My productivity app is a never-ending .txt file (2020)
A long-running thread of productivity hackers argues that a plain text file, sometimes paired with a calendar, can rival or outperform complex task managers for organizing work and life. Many emphasize the power of planning the next day the night before and the psychological benefit of “offloading” tasks into a simple, always-available log, whether in Notepad, Vim, Obsidian, Org-mode, or paper. Others point out limits—like search, structure, or sync—and conclude that the real differentiator is not the app but a low-friction workflow that matches one’s own habits and level of discipline.
Planning and managing the day
- Many agree that planning tomorrow the night before is powerful, especially when calendar items are copied into a list.
- Several managers note that Slack, email, and meetings quickly derail plans; strategies include:
- Checking email/Slack only at fixed times.
- Guarding mornings for deep work and delaying chat apps until late morning.
- Handling certain topics only on specific days.
- Some say this works mainly when you control your own schedule; interrupt-driven roles make fixed plans less useful.
Appeal of a single text file
- Strong enthusiasm for an append-only text log as a “backup brain”: extremely low friction, always available, fully under the user’s control.
- Benefits cited:
- Fast capture and editing in familiar editors.
- Simple search (grep, ripgrep).
- No lock‑in or corruption risk compared to proprietary databases.
- Easy to carry across jobs and decades.
Limitations and workarounds
- Critics note the calendar is doing “heavy lifting” for time-bound tasks; the title is seen as understating that dependency.
- Problems raised:
- Tasks and notes get buried; hard to surface what matters “today.”
- Big monolithic files can get slow or unwieldy, especially with plugins or complex tooling.
- Workarounds:
- Per-day, per-week, or per-project files; sometimes auto-created by scripts.
- Using git for history, backup, and the freedom to delete aggressively.
- Separating “today/this week/backlog” or “todo vs someday/maybe” lists.
Alternative tools and ecosystems
- Many use markdown-based apps (Obsidian, Logseq, org-mode, Joplin, custom CLIs) to add light structure, backlinks, queries, and sync while staying text-based.
- Others prefer specialized task apps (Todoist, Things, Asana) for recurring tasks, reminders, and mobile capture.
- Some point out that highly customizable tools can become time sinks or feel overwhelming.
Paper-based and hybrid approaches
- Several prefer pen-and-paper (steno pads, bullet journals, Rocketbook) for planning and idea capture, citing better memory and calmer thinking.
- Common hybrid pattern: text file or notes app for searchable archive; calendar for time-sensitive events; paper for daily focus.
Discipline, psychology, and fit
- Repeated theme: tool choice matters less than discipline and self-knowledge.
- Simple systems reduce “activation energy,” but some find any formal list anxiety-inducing or obsessive.
- Several emphasize it’s acceptable—and often necessary—to drop or never complete many logged tasks.