This is the only newsletter I have subscribed to that I actually take the time to read. I look forward to it every time. Thank you for this! Just last week I took the entire week off because I had had a very heavy two weeks personally and I just knew I could not push myself through work without taking some time to slow down and recharge. This meant using up a chunk of my leaves just a couple of months after returning from maternity leave but better to use them for when you really need them than to save them for some imagined later.
Well done for being realistic about what you had left in the tank, Sanya. Thank you for the lovely words, and I hope those heavy weeks are behind you. ❤️
Thank you for the reminder! Also, re AI, I'd love to read about it as long as it's human first, meaning what it serves, how to slot it into my workflow, etc. There are a lot of people talking about how to use AI, but only this one can talk about the junction of productivity, being human, Todoist, and AI.
Thanks for trusting us to keep the content relatable, Parham. 🙌 Personally, I don't love AI for the sake of AI content. I want to know what creates genuine leverage and is actually useful. So we'll certainly only share with that in mind.
Brilliantly entertaining and informative as always. I make use of filters in Todoist to show me my must-dos (red tasks) and hide the other stuff before I start shaking with dread. Still can’t quite get over the 50 BBQ … are you really that much of a Wonder Woman? Tip - avoid Lycra in hot weather 👍🏼
Haha! Well, the BBQ was over the weekend, and while there was never any lycra planned, we're in Scotland, so there was also no hot weather to contend with either. 😆 Thankfully, it went well. As did the 20-person breakfast the next day. 🙃
The BBQ may as well have been sponsored by Todoist, because there is absolutely no way I could have pulled that off without it.
Also, you're inspiring me to utilize my filters more Charlie! It's never my go-to view, but always helpful.
Unpopular dinosaur perspective: Every time we use AI, we steal water and power and privacy from our own future. It's not a toy, it's a weapon against the future health of the planet. Surely something that expensive to access should only be a last resort?
I read this NL for the human wisdom, not the tech, never the tech. Phooey on the tech (sorry).
Grace, I don't think your opinion is either unpopular or dinosaur-like. It's a super important one, and I'm glad you shared it.
I can assure you that the newsletter will remain rooted in human experience, because we're writing this to humans, from humans. I take that connection very seriously.
And any mentions of AI will be based on workflows we've found as a team that genuinely save time, improve thinking, reduce waste, or help you make better decisions. We have no intent to use it to generate endless disposable content no one asked for.
But I want to be clear that the poll is pointing towards there being an appetite for some AI-related content. If that doesn't sit right with you, then I totally respect that.
It's a weird new world for what it means to be a human and feel productive, and we're learning a lot about this alongside each other. So, hopefully, we can strike a nice balance on keeping the human connection, while also helping people use the tools that, in many cases, are becoming a mandated part of how they work.
Great insight, Naomi, as always. One thing that might helpful for any managers reading this: balancing productivity and honesty about your team's capacity can you give capital to push back against unreasonable requests and emergencies that really aren't emergencies.
That depends on the culture of your organization, obviously. I led a large research analytics team in a top pediatric hospital, and leaders and doctors above me respected my honesty about my and my team's capacities. That led to fewer emergency requests -- they learned they didn't need to fake one to get their requests handled properly. We consistently negotiated on deadlines and things always got accomplished when they needed to.
Naomi, best of luck with the BBQ! As my Irish friends say, "ah, it'll be grand." ;-)
This is such a wonderful point, Dave. Being super open about capacity really does build trust, especially cross-functionally.
And if you were around me at all last week, you would have heard "ah, it'll be grand" uttered so much that it became a mantra. The BBQ was on Saturday past, and I can report that it was, in fact, grand in the end. 😆
Re AI: I get why it’s on folks radar, but the less, the better for me. I’m really interested in general productivity tips and clever templates, filter ideas, project organization tips, etc.
I may begrudgingly read content related to AI integrations or Ramble, but finding the content valuable to me would mean it meets a high bar of proving the tool is accuracy and reliable enough not to create extra work for me.
That's a very astute way to look at AI content, Shay. I totally respect that take. There is a lot of AI fluff out there that is about building with AI for the sake of it, without creating true leverage or gaining anything. Like it's another toy to play with.
