Tech Tidying: Sanity Saving Apps

9 snips

Jul 2, 2025

Drowning in digital clutter? Discover how productivity tools like Asana's Kanban boards can streamline workflows and bring clarity to chaotic tasks. Explore the differences between traditional tools like OneNote and modern Markdown systems such as Obsidian for efficient knowledge management. Visual thinkers will love mind mapping, which transforms linear documentation into spatial relationships for tackling complex problems. Plus, learn about simplifying task management with Microsoft To-Do to declutter your day-to-day routine.

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ANECDOTE

Ultra-Wide Monitor Streamlines Setup

Andy replaced multiple external monitors with a 49-inch ultra-wide monitor to reduce clutter and improve productivity.
Using tools like Deskpad and Rectangle helps him organize windows into manageable sections efficiently.

ANECDOTE

Asana Organizes Podcast Workflow

Andy uses Asana to manage podcast episode workflows visually using columns for stages like ideas, recorded, editing, and completed.
This Kanban-style board helps keep show production organized and on track with descriptions, due dates, and subtasks.

ADVICE

Use Portable Markdown Notes

Take notes in Markdown format because it's portable and non-proprietary, allowing notes to move across companies and tools.
Use editors like Obsidian to organize notes visually and avoid being locked into platforms like OneNote.

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Drowning in digital clutter? You're not alone. In this practical deep-dive, Andy and Jeff share the productivity systems that have transformed their professional lives as network engineers.

We explore how Asana's Kanban-style boards create visual workflow management that prevents important tasks from falling through the cracks. Whether you're managing podcast production or complex network projects, seeing your work move from "ideas" to "completed" provides both clarity and satisfaction.

Knowledge management gets a critical examination as we contrast traditional tools like OneNote with newer Markdown-based systems like Obsidian. The key revelation? Portability matters. As your career evolves across different companies and platforms, keeping your accumulated knowledge accessible becomes increasingly important. We share practical strategies for ensuring your technical documentation remains both organized and retrievable regardless of where life takes you.

For visual thinkers, mind mapping emerges as a powerful solution for tackling complex problems. Andy demonstrates how transforming linear documentation into spatial relationships helped him decode complicated processes and organize complex content strategies. These visual frameworks provide an entirely different perspective on challenges that can feel overwhelming in traditional formats.

Perhaps most valuable is our discussion of task management simplification. Microsoft To-Do with a "brain dump" approach helps maintain focus amid overwhelming possibilities by extracting just three priority items each day from your master task list. This practical technique has proven transformative for managing both daily tasks and longer-term projects.

Whether you're struggling with note organization, project management, or simply finding focus amid information overload, this episode offers practical solutions you can implement immediately. The technology landscape constantly evolves, but with the right productivity system, you can transform information chaos into organized knowledge that supports both daily tasks and long-term career growth.

Join our Discord community at "It's All About the Journey" to continue the productivity discussion and share your own favorite tools and techniques!

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