I’ve been using Nozbe for quite some time now and have established a strong reputation for assisting individuals and teams in maximizing their productivity with Nozbe.
Because I wanted to explore different task management tools, I decided to stop using Nozbe and try out alternatives such as ClickUp, Todoist, Asana, Any.do, and more.
All of these tools are excellent, but what made me consistently choose Nozbe was the team behind them. They are truly committed to everything related to productivity.
Nozbe is an amazing tool that can be customized to suit your individual or team’s preferences.
Here are the 10 standout features that set Nozbe apart from other productivity apps on the market.
1. Follows the GTD System
The founder of Nozbe, Michael Sliwinski, developed the app to address a personal need. He recounts his experience of reading David Allen’s Getting Things Done book and searching for an app to apply the principles he learned. Unfortunately, the app was not yet available.
And so he made the decision to bring it into existence.
If you have experience with Getting Things Done (GTD), you’ll immediately notice how Nozbe effectively implements each GTD tactic.
Using an Inbox to collect ideas, utilizing stars to prioritize next actions, and leveraging the calendar as a tickler file are all effective strategies when implementing GTD principles.
Everything within Nozbe is designed to help you maximize your productivity.
2. List of Priorities (Next Steps)
There are numerous productivity apps available that offer the ability to assign tasks for the current day or conveniently transfer tasks to a project designated for today.
Nozbe simplifies this entire process more effectively than other apps by utilizing a straightforward star.
The inspiration for beginning a task originated from the stars in Gmail. With just a single tap, your task can be swiftly added to your Priority list.
Once again, Nozbe remains dedicated to the GTD methodology. Every project you’re working on will have one or two next steps.
Many times, it’s unnecessary to view the entire project. It’s important to prioritize the next task that will help move your project forward. This could be making a call, sending an email, or conducting your weekly review.
The straightforward star feature allows you to effortlessly create your list, eliminating any concerns about transferring tasks between projects or lists.
3. Projects for Vertical Alignment
Based on the GTD methodology, it is recommended that tasks consisting of more than 3-5 steps be considered as projects.
Nozbe’s Projects are everything you would expect from a task manager. They function as containers that house all of your tasks pertaining to a particular outcome.
Imagine this scenario as a paper-based system where each project has its own dedicated file.
Every task manager on the market uses projects to divide tasks, but Nozbe projects have unique features that enhance their usability.
Files and notes can be attached to each project. The attachments are not tied to specific tasks, but the project ensures that they are always visible and accessible.
You can effortlessly share projects with your team members or anyone who has an email address.
Working with others on a project doesn’t require them to have a Nozbe account.
Instead, you will receive a unique project link where you can collaborate with others.
Projects provide a convenient way to organize and manage tasks with ease.
- There are various ways to sort your items, such as by due date, creation date, last modification, number of comments, and more.
- You have the option to filter based on the time needed, category, responsible party, recurrence frequency, and more.
In Nozbe, you have the flexibility to view your project tasks in a manner that suits your preferences.
4. Horizontal Alignment Categories
I’ve previously discussed the benefits of utilizing Nozbe Categories, but I’ll provide a brief overview here.
Categories allow for easy tracking of specific tasks across various projects.
As an illustration, you have the option to add Category Calls to any task that necessitates a phone call. You’ll likely have phone calls to make for tasks in various projects.
If you’re looking for a convenient way to manage your calls, you can easily access your Calls Category and view all your calls from different projects. This allows you to efficiently make all your calls at once, whether you have a few minutes of downtime or it’s time to make your calls.
Batching tasks like this can be a real time saver, allowing you to focus on completing similar tasks all at once.
Organizing tasks by Project and Category allows for better control over your productivity and helps you prioritize your efforts.
5. Task comments and mentions
Although you use Nozbe alone, Comments help you organize your duties by storing all pertinent notes and files.
Your job contains all the information you need, so you’ll never have to seek again!
Comments can be a quick note or computer or phone file attachment.
I use this tool when grocery shopping to remember what to buy.
I take a short picture, link it to my job, and head to the store.
Attach Evernote notes or Dropbox, Box, or OneDrive files to advance your remarks.