I think there will be some experimentation to figure out where the leverage lies, but I'm also very keen not to share half-baked use cases or ideas with you. I want all our newsletters to be worthy of the reader's time, so just know that's the center of everything we write.
When I tried out the automation beta I was super disappointed to see that it HAD to be programmed with a prompt, not selectors. There’s no reason for it, and it blocks me from seeing how it’s configured. Plus, I’m sure I would come up with great ideas (that I can’t think to prompt, because I don’t know the available levers) if I had an interface like ITTT or Zapier became known for.
I recently used Zapier for something else, and was pleased to see that they still offer selectors, even though they have made prompting the more preferred interface.
Thanks, Jimmy. It’s great to hear your perspective on Automations as someone who is comfortable with selectors.
Automations was built prompt-first on purpose, so it’s not that we’re hiding selectors; there just are none. The goal was to let people describe what they want in plain language without needing to understand triggers and actions in advance. That's a real advantage for a lot of people who'd never touch a Zapier-style builder. But your point about inspectability is fair: "I described what I wanted, and it worked" and "I understand what I configured and can modify it confidently" are two different things, and right now Automations serves the first much more than the second. This is feedback that has surfaced before, and we're experimenting with including some kind of preview function in the future.
But I want to be straight with you: a visual selector interface isn't currently on the roadmap. The bet is that natural language gets you the desired result faster. And that those who want deeper understanding can converse in the chat to learn how the automation was built.
If that doesn’t reflect how you’d like to use an automation tool, then that’s fair feedback. I’ll pass this on to the team behind Automations, so they can understand your point of view. 😊
Yeah, with the complexity of a system like Todoist, I’m just never going to trust a black box to manipulate my data like that. There’s going to need to be a lot of tweaks to (essentially) run GTD automations without unintended consequences. Inclusions, exclusions, timing, etc. Having to go through the chat again and again for each change is honestly kind of maddening.
Also, I wasn’t expecting to have to pay for it. I’m already a pro user, so I thought it would be included. I’m guessing the AI adds to the cost?
For clarity, I’m not a developer or anything.
Also, I really try to avoid AI for ethical reasons. I’m not doing protein folding or higher math, so I can write my own emails.
I don't mind reading about AI workflows sometimes/it's interesting and useful to know what people are doing and what is possible, but on a practical level I feel like what I can apply to my actual work is somewhat limited by the corporate environment in which I'm operating, i.e. where only certain AI tools are approved -- I can use Microsoft Copilot and Rovo by Atlassian but I can't just experiment with *whatever* at work.
I can totally appreciate those limitations, Heather. And it's actually really good feedback. Maybe it would be best to share advice that's tool-agnostic where we can.
It can absolutely help you prioritize the workload, Sean. And you're inspiring me to devote my next train time to some hobbies. What a lovely way to pass the time.
Informing us when there are connectors to the other apps and platforms in common use is helpful. As Gemini and Copilot become more effective at "non-query" assistance, we will need ways to make our everyday workflow smoother.
I totally relate. A friend of mine likes to remind me that I do not need to aim for 100% of 100% every single time. That is a recipe for feeling like a failure all the time. Sometimes the work is to give 100% of the 70% I actually have available, or whatever that day's percentage is. That is not failure. That is sustainability.
And now I crave a train ride in solitude to a new destination, followed by some yummy handheld bbq food that doesn't require a fork. :)
Love all of this. It's so real. Wish more workplaces would be open and empathetic to this reality. We can't be steady machines, we are not. I've been expected to behave as such even among creative spaces, which is totally counterproductive. As usual, great inputs, Naomi. I've been subscribed to this newsletter for a looong while, and it's probably the only newsletter notification I actually look forward to reading.
I usually don't like or comment anything, but I started reading this in January and wanted to thank you for this posts. There are lots of productivity tips out there but this newsletter feels human. Thank you! 😊
This is the only newsletter I have subscribed to that I actually take the time to read. I look forward to it every time. Thank you for this! Just last week I took the entire week off because I had had a very heavy two weeks personally and I just knew I could not push myself through work without taking some time to slow down and recharge. This meant using up a chunk of my leaves just a couple of months after returning from maternity leave but better to use them for when you really need them than to save them for some imagined later.
