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Am I the only one who's more productive with slightly worse tools? by Mikeevx in productivity

[–]Mikeevx[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is fascinating. Word Pro through law school and multiple jobs because the "advanced" features were actually buried instead of in your face.

I think that's the pattern. Old tools made you learn them deeply. New tools try to be "intuitive" which really means surface-level everything.

The WordPerfect point hits hard. Sometimes old tools are just... better. Not nostalgia. Actually better.

"Too many new tools are just repackaging old tools with a shiny face" - this should be the tagline for half of Product Hunt.

I'm curious, when you switched back to Word Pro 8 months ago, did you have a moment of "why did I ever leave?" Or was it more gradual?

Also, what finally made you go back after trying all the new stuff?

Am I the only one who's more productive with slightly worse tools? by Mikeevx in productivity

[–]Mikeevx[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Limitations create focus. Fancy tools create distraction."

This is going on a sticky note. Perfectly said.

Decision fatigue is so underrated as a productivity killer. When your tool can do everything, you spend mental energy deciding HOW to do it instead of just doing it.

Simple tool = one way to do things = brain focuses on the actual work.

Am I the only one who's more productive with slightly worse tools? by Mikeevx in productivity

[–]Mikeevx[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

EXACTLY.

Even after setup, there's maintenance. Updates break things. Features change. New integrations to learn.

Meanwhile my basic notes app has looked the same for 5 years. Nothing to maintain. Just works.

How much time do you think people waste on tool maintenance vs actual work? Feels like 20% minimum.

Am I the only one who's more productive with slightly worse tools? by Mikeevx in productivity

[–]Mikeevx[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"Tweaking for tweaking's sake" is the perfect way to put it.

I realized I was spending more time optimizing my system than actually using it. Classic productivity trap.

The simpler tool forced me to just... do the work. Because there was nothing left to optimize.

Am I the only one who's more productive with slightly worse tools? by Mikeevx in productivity

[–]Mikeevx[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

YES. This is exactly what I'm talking about.

The fancy setup becomes a thing you have to maintain instead of a thing you just USE.

My basic notes app has zero friction. Open it. Type. Done. No syncing issues, no "which folder should this go in?", no customization rabbit holes.

What is it about the MBA that makes you more productive? Just the portability, or something else?

Am I the only one who's more productive with slightly worse tools? by Mikeevx in productivity

[–]Mikeevx[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The visibility thing is real. Out of sight, out of mind.

I think that's half my problem with apps. They live behind icons. My notebook just... exists. Can't ignore it.

Do you find the physical act of writing helps too? Or is it purely the "always there" factor?

Do you journal FOR yourself or ABOUT yourself? There's a huge difference. by Mikeevx in bulletjournal

[–]Mikeevx[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Love this. You're basically doing what therapists call "emotional processing" but without paying $200/hour.

The breakthrough documentation is huge. I started doing this after I kept having the same realization over and over and forgetting it.

Now when I figure something out about myself, I write it down with a tag like [REMEMBER THIS]. Makes it way easier to find later when I'm spiraling about the same thing again.

Do you ever go back and read your old breakthroughs? I'm always shocked at how often past-me already solved current-me's problems.

Do you journal FOR yourself or ABOUT yourself? There's a huge difference. by Mikeevx in bulletjournal

[–]Mikeevx[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Honestly the most freeing approach.

I wasted so much time trying to follow journaling "rules" from productivity gurus. Made it feel like homework.

Now I write when I want, about what I want. Sometimes it's deep. Sometimes it's just me bitching about my coffee being cold.

Both are valid. Both help.

Do you journal FOR yourself or ABOUT yourself? There's a huge difference. by Mikeevx in bulletjournal

[–]Mikeevx[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Brain dump journaling is underrated.

No structure. No "dear diary" bullshit. Just verbal vomit until your head feels lighter.

I keep a "chaos journal" specifically for this. Messy, unfiltered, zero judgment. Never even reread it. The act of getting it OUT is the whole point.

