I recently changed my phone from my Blackberry Curve. The plan I am on renewed, and I ended up with an iPhone 5c. Also a few months ago, my tablet died, so I have been without a primary digital device.
I had reverted to a paper system, but found with the new iPhone that most of the pieces of a PIM system are now in place.
For my iPhone system, I use the following apps:
- Calendar
- Reminders
- Evernote
- Contacts
I decided to use Evernote over the default Notes app, as I have a Weekly Review notebook with my Mission and Vision Statements, and a Journal Notebook.
This system relies on the Today pull down screen for the daily review.
The Calendar app is where I schedule appointments and blocks of time.
- Inbox
- Goals/Roles
- Project Specific Lists
The Inbox list is where all the random reminders go. Do this at that time, etc.
Goals/Roles tracks my goals for Spiritual, Mental, Physical, and Social improvement. I also use the list to track what I need to do for the two or three relationships I am tracking.
Lastly each project, or set of related goals gets its own list.
I find that Reminders is really close to what I’ve been looking for in a to-do app for years in iOS, and android. I compare all to-do and task apps to the Franklin Covey Palm app I used for years.
Evernote is used for recording my Mission and Vision statements, and journal entries. I also find Evernote useful for many other things, like writing on the iPhone.
During the Weekly review process I do the following:
- Use Evernote, and review my Mission and Vision statements.
- Use Evernote to write a journal entry reviewing last week.
- Setup the reminders for my improvement goals, and Roles.
- Review Projects in the Reminders list and decide what to carry out this week.
- Go through my Inbox list, email inboxes, etc. and process them.
My daily reviews involve pulling Down the Today screen, there are my calendar, and reminders set for the day.
So far the processes using the iPhone are working really well. I tried an iPad 1 a few years ago now, and feel like the apps have matured nicely.
I am an old school Palm fan. I’ve used several models Palm IIIc, Palm Vx, and the Sony Clie. This system is the closest yet to the ease of use for the Palm.