Many of us search for the latest, greatest app or the fancy new software that will finally help us manage our time. But even the most well-designed program won’t help you unless you have a workflow management process, or methodology, already in place. If you find yourself installing new programs or apps, testing them out for a day or two, and then never opening them again, it may be because you didn’t have a strong workflow methodology to start with. So before you install that latest app, ask yourself, “How do I currently track tasks? How will this software fit into my existing process?” Then ask yourself, “What problems do I want the tool to solve?” There is no question that technology can improve productivity. But when investing your time in a new tool, focus first on your methodology so you know what will suit you best.
Adapted from "Until You Have Productivity Skills, Productivity Tools Are Useless," by Maura Thomas
