Brain dump fast with this free iOS Shortcut

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction

Get things out of your head and into your task manager FAST with this free iOS shortcut!

I use my devices for everything. My iPhone is always at hand and I am never far from my iPad or Mac. Having my to-do list all in one place that I can access at any time is critical for me to function.

With my particular cocktail of mental disorders I find that sometimes I can get a serious feeling of overwhelm. My wife calls this “Messy Brain”, and it’s pretty obvious when it is happening to me. I tend to dull down, withdraw, get even more introverted than normal and just feel totally “meh”.

The human brain’s working memory can really only hold around 7 items (plus or minus 2) (opens in a new tab) at a time before it runs into problems. This is not ideal for holding a task list of 30 or 40 things you need to do. Inevitably you will forget them: as another item gets added to the list, one drops off the end. But the brain still remembers that there WAS something on that list. You don’t know what you have forgotten but you DO get the horrible dread that you are going to drop the ball. That’s when Messy Brain kicks in.

So how do we combat Messy Brain / overwhelm?

The first course of action I take when this happens is to notice it. Once I have accepted I am in overwhelm mode, I just need to get everything out of my head in front of me so that it is easier to break down into smaller chunks to process.

Usually I would write things down but I find that can be too slow for me (in many cases the “slowness” of writing things down can actually be a benefit, especially when journalling as it makes you take more time to reflect properly).

I needed a fast way to get things into my task manager of choice Things (opens in a new tab). Things is pretty good about quick task entry on all platforms but it relies on typing, and one of the time I get a chance to dump my tasks out of my head is on my commute. I needed a way to get things off my mind fast and into Things so I can easily sort them again later.

This has been bugging me for a while as trying to use Siri to do it is a pain in the car.

You have to say:

ME: “Hey Siri, add a task to Things”

SIRI: “Ok, what do you want me to add to things?”

ME: “Write a blog post”

SIRI: “OK, I have added Write a blog post to Things”

Then repeat that whole process for each item.

I wanted a way to dump tasks out fast with minimal speech in between all from a single button press or voice command. It was time to make an iOS Shortcut to do the heavy lifting!

Enter the Brain Dumper iOS shortcut!

Download the Brain Dumper Shortcut for Things (opens in a new tab)

Download the Brain Dumper Shortcut for Reminders (opens in a new tab)

You can use this iOS shortcut I made to achieve this. Tap the link to install it in the Shortcuts app on your iPhone / iPad or Mac.

You can invoke the iOS shortcut by tapping it or simple saying “Siri, Brain Dumper”

The conversation flow is more like this now:

ME: “Siri, Brain Dumper”

SIRI: “What would you like me to add to Things? What’s the text?”

ME: “Buy milk”

SIRI: “Ok what’s next?”

ME: “Publish blog post”

SIRI: “OK. What’s next?”

ME: “Admire this amazing shortcut”

SIRI: “OK. What’s next?”

ME: “Stop”

SIRI: “OK. All done.”

You can see this is a much faster interaction, both in the adding of a single task and the fact it asks repeatedly for more tasks until you say “Stop”.

Once you have downloaded the shortcut you can customise the spoken prompts and the task app that you prefer, just swap out the Things block for the app you use. For example I duplicated this Shortcut and changed the target app to Reminders, and we use that to quickly add a list of items to our family shared Shopping List in Reminders. This means you can open the kitchen cupboards and just shout ingredients to your phone to get the list entered quickly. It is a game changer!

Let me know if you use this iOS shortcut and if you have any cool tweaks to make it better!

5 more Mac apps I use everyday

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

As a Mac user, I’ve discovered several Mac apps that have become indispensable in my daily routine. All of these apps are included in the Setapp subscription, over 240 amazing apps for just $9.99 a month. (opens in a new tab)

MindNode

Organizing thoughts and brainstorming ideas has never been more enjoyable than with MindNode (opens in a new tab). This powerful mind mapping app helps me visualize complex concepts, plan projects, and even outline articles like this one. The fluidity of MindNode’s interface makes it easy to connect ideas, add notes, and create a clear structure. It’s a fantastic tool for creative minds, students, and professionals looking to enhance their productivity and creativity. It also has a companion iOS version and they sync quickly and effortlessly via iCloud.

If you have never tried mind mapping before, I would also recommend you read the book by the creator Tony Buzan (opens in a new tab) or read this article (opens in a new tab) for a quick introduction on them. I find them so useful to get things out of my head to free up some mental bandwidth!

MindNode in action

Paletro - command palette

Paletro (opens in a new tab) provides quick access to commands available in the menu of the app you are using. Just use hotkey combination Command-Shift-P to prompt the command menu for the app you are in, browse or search commands, locate the one you need, and click Enter to execute. The more time you can spend on the keyboard and not needing to use the mouse, the faster you will be. Soon it becomes second nature and when you use a Mac that doesn’t have it installed it feels broken! Definitely an essential Mac app.

Downie - Youtube video downloader

In the era of multimedia content, having a reliable video downloader is a game-changer. Downie is my go-to app for effortlessly downloading videos from various websites. Whether I’m saving educational lectures, entertainment content, or online tutorials, Downie makes the process quick and hassle-free. This also pairs briliantly with Permute from my last article, for downloading YouTube videos and then converting them to MP3 only so that you can listen to them on the move.

Folx - Download Manager

While internet speeds have increased and connections have become more reliable than ever, failed downloads of large files can be a real pain. Folx (opens in a new tab) comes to the rescue as an efficient download manager that helps me organize, prioritize, and monitor my downloads effortlessly. It seamlessly integrates with web browsers, offers download scheduling, and even supports torrent downloads. Any time I am downloading a large file (such as an ISO of a Linux distro, Windows ISO or even AI training models) I put it straight into Folx. It will typcially speed the download up by downloading many chunks simulataneously and handles broken connections with ease.

TripMode - monitor internet use of Mac apps

When you’re on the go, managing your internet connection is crucial to avoid unexpected data charges. TripMode (opens in a new tab) is a brilliant app that gives me granular control over which apps can access the internet while I’m tethered to my mobile hotspot or on a limited network. This not only helps me save data but also ensures that essential tasks get priority. TripMode is an essential companion for travelers, remote workers, or anyone conscious of their internet usage. We use a 4G router when on holiday at our caravan and having TripMode reassures me we aren’t going to burn through our allowance unexpectedly! Also provides a sometimes surprising view of just how many apps on your computer are using the network!

These are some of my favourite apps in the Setapp subscription bundle. But there are over 240 to choose from so you are bound to have some favourites I don’t know about. Please let us all know in the comments what Mac apps you have found.

Productivity on Intelligent Dithering