A Tale of Too Many Tools

Sometimes the problem isn’t the work. It’s the weight of the tools we’ve stacked on top of it.

This is a Field Note article — one of the four types you’ll see regularly in Resimplification. Field Notes are short observations from real‑world situations that highlight the patterns, pitfalls, and moments when it’s time to reset.

You’ll also see Practice articles (actionable steps), Signals (how to know when it’s time to recalibrate), and Principles (core concepts that anchor the whole idea of Resimplification).

The Scene

On my desktop computer, I have two excellent productivity apps: Todoist for tasks and Toggl for time tracking. Both work beautifully.

I’ve installed them, organized them, synced them to my iPhone with their respective apps… and then, more times than I care to count, I’ve ended up back with my old paper notepad next to my keyboard.

It’s not that the apps are bad. They’re great. It’s just that my simple notepad, with no learning curve and no syncing, just keeps winning.

The Resimplification Moment

I’ve learned that tools aren’t “wrong” just because I don’t stick with them. They just have to earn their place.

At the same time, I’ve found places where digital wins. Grocery lists, for example. I used to forget my paper list nearly every time I went to the store. Now I keep a permanent, editable note on my iPhone where I can add to the list anytime, anywhere. That one sticks.

The Takeaway

Resimplification isn’t about rejecting tools. It’s about choosing the ones that actually fit the way you work, and letting go of the ones that don’t, no matter how “good” they are.

Ask yourself: Which tool in your stack is more work than it’s worth?

Closing Thought

The tools are here to serve the work — not the other way around.