Well done for being realistic about what you had left in the tank, Sanya. Thank you for the lovely words, and I hope those heavy weeks are behind you. ❤️
Thank you for the reminder! Also, re AI, I'd love to read about it as long as it's human first, meaning what it serves, how to slot it into my workflow, etc. There are a lot of people talking about how to use AI, but only this one can talk about the junction of productivity, being human, Todoist, and AI.
Thanks for trusting us to keep the content relatable, Parham. 🙌 Personally, I don't love AI for the sake of AI content. I want to know what creates genuine leverage and is actually useful. So we'll certainly only share with that in mind.
Awesomeness! Looking forward to reading, like I do every month 🙏
Brilliantly entertaining and informative as always. I make use of filters in Todoist to show me my must-dos (red tasks) and hide the other stuff before I start shaking with dread. Still can’t quite get over the 50 BBQ … are you really that much of a Wonder Woman? Tip - avoid Lycra in hot weather 👍🏼
Haha! Well, the BBQ was over the weekend, and while there was never any lycra planned, we're in Scotland, so there was also no hot weather to contend with either. 😆 Thankfully, it went well. As did the 20-person breakfast the next day. 🙃
The BBQ may as well have been sponsored by Todoist, because there is absolutely no way I could have pulled that off without it.
Also, you're inspiring me to utilize my filters more Charlie! It's never my go-to view, but always helpful.
Had to smile at your lovely response. Honoured to inspire you. My inspirations typically arrive second hand from Carl Pullein!
Unpopular dinosaur perspective: Every time we use AI, we steal water and power and privacy from our own future. It's not a toy, it's a weapon against the future health of the planet. Surely something that expensive to access should only be a last resort?
I read this NL for the human wisdom, not the tech, never the tech. Phooey on the tech (sorry).
Grace, I don't think your opinion is either unpopular or dinosaur-like. It's a super important one, and I'm glad you shared it.
I can assure you that the newsletter will remain rooted in human experience, because we're writing this to humans, from humans. I take that connection very seriously.
And any mentions of AI will be based on workflows we've found as a team that genuinely save time, improve thinking, reduce waste, or help you make better decisions. We have no intent to use it to generate endless disposable content no one asked for.
But I want to be clear that the poll is pointing towards there being an appetite for some AI-related content. If that doesn't sit right with you, then I totally respect that.
It's a weird new world for what it means to be a human and feel productive, and we're learning a lot about this alongside each other. So, hopefully, we can strike a nice balance on keeping the human connection, while also helping people use the tools that, in many cases, are becoming a mandated part of how they work.
Great insight, Naomi, as always. One thing that might helpful for any managers reading this: balancing productivity and honesty about your team's capacity can you give capital to push back against unreasonable requests and emergencies that really aren't emergencies.
That depends on the culture of your organization, obviously. I led a large research analytics team in a top pediatric hospital, and leaders and doctors above me respected my honesty about my and my team's capacities. That led to fewer emergency requests -- they learned they didn't need to fake one to get their requests handled properly. We consistently negotiated on deadlines and things always got accomplished when they needed to.
Naomi, best of luck with the BBQ! As my Irish friends say, "ah, it'll be grand." ;-)
This is such a wonderful point, Dave. Being super open about capacity really does build trust, especially cross-functionally.
And if you were around me at all last week, you would have heard "ah, it'll be grand" uttered so much that it became a mantra. The BBQ was on Saturday past, and I can report that it was, in fact, grand in the end. 😆
I love being direct about capacity. "When do you need this by?" or "I should be able to get to that next week."
We use this a ton on the Todoist team, and it really helps with the prioritization of incoming tasks!
Gemini connection next, please.
Re AI: I get why it’s on folks radar, but the less, the better for me. I’m really interested in general productivity tips and clever templates, filter ideas, project organization tips, etc.
I may begrudgingly read content related to AI integrations or Ramble, but finding the content valuable to me would mean it meets a high bar of proving the tool is accuracy and reliable enough not to create extra work for me.
That's a very astute way to look at AI content, Shay. I totally respect that take. There is a lot of AI fluff out there that is about building with AI for the sake of it, without creating true leverage or gaining anything. Like it's another toy to play with.
I think there will be some experimentation to figure out where the leverage lies, but I'm also very keen not to share half-baked use cases or ideas with you. I want all our newsletters to be worthy of the reader's time, so just know that's the center of everything we write.
