Workflowy: Your Brain on One Page

Posted by Daly de Gagne
May 24, 2014 at 02:00 PM

When I first looked at Workflowy I thought it was too bare bones. Maybe it was at the time; I don’t remember.

Like many I’ve been looking for the ideal single pane outliner. As a Mac user in the 90s I liked MORE and InControl. After switching to the PC in 2002 and searching for the single pane outliner I gave up.

More recently I checked out Fargo, but it didn’t feel quite right. But that got me looking again at what’s available.

UVOutliner I looked at, but wondered if it’s still being developed. I liked it, but didn’t want to go with a program that’s dormant. That’s why I asked several days ago whether UV was still being developed; no one responded, and that may be the answer to my question. :)

I looked at Checkvist. I liked what I saw, especially the column capability (like my old pal InControl). Also, giving it closer scrutiny than befor, I liked Workflowy.

This last week I tried out both of them. I realized I’d become so accustomed to dual pane outliners and the non-outliner Evernote that I was stale when it came to working serious with a single pane outliner.

It took a couple of days of just adding stuff, reviewing it, acting on some items, adding more stuff, etc to get the hang of it again.

I’m glad I did. I find it faster to scan up and down a single pane outline than a dual pane. Seemingly I am more aware of the various contexts, from meta to micro, at play in my life and activities. I’m able to keep more things in mind, more easily, and for my ADHD, executive function challenged brain this is a good thing.

Without intending to I found myself finally writing a master activity list. I’m making a trip to Toronto next week, and so set up an activity list focused on what must be done prior to leaving.

A few days ago I made my choice, deciding in favour of Workflowy.

Why?

I like the fact it is part of Chrome Apps.

Workflowy’s screen presence is more visually appealing to me.

I very much like it’s hoist on steroids feature.

Someday I hope Workflowy will introduce columns.

Tagging is pretty basic, but it does the job.

CheckVist is a great program also, and anyone looking for a single pane outliner should check it out. Noteliner is also an excellent program to consider, and I may look at it again.

Seemingly single pane outlining is rebounding in the Windows world.

Daly