Remembering a Space Shuttle Launch in Florida in the 1990s

With the SpaceX launch today, and its unfortunate blow-up shortly after, it reminded me of having the opportunity to watch a space shuttle launch.

It was a few years ago when we were on holiday in Florida. It was just a typical fly-drive trip, starting in Orlando and moving around, booking somewhere new each night.

Watching the Launch

We ended up on the east coast near Cocoa Beach. Several hotels were full, and we were eventually told there was a shuttle launch overnight.

After finding somewhere to stay, we set an alarm for 2am and drove to the beach. It was busy—lots of people had gathered.

It was almost pitch black apart from the occasional torch. A radio broadcast the live countdown, and we were told to watch across the bay. You wouldn’t hear it—but you would see it.

As the countdown reached zero, the sky lit up. Slowly, the shuttle rose into the air—silent at first—gradually climbing and arcing higher and higher.

Eventually, it became smaller and smaller. There was cheering on the beach, and we headed back to the hotel and bed. The next morning, it was just another sunny Florida day—but we had seen a shuttle launch.

The Part That Stayed With Me

A few years later, we visited the Kennedy Space Center. Walking under a decommissioned shuttle, I noticed something surprising—the switch that told the system the undercarriage was closed was just a simple twin-wire microswitch. The kind you might find in a fridge.

I had expected something far more complex. But it wasn’t.

What stuck with me wasn’t just the launch—it was seeing how something so complex could rely on something so simple.

A shuttle launch looks like the pinnacle of engineering. But underneath it, there are still basic components doing very simple jobs.

That contrast stayed with me.

Even the most complex systems are often built on surprisingly simple components.

I spend a lot of time helping simplify systems and make them easier to understand and work with.

You can take a look at my TechFix service if that resonates.

Why I Use Todoist to Keep Things Simple

Staying organized in today's busy world can be a challenge, but with Todoist, it's made easy. This app has become a personal favorite of mine, and in this blog post, I'll describe how Todoist is structured, and why it's such an effective tool for staying on top of your daily tasks.

Why Most To-Do Systems Don’t Work

Most to-do systems fail because they try to do too much. They add structure, categories, priorities, and rules—but in doing so, they become harder to use than the problem they’re trying to solve. When capturing and managing tasks takes effort, people stop using the system altogether.

It’s not the features that matter—it’s how little friction there is in using them.

What Todoist Gets Right

One of the things that sets Todoist apart from other to-do apps is its clean, intuitive layout. Whether you're using it on your laptop or your smartphone, the interface is always the same, making it easy to navigate no matter where you are. Tasks are organized into different views, which are accessed via the sidebar on the left-hand side of the screen.

How I Actually Use It

The views in Todoist are designed to help you stay on top of your tasks, and there are three main ones to choose from:

• Inbox - The inbox is where new tasks are added. This is a great feature because it allows you to quickly jot down anything that comes to mind without having to worry about where it should go. Later on, you can assign tasks to specific projects.
• Today - The Today view shows you all the tasks that are due today. This is a great way to stay focused on what needs to be done right now.
• Upcoming - The upcoming view shows you tasks that are due in the next 7 days. This gives you a clear idea of what's coming up and allows you to plan your week accordingly.

What Makes It Work

It’s not the features that matter—it’s how little friction there is in using them.

Filters are another great feature of Todoist that allows you to organize your tasks in a more customized way. You can create filters based on specific criteria, such as due dates, priority levels, and labels. This makes it easy to see all the tasks that meet certain criteria and helps you stay focused on what needs to be done.

Projects are the main way to organize your tasks in Todoist. You can create as many projects as you need, and each one can have its own set of tasks. For example, you might have a project for work-related tasks and another for personal tasks. You can also create sub-projects within a larger project to break tasks down into smaller, more manageable parts.

Labels are a feature in Todoist that allows you to split your tasks into actual projects. You can create labels for each of your projects, and each label can have its own color. This makes it easy to see at a glance which project a task belongs to. For example, if you have a work-related project, you can assign a "work" label to all the tasks related to that project. This helps you stay organized and ensures that all your tasks are properly sorted.

This is very similar to how I approach fixing things—understand the system, simplify it, and remove unnecessary friction.

It also links to how I naturally think about systems in visual thinking.

Why I’ve Stuck With It

Todoist is a simple, effective to-do app that can help you stay organized and on top of your tasks. With its clean layout, customizable filters, and project organization, it's easy to see why it's become such a popular tool for productivity. Whether you're a busy professional or a busy parent, Todoist can help you manage your daily tasks with ease.

Simple systems are often the most effective—especially when they reduce friction rather than add complexity.

I spend a lot of time helping simplify tools, processes, and workflows to make them easier to use and maintain.

You can take a look at my TechFix service if you’re trying to simplify something that’s become too complicated.

Date-Based File Naming: A Simple Way to Organise Digital Files

Most file organisation problems start with one simple issue: you can’t find things when you need them.

That’s why I like date-based file names. They give files a natural order and make digital clutter easier to manage.

