There are endless blog posts about the latest to-do apps and systems. My goal is not to proclaim from the rooftops that I’ve found the secret to daily planning success but to share some thoughts on a few options that I have found very rewarding.

I have a constant struggle with Analog vs Digital; it perturbs me how much I think about this. I’ve given up worrying about which type of system it is, and I do what feels right and what keeps me on track. And, if that system brings a little joy to the process, even better.

I’ve been a Things app user for years now and love it. It’s quick and easy on all my devices and syncs well. It’s always on my desktop at home as a gentle reminder to keep me on track for the day. My problem with it is planning my week or my day. Things is an ever-growing constant list that mostly sits stagnant, and I have little interaction with it on a daily basis. I’ve tried building my day in calendar apps, and that works, but they don’t stay open. I close them at some point, and the day aimlessly drifts off down rabbit holes. One requirement I’ve found is that the day planner must always be visible.

When planning my week and day, I was missing something and wasn’t staying on track throughout the day. It’s all there in Things, but I don’t have any draw to it; I can’t touch it or grab it and alter it. I’m primarily digital, but I need/crave some pen and paper touch—not too much, though; I’ve tried paper journaling, and that’s too much. I love journaling in DayOne.

Enter Ugmonk. First, this is not a cheap system upfront, but by the time you read this, they will have a much more affordable metal version for sale (launching February 19th, 2025), which has been much needed. Also, this system is not complex; you could easily make your own with some woodworking skills or a 3D printer and 3x5 cards. The cost for me is worth it; it brings me a little joy, it looks great sitting on the desk, and I’ve stayed on track better throughout the day.

I’ve been using the system for over a month and love it. I’m still not sold on using the weekly and daily views together, but for now, it’s both. It comes down to how your brain works and what you need to see. I’m a person with an odd job. I’m away from home for 3 to 4 days a week. So, when I’m home, I need to see what is left of my week and what I want to accomplish that day. I never know what day of the week or day of the month it is; it just doesn’t matter to me. I have large calendar widgets on all my devices to help me remember. All I want to know, what I need to know, is how many days off I have until I go back to work and what I want to get done on those days.

I use the weekly card for this. On my first day off, I grab a fresh card and my favorite pen and map out my week in broad strokes; it sits on my desk, so I’m constantly reminded. Then, each day, I formulate a plan with the daily card.

There is something special about grabbing that thick, beautiful paper and writing on it with your favorite pen. It gives substance to the plan; it sinks it just a little bit deeper into memory by writing it out. It makes me smile; it brings just a little joy, and I like that. Plus, I always have paper to quickly grab to make quick notes using the backside of the weekly or daily card. When done with the day or the week, I can store them away, or I’ve been using them for bookmarks.

As an option to this analog version, I just learned about Tweek. I’ve used this alongside my Ugmonk/Things system just for testing. I think Tweek is really cool; I wish I had come up with it. If I ever want to drop Ugmonk, I’d go with Tweek. They have full function under their free plan, so you can test it to see if it fits into your world. But it’s sterile for me; I need some analog, I need to touch some nice paper, and I need to use my favorite pen. I need that little piece of joy to start my day, the constant visual reminder, and that satisfaction of marking off an item with my Sharpie.

I hope some of this helps you with your task list. Thank you, as always, for visiting my little piece of the web. Cheers!

Things

Ugmonk

tweek.so