Minimalist apps for Mac and iPhone that don’t sacrifice functionality
I love trying apps, but sometimes I know I have too many, and they end up slowing me down. That ends up creating more mental pressure for me, in an already overcrowded headspace!
I’m not alone. I discovered that 41% of remote workers had difficulty finding the information they needed when using many different tools.
The other thing: when you get a cluttered up Mac or iPhone, it runs like a rugby player wading through treacle in heels… (lovely image there!)
So, what to do? I’ve put together a list of 3 of the best minimalist apps that really will solve your digital setup issues and take away the mental load.
The minimalist apps that make a difference to my digital dilemmas
My first tip: When I’m struggling for help with a tech dilemma, I often turn to this GPT Productivity Assistant for solutions to any problems I have, and more often than not, it comes up with the goods!
Here are (in no particular order) the 3 apps I think work best for me when I’m in danger of mental burnout!
1. Bartender: Whip up a deliciously minimal Mac-tail!
See what I did there? With Bartender installed, I can solve the thorny issue of the number of apps these days that insist on putting icons in the Finder’s menu bar.
There are lots of ways they can get cluttered, whether it’s cloud storage, password managers, or backup tools.
Bartender solves that problem at a stroke by keeping my menu bar well-arranged and allowing me to take full control.
I can choose which apps to display in the menu bar and which to hide behind Bartender’s icon. Or I can choose to display items for a period of time after they update. For the complete minimalist look, I can even hide the Bartender menu bar item itself!
Other reviewers love it too. In fact, the Saas Report on YouTube rates it as a “game changer for Mac users, helping us organize and declutter our menu bar for a cleaner, more efficient workspace.”
2. Turn to Todoist
I turn to Todoist when I’m struggling with prioritization. It helps me to sort tasks without overwhelming me with features.
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In our workdays, not everything is equally urgent. So, color-coded priorities make this visual rather than abstract. It’s also fun to earn karma points and get streaks…
I find it genuinely great at keeping me focused on my tasks and helping me avoid procrastination. I can organise my tasks by project (work, blog, personal) and use priority levels to focus on what matters most. The clean interface keeps me focused on getting on with the work I need to, rather than hours of tedious admin!
3. I find a moment of serenity with Calm
I think it’s good to have an app to help you unwind. I like Calm for this. I feel that when I use it, I’m organizing my head, which in turn helps me organize other things in my life too.
This, for me, is a great help when sorting out a minimalist iPhone setup.
I can use guided meditations, sleep stories, focus music, and soundscapes in one beautifully designed app.
There’s a free trial, and then you can subscribe for $6 ish a month.
My final take? Be a mindful minimalist
Look, I’ll level with you. There are some times when minimalism can go too far, and you end up with a Mac that’s so sparse even Marie Kondo would run a mile.
I think these apps strike a great balance between adding simplicity to your workflow and not losing any power.
There’s Todoist to run your calendar, Bartender to keep your interface clean and clutter-free, and the Calm iPhone app to give you breathing space when you need some quiet time.
What more do you need? (Other than a lottery win…