The Problem: Files Get Messy Quickly

If you're like most people, you've probably accumulated a lot of digital files over the years. Whether it's documents, photos, or other media, keeping track of all of these files can be a challenge. One way to make it easier is by using a consistent file naming convention.

One popular convention is to use a date-based naming convention. This involves naming files using the date they were created or modified, along with a brief description of the file's contents. 

How Date-Based File Naming Works

For example, a photo taken on April 5th, 2023 might be named "23-04-05 - Beach Day.jpg".

Why It Works

Using a date-based naming convention offers several benefits:

• Easy sorting: One of the biggest advantages of using a date-based naming convention is that it makes it easy to sort files in chronological order. Whether you're looking at files in a folder or using a search function, having files sorted by date can make it much easier to find what you're looking for.
• At-a-glance information: Another advantage of using a date-based naming convention is that it provides at-a-glance information about when a file was created or modified. This can be especially helpful when dealing with large numbers of files or when trying to track down a specific version of a document.
• Consistency: By using a consistent naming convention across all of your files, you can ensure that everything is organized in a logical and predictable way. This can save you time and frustration in the long run.
• Compatibility: Date-based naming conventions are widely recognized and can be easily understood by others. This can be especially helpful when sharing files with others or when working with different software programs.

Where It Can Go Wrong

Of course, there are some potential downsides to using a date-based naming convention as well. For example, if you're not diligent about updating file names when files are modified, the date-based naming convention can become confusing or inaccurate over time. Additionally, some people may find the convention cumbersome or difficult to remember.

Why I Still Use It

Date-based file naming is not perfect, but it solves a real problem with very little effort.

It makes files easier to sort, easier to scan, and easier to understand later. For me, that is the point of a good system: it should reduce thinking, not add more.

This links closely to how I use the PARA system to keep digital files and notes easier to manage.

Overall, however, using a date-based naming convention can be a helpful tool for keeping your digital files organized and easy to manage. So why not give it a try? Whether you're working with photos, documents, or other types of media, a date-based naming convention can help you stay on top of your digital clutter and find what you need when you need it.

Small systems, like clear file names, can make everyday digital work much easier.

I help simplify messy websites, forms, files, and workflows so they are easier to manage.

You can take a look at my TechFix service if your digital setup has become harder than it needs to be.

How the PARA System Helped Me Simplify Digital Organisation

Digital clutter creates friction.

When files, notes, and information end up scattered everywhere, even simple tasks become harder than they should be.

That’s what led me to the PARA system.

The Problem with Digital Clutter

The PARA system is a simple but powerful way to organize your digital life. Developed by Tiago Forte, it stands for Projects, Areas, Resources, and Archives. Each of these categories represents a different aspect of your digital life and can be used to help you manage everything from work projects to personal hobbies.

What the PARA System Is

Let's break down each category and see how it works:

1. 
   Projects: This category refers to any task or project you're currently working on. It could be a work project, a personal project, or anything else that requires your attention. Each project should have a dedicated folder or tag that contains all relevant files and documents.
2. Areas: Areas represent different areas of your life, such as work, home, hobbies, or health. Each area should have a separate folder or tag that contains all relevant files and documents.
3. Resources: This category includes any reference material or information that you might need in the future. This could include articles, books, notes, or anything else that you might want to refer back to later. Resources should be organized in a way that makes them easy to find and access when needed.
4. Archives: Archives refer to any files or documents that are no longer needed but are still worth keeping for future reference. This could include old projects, emails, or anything else that you might want to keep for historical purposes. Archives should be organized in a way that makes them easy to access but doesn't clutter up your current projects and areas.

How I Started Using It

So how does this all work in practice? Here's an example:

Let's say you're working on a project for work. You would create a Projects folder and then create a subfolder for the specific project you're working on. Inside that subfolder, you would save all relevant files and documents related to that project. If you have any reference material that might be useful for that project, you would save it in the Resources folder with a tag or label that makes it easy to find later. Once the project is complete, you would move any relevant files to the Archives folder to keep for future reference.

Why It Works for Me

I recently adopted the PARA system in my own life, and it's been revolutionary. No longer do I create random folders to store things only to forget where I have stored them. It takes out a lot of the thought and makes things so much simpler. An item immediately falls into a home, and I can easily find it later.

The biggest benefit wasn’t better folders—it was reducing the amount of thinking needed to organise things.

Instead of constantly deciding where something should go, most items naturally fall into one of four simple categories.

Adopting the PARA system does take some initial setup time, but it's well worth the investment. By organizing your digital life in this way, you'll save time, reduce stress, and be more productive overall.

Keeping Organisation Simple

What I like most about the PARA system is its simplicity.

Good organisational systems should reduce friction, not create more of it. PARA gives just enough structure to stay organised without becoming complicated to maintain.

This also connects closely to how I use date-based file naming to keep digital information easier to manage.

It follows the same thinking behind why I use Todoist—simple systems with low friction tend to work best.

Simple organisational systems can remove a surprising amount of friction from daily work.

I spend a lot of time simplifying websites, workflows, files, and digital processes to make them easier to manage and maintain.

You can take a look at my TechFix service if your digital setup has become harder to manage than it should be.