👋 Hello!
This is issue #53 of Taskflow Tuesday, where I share 3 things that can help you to get digitally organized so that you can spend more time on what truly matters.
🗂️ 1. A Simple System for Capturing Ideas
If your brain’s anything like mine, you get ideas at the most random times: mid-shower, at a red light, halfway through doing the dishes.
If we don’t write them down IMMEDIATELY, we could lose them forever.
Here’s a quick system I use to capture and sort ideas so I don’t lose them (or hoard them uselessly):
📥 Step 1: Pick a default inbox
No matter what the idea is about, you know where it will go.
I use Todoist for Tasks and Notion for Notes and Ideas.
When a thought hits, I know exactly where to put it.
🏷️ Step 2: Label it
At the top of the note:
💡 Idea
📋 Task
✍️ Writing thought
🗓 Project
🤔 Unsorted (for brain dumps)
🔂 Step 3: Review 1–2x per week
Sort into real action steps, projects, or delete.
The goal isn’t to take action on everything - it’s to know that what matters won’t get lost.
“But David? What about those mid-shower ideas you were talking about?”
I use this waterproof notepad that sticks to the shower wall and writes perfectly. It’s crazy, amazing, a bit nerdy, and it’s a lifesaver.
Thanks Austin Kleon for the recommendation!
📲 2. Dumbify Your iPhone (without any dumb phone apps)
There’s a lesser-known feature called Assistive Access Mode that lets you lock your iPhone into a stripped-down, minimal interface.
It was designed for cognitive accessibility - but if you’re trying to go hard core mode in reducing distractions, it’s extremely effective.
What it does:
Limits the apps you can access
Removes widgets, Control Center, and Safari
Makes your phone feel quiet again
Harder to override on impulse
You can customize a home screen with just messages, maps, camera, and notes - whatever you actually need.
Let me know if you try it out!
Here’s a quick walkthrough on how to set it up.
📚 3. Ted Gioia’s “The Anti-Tech Canon”
I stumbled on this list by Ted Gioia.
“My reading list for reviving human values in today's digital desert and liberating yourself from tech overreach”
“Here are 30 books from outside the Silicon Valley echo chamber. They critique tech from a humanistic standpoint. The goal here isn’t destroying or denouncing technology. We just want to put it to good use—for the benefit of its users. These works are the best guides I’ve found for achieving this.”
I expected most of them to be written recently. They weren’t.
He includes thinkers like William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, and Frank Herbert.
That surprised me but it also reminded me: this isn’t a new problem. It’s just louder now.
Technology reshaping society? This has been happening for centuries.
I’d add two books to the list:
🧙♂️ The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien - uses powerful imagery and themes to discuss tech in an under-the-surface sort of way.
📔 Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport - a super practical book about how to engage with new tech in the modern world.
Gioia’s list is definitely worth checking out!
Want to work together?
👋 When you’re ready, here are 2 ways I can help you:
⚡️ Join The Taskflow Blueprint
A 4-week reset to help you build better habits, plan your ideal week, and create a system that works for your life.
If you book a discovery call, we’ll chat for 15 minutes, identify where you’re stuck, and I’ll give you 1–2 actionable takeaways you can implement right away.
That’s all for now! Have a great day. 👊🏼
David
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Coolio. I use a similar system. Apple notes with PARA system. Notion /monday for project management and content. Dummy phone is a nice trick ;)