When I tried out the automation beta I was super disappointed to see that it HAD to be programmed with a prompt, not selectors. There’s no reason for it, and it blocks me from seeing how it’s configured. Plus, I’m sure I would come up with great ideas (that I can’t think to prompt, because I don’t know the available levers) if I had an interface like ITTT or Zapier became known for.
I recently used Zapier for something else, and was pleased to see that they still offer selectors, even though they have made prompting the more preferred interface.
Thanks, Jimmy. It’s great to hear your perspective on Automations as someone who is comfortable with selectors.
Automations was built prompt-first on purpose, so it’s not that we’re hiding selectors; there just are none. The goal was to let people describe what they want in plain language without needing to understand triggers and actions in advance. That's a real advantage for a lot of people who'd never touch a Zapier-style builder. But your point about inspectability is fair: "I described what I wanted, and it worked" and "I understand what I configured and can modify it confidently" are two different things, and right now Automations serves the first much more than the second. This is feedback that has surfaced before, and we're experimenting with including some kind of preview function in the future.
But I want to be straight with you: a visual selector interface isn't currently on the roadmap. The bet is that natural language gets you the desired result faster. And that those who want deeper understanding can converse in the chat to learn how the automation was built.
If that doesn’t reflect how you’d like to use an automation tool, then that’s fair feedback. I’ll pass this on to the team behind Automations, so they can understand your point of view. 😊
Thanks for that reply.
Yeah, with the complexity of a system like Todoist, I’m just never going to trust a black box to manipulate my data like that. There’s going to need to be a lot of tweaks to (essentially) run GTD automations without unintended consequences. Inclusions, exclusions, timing, etc. Having to go through the chat again and again for each change is honestly kind of maddening.
Also, I wasn’t expecting to have to pay for it. I’m already a pro user, so I thought it would be included. I’m guessing the AI adds to the cost?
For clarity, I’m not a developer or anything.
Also, I really try to avoid AI for ethical reasons. I’m not doing protein folding or higher math, so I can write my own emails.
I love these newsletters Naomi! So personal and so realistic, it's a always a must read from me
Thank you, Gurprem! 🫶
I don't mind reading about AI workflows sometimes/it's interesting and useful to know what people are doing and what is possible, but on a practical level I feel like what I can apply to my actual work is somewhat limited by the corporate environment in which I'm operating, i.e. where only certain AI tools are approved -- I can use Microsoft Copilot and Rovo by Atlassian but I can't just experiment with *whatever* at work.
I can totally appreciate those limitations, Heather. And it's actually really good feedback. Maybe it would be best to share advice that's tool-agnostic where we can.
Yay for train time! Admittedly I use it more for my hobby projects and writing but the space and "quick focus" time had been invaluable.
Can't Wait to try the Claude connector too. Will it look at my growing backlog of unfinished tasks and help me prioritize those too?
It can absolutely help you prioritize the workload, Sean. And you're inspiring me to devote my next train time to some hobbies. What a lovely way to pass the time.
Informing us when there are connectors to the other apps and platforms in common use is helpful. As Gemini and Copilot become more effective at "non-query" assistance, we will need ways to make our everyday workflow smoother.
I'll definitely let you know if and when those other official connectors go live. ❤️
another banger!
Thank you Phil! 🙌
I totally relate. A friend of mine likes to remind me that I do not need to aim for 100% of 100% every single time. That is a recipe for feeling like a failure all the time. Sometimes the work is to give 100% of the 70% I actually have available, or whatever that day's percentage is. That is not failure. That is sustainability.
And now I crave a train ride in solitude to a new destination, followed by some yummy handheld bbq food that doesn't require a fork. :)
Your friend is a very wise person, Tracey!
Love all of this. It's so real. Wish more workplaces would be open and empathetic to this reality. We can't be steady machines, we are not. I've been expected to behave as such even among creative spaces, which is totally counterproductive. As usual, great inputs, Naomi. I've been subscribed to this newsletter for a looong while, and it's probably the only newsletter notification I actually look forward to reading.
I usually don't like or comment anything, but I started reading this in January and wanted to thank you for this posts. There are lots of productivity tips out there but this newsletter feels human. Thank you! 😊