Time cards

I need to start writing here in the mornings. By time evening rolls around I’m feeling exhausted and uninspired. This morning I’ve been thinking about building my ideal time management app. Of course, I’m developing a whole framework around what that looks like.

An integrated dashboard of mini apps
Rather than build a single app with endless features, I would keep the features hidden and use mini apps that serve as icons. The workflow is built by adding apps that publish and subscribe to an event bus. Some events get recorded to a log as well. And the state of one app might trigger another app.

Mechanical versus natural time
The dashboard would include some apps that use mechanical time to create focus, while others help are more relaxed and based on natural rhythms. It would include four main types of mini apps.

• Focus and Productivity: Pomodoro, sprint timers, deep work tools.
• Mindfulness and Well-Being: Meditation agendas, mindfulness bells, breathing exercises.
• Ritual and Whimsy: Meal trackers, monastic hours, seasonal markers.
• Reflection and Organization: Journaling, logging, activity tracking.

An app that is aware of time
The dashboard itself changes with time. Apps can be minimized and expanded on a schedule. Links appear and expire in order to create a sense of real commitment. For example, I could have a bookmark to LifeLog that only appears between 7am and 8am. If I miss it, it doesn’t stop me from posting. But the log would show that the link expired before I clicked.