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The Productivity Stack I Actually Use (and What I Gave Up)

I’ve tried many tools. Notion dashboards, habit trackers, fancy to-do apps, “second brains,” browser extensions, morning routines, Pomodoros... all of it.

Some worked. Most didn’t. At some point, I stopped chasing the perfect setup and focused on what actually helped me ship code consistently without burning out.

So here’s a quick breakdown of the tools I still use - and the ones I happily left behind.

✅ What I Actually Use
Notebook. Just one short list per day. No priority labels. No categories.

Anything bigger goes into a project doc. Why? Because the friction is low and I actually look at it.

✅ Kanban for Workflows: Trello or Linear
One column per status: Backlog → Doing → Done

Optional labels, only when needed (don't always add them). Great for team alignment, not as a daily planner.

✅ Timers: 50/10 Rule (Manual Timer)
50 minutes of work, 10-minute break. I literally use the clock on my OS or a physical timer.

No need for an app. Just a reminder to move, stretch, reset.

✅ Docs: Google Docs > Notion
Docs are fast, flexible, and searchable. Notion got too slow, too bloated.

If I need a “dashboard,” I make a Google Doc index page with links. A small tip.

✅ Notifications: Most Are Off

  • Slack = is not muted
  • Telegram = filtered
  • Email = tabbed, checked 2-3 times a day

I protect focus like it’s uptime.

❌ What I Gave Up

  • Notion Life Operating System. Tried it. Built one. Spent more time maintaining it than working.
  • Habit Trackers. If I need a streak to do something, I probably don’t care enough about it.
  • Pomodoro Apps. Turns out I don’t need a tomato emoji to take breaks.
  • Multi-app setups. The more tools I used, the more places I had to look before starting work. Just don't need that.

Final Thought
Productivity tools should support your brain, not replace it.
If your stack feels like a second job, it’s probably too heavy.

Start small. Use what works. Let everything else go.

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