For easy access, your files are safely kept alongside your tasks.
Comments can be quick checklists.
My morning routine has one checklist-commented task. It cuts my priority list while keeping me on pace.
If you use Nozbe in a team or share projects, you can comment for another participant using @.
When she comments on a guest article I’m writing, she enters @Robby and I get a notification.
Comments directly on tasks track progress and provide openness for everyone.
6. Seamless integration with Google Calendar
Certain tasks must be completed at a designated time and day.
GTD recommends utilizing a tickler file, which consists of dates, to ensure that your tasks are appropriately scheduled for the designated time and day.
One example of something worth noting in your tickler file is a bill that has a specific due date. Consider adding this to your reminder five days prior to the deadline.
If you’re like most people in today’s world, your calendar is an essential part of your life.
Many people find Google Calendar to be a convenient tool for sharing calendars with family or coworkers. Once again, Nozbe is staying true to the GTD methodology by assisting you in seamlessly syncing your tickler file with your existing calendar.
The integration between Nozbe and Google Calendar is incredibly helpful.
Believe it or not, there are individuals who fail to allocate dedicated time for their tasks.
They create extensive to-do lists yet fail to schedule dedicated time to accomplish their tasks.
Thanks to the calendar integration, you can easily view your scheduled Nozbe tasks on your calendar. Additionally, you have the option to allocate a specific amount of time to focus on completing your tasks with the Time Needed feature.
7. Assigning Tasks
When collaborating on a project with a team member or client, it is crucial to allocate specific tasks to individuals.
From my extensive background in business, the military, and the classroom, I have learned a valuable lesson: without assigning responsibility for a task, it is unlikely to be completed.
Nozbe simplifies task delegation with just two clicks.
Furthermore, once a task is delegated, it prominently displays the team member’s name and picture. Now it’s incredibly simple to determine the person accountable for completing a task.
8. The flat project structure ensures that everything remains visible.
One common complaint I often hear about Nozbe is the absence of sub-projects.
Initially, this caused me a great deal of frustration and ultimately led to my decision to leave Nozbe in 2014.
However, as I delve deeper into the realm of productivity, I am beginning to comprehend why Nozbe is hesitant to incorporate sub-projects. One issue with sub-projects is that tasks can easily become buried, lose their value, or get overlooked.
Nozbe’s flat structure allows for a high level of flexibility in how you view your projects and tasks.
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Every task has the option to include a checklist as a comment. Additionally, both the task and checklist can easily be transformed into a project with multiple tasks. Another option is to utilize Project Labels for organizing projects with similar characteristics.
Similar to utilizing categories across tasks in multiple projects, it is possible to assign multiple labels to a single project.
Discuss the ability to organize projects in a manner that suits your needs.
The factor that initially led me to quit Nozbe has now become one of the primary reasons why I continue using it and recommend it to others.
9. Templates
Have you ever found yourself having to tackle the same kind of project more than once? Or perhaps you have a project that requires regular completion? How about a packing list for travel or remote work?
Save time and effort by using Nozbe’s Templates to quickly create new projects without having to manually type out all the tasks each time.
Templates allow you to effortlessly create a project with all the necessary tasks, comments, and due dates, which can be reused whenever required.
Why go through the hassle of starting your project from scratch every time?
Not only can you create templates for your own use, but you also have the option to share your projects with the world.
Users of Nozbe are generously sharing their templates with the community, offering valuable insights into what methods are proving effective for others. This collaborative effort aims to enhance productivity and streamline workflows for all.
10. Exceptional Support Team
Regardless of how exceptional a software program may be, it is inevitable that you will come across a problem at some point.
And Nozbe’s team is readily available to assist you and ensure a quick and smooth start.
Their responsiveness is impressive, whether you reach out to them via email or Twitter.
They are not only efficient, but they also possess genuine personalities.
Furthermore, their team truly embodies the productivity advice they offer. They also utilize Nozbe to enhance its functionality by collaborating on projects, providing feedback, and assigning tasks among their team members.
They are always attentive to user feedback and continuously improve their products.
So there you have it: the top 10 reasons why Nozbe stands out as an exceptional project management tool.
