All the Productivity Tools I’ve Used (And What I Loved & Hated About Them)
Let’s get real: If you’ve ever thought, “Maybe this planner will be the one that fixes everything,” you’re in good company. I’ve been there—buying the new planner, switching to the next app, hoping this time I’ll feel organized, calm, and totally in control. Spoiler alert: It’s not about the tool.
But that didn’t stop me from trying all the tools in my quest for productivity perfection. Some were fun and functional; others were downright frustrating. Here’s a look at my journey—from paper planners to digital tools—and everything I loved (and hated) about them.
1. What I Loved (& Hated) About the Erin Condren Life Planner
Ah, my first true love. I used to hoard stickers, color-code everything, and pore over my Erin Condren layouts like it was an art project.
What I Loved:
The aesthetic! Gorgeous, high-quality, and totally satisfying to write in.
Felt super legit with its sturdy covers and bright pages.
Color-coding heaven—perfect for my planner-nerd heart.
What I Hated:
Customization? Nope. Some weeks I needed extra space, others less, and Erin couldn’t deliver.
Bulky AF. It was impossible to carry around during my Remote Year travels.
Expensive—especially when I needed to replace it yearly.
Want more? Check out my in-depth review of Erin Condren planners here.
2. What I Loved (& Hated) About the Happy Planner
This one seemed like an upgrade: removable pages, fun designs, and lots of customization options.
What I Loved:
Removable pages? Game-changer for reorganizing layouts.
More affordable than Erin Condren.
Still fun to decorate—think stickers, washi tape, the works.
What I Hated:
It was HUGE. My travel bag said “no thanks.”
Prioritized “cute” over functional, and I needed more structure.
3. What I Loved (& Hated) About Bullet Journaling
Oh, the glory days of bullet journaling. Pinterest boards. Washi tape. Designing my layouts by hand. It felt like peak productivity… until it didn’t.
What I Loved:
100% customizable—every page was whatever I wanted it to be.
A creative outlet that doubled as planning (hello, scrapbooking vibes!).
Perfect mix of structure and freedom.
What I Hated:
Time-consuming. Hours creating layouts? No thanks.
Tedious task transfers every week.
Felt like another to-do instead of something that actually simplified my life.
Want to start bullet journaling? I’ve got some tips on how to keep it simple and effective—check out my guide here.
4. What I Loved (& Hated) About the Daily Greatness Journal
This one promised to help me build better habits and crush my goals. Did it deliver? Sort of.
What I Loved:
Incredible for goal-setting and self-reflection.
Built-in habit trackers and gratitude prompts.
Beautiful design that made me want to open it every morning.
What I Hated:
Too repetitive—some sections felt like déjà vu.
Time-intensive. Filling out the prompts every day became a chore.
Lacked flexibility for detailed planning.
Want more? Check out my in-depth review of the Daily Greatness Journal here.
5. What I Loved (& Hated) About Trello
When I switched to digital tools, Trello was one of my first stops.
What I Loved:
Super simple interface, perfect for Kanban-style task management.
Easy to drag and drop tasks between lists.
What I Hated:
Too simple. It worked for small projects but couldn’t handle my full system.
Kanban-only view felt limiting—sometimes I needed lists or tables.
6. What I Loved (& Hated) About Asana
Asana screamed “professional,” but it didn’t quite fit my vibe.
What I Loved:
Clean, intuitive design.
Great for team collaboration and task dependencies.
What I Hated:
Felt like I was working in an office even when I wasn’t.
Too rigid for my creative projects.
7. What I Loved (& Hated) About ClickUp
ClickUp was like a Swiss Army knife for productivity—so many features packed into one tool.
What I Loved:
Versatile: boards, lists, tables—you name it, ClickUp had it.
Great for managing both small tasks and big projects.
What I Hated:
Lacked the personal touch I loved in my bullet journaling days.
Customization felt clunky compared to Notion.
8. What I Loved (& Hated) About Notion (The Forever System)
And finally, the one that stole my heart: Notion. It’s like the perfect blend of all the tools I’ve loved, with none of the downsides.
What I Love:
Unparalleled customizability: It adapts to me, not the other way around.
All-in-one functionality: Content planning, task management, personal goals, even journaling.
Aesthetic appeal: Minimalist, yet endlessly personalizable.
Streamlined systems: Everything is in one place—no app-hopping or chaos.
What I Hate:
The blank-slate start can feel overwhelming. (Pro tip: start with templates!)
It takes time upfront to set up, but once you’re rolling? Game over.
Why Notion is My Forever System
I’ve been through so many iterations of my systems over the years—from sticker-covered planners to endless digital apps—and I can confidently say that Notion is the only tool that has stuck. Why? It gives me exactly what I need:
A Perfect Blend of Creativity and Productivity: Coming from the world of bullet journaling and Erin Condren, I love a little flair in my planning. Notion gives me the flexibility to design beautiful, functional layouts that inspire me daily.
Customizable to the Core: Every other tool felt like I was adapting to it. With Notion, I’m in control. Whether it’s my CRM, goal tracker, or personal journal, I can design a system that works for me.
All-in-One Powerhouse: Notion simplifies my life in ways no other tool has. Business workflows, content planning, habit tracking—it’s all there in one cohesive space.
Sustainability for the Long Haul: Unlike other tools that felt exciting at first but didn’t stick, Notion has grown with me. As my life and business evolve, my system evolves too—without losing its functionality.
If you’re tired of tool-hopping and want a system that truly works, check out my Anti-Burnout Notion Digital Planner. It’s the ultimate setup to organize your life and business without the chaos. Or, if you’d rather have me do the heavy lifting, let’s build your custom system together with a VIP Day.
The perfect productivity tool doesn’t exist—it’s about finding one that fits your brain and your lifestyle. For me, that’s Notion. It’s more than just a tool; it’s the foundation of my burnout-proof systems and the key to running my life and business seamlessly.
If you’re ready to simplify your systems and reclaim your time, give Notion a try. Trust me—it’s worth it.