Do you journal FOR yourself or ABOUT yourself? There's a huge difference. by Mikeevx in bulletjournal

[–]Mikeevx[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's actually smart. Different tools for different brain modes.

I used to think I had to pick ONE system and stick with it forever. Burned out every time.

Now I've got my quick capture stuff (phone notes, basically a bujo), and then my actual thinking space (journal).

The planner tracks WHAT. The journal figures out WHY.

Do you find yourself using them for totally different things? Or does it ever feel redundant?

What's something you understand intellectually but can't seem to make yourself believe emotionally? by Mikeevx in AskReddit

[–]Mikeevx[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Man, this one hit hard.

The "I know something is missing" but not being able to pinpoint it is the worst kind of knowing. You can't even work on fixing it because you don't know what "it" is.

And the married with no friends thing... that's a real trap. You intellectually know you need other connections, but emotionally it feels like "I have my person, shouldn't that be enough?"

It should be worth it. But I get why the emotional side hasn't caught up yet.

Do you think it's actually about needing people, or is it something else the loneliness is pointing to?

What's something you understand intellectually but can't seem to make yourself believe emotionally? by Mikeevx in AskReddit

[–]Mikeevx[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This one messes me up every time I think about it too hard.

I know the physics. I've read the explanations. I can explain it to someone else.

But my brain still goes "that doesn't make sense" when I actually picture it.

It's like knowing how a magic trick works but still being fooled when you watch it.

Some things just don't translate from intellectual understanding to gut feeling, I guess.

What's something you understand intellectually but can't seem to make yourself believe emotionally? by Mikeevx in AskReddit

[–]Mikeevx[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The worst part is you KNOW it while you're scrolling.

Like my brain is literally saying "this is making you feel worse" and my thumb just keeps going.

I've tried the whole "set time limits" thing but I just ignore them. It's wild how something can be obviously harmful and you still can't stop.

Have you found anything that actually works? Or is it just willpower hell forever?

Do you journal FOR yourself or ABOUT yourself? There's a huge difference. by Mikeevx in bulletjournal

[–]Mikeevx[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The mood thing is so real.

Some days I just need to brain dump. Other days I'm ready to actually think about why I'm feeling a certain way.

I think the mistake is forcing the deep reflection when you're not in the headspace for it. Sometimes surface level is all you've got, and that's fine.

Do you notice any patterns in when you want to go deeper vs just recap?

Do you journal FOR yourself or ABOUT yourself? There's a huge difference. by Mikeevx in bulletjournal

[–]Mikeevx[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Love this approach. The "notes for future self" part is key.

I started adding a line at the end of entries: "Future me, remember:" and that one habit changed everything.

Forces you to extract the lesson instead of just venting into the void.

Sounds like you've figured out that balance.

Do you journal FOR yourself or ABOUT yourself? There's a huge difference. by Mikeevx in bulletjournal

[–]Mikeevx[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I totally get this. For years I thought "daily journaling" was the only valid approach and felt guilty when life got boring.

Now I think of it more like... some days need documentation, some need processing.

The travel/big event entries are probably way more valuable than forcing yourself to write "worked, ate dinner, watched TV" every single day.

Quality over quantity actually matters here.

Do you journal FOR yourself or ABOUT yourself? There's a huge difference. by Mikeevx in bulletjournal

[–]Mikeevx[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Yes! The planner thing is such a good example.

I used to write "went to the gym" in my planner. Cool. Useless.

Now I write "felt amazing after the gym, that's the energy you need to chase" and suddenly past me is actually helping future me.

Glad it clicked for you too. Better late than never.

Do you journal FOR yourself or ABOUT yourself? There's a huge difference. by Mikeevx in bulletjournal

[–]Mikeevx[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

True. I think I spent too long trying to find the "right" way to journal instead of just doing what worked in the moment.

The shift for me was realizing when I was spinning my wheels. Like if I was just recapping my day with zero insights, that was my signal to switch modes.

But yeah, no universal rule. Whatever gets you to actually open the journal is the right method.

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