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Tab 1. Dashboard: A summary of your monthly and yearly subscriptions, including how much they're costing you
Tab 2. Needs / Wants / Values: Your software shopping list
Tab 3. Monthly Subscriptions: A list of your monthly subscriptions, why you have them, and if they align with your software shopping list
Tab 4. Yearly Subscriptions: A list of your annual subscriptions, why you have them, and if they align with your software shopping list
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Goodbye, Google Tasks — Hello, TickTick
If you attended my Just Enough session with Slow + Steady in May, you heard me say I recently started using Todoist as a task manager in place of Google Tasks. Well, that’s changed! lol. I just started using TickTick and I think it’s going to be my task management home for a while.
(P.S. Just because I no longer use a software I recommended, doesn’t mean I don’t like it or that I didn’t mean what I said when I said it; I just found something better suited for my needs, and that’s ok! 😘)
The TickTick feature that won me over is that I can easily re-create my Chill Prioritization Matrix, saving me a whole lotta time drawing every day!
Peace, love and “GT, we can still be friends,”
Andrea
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My name is Andrea (On-Dray-Uh) Reeves (she/her), I’m the founder and systems strategist behind Type C Creative.
I’m a biracial, Black, aroace woman with ADHD and OCD. I’m an unapologetically atypical human who runs my own business on vibes, values, and good systems that meet me where I am.
I work with fellow neurodivergent, queer, and creative solopreneurs who are ready to find simpler, more compassionate and intuitive ways of running their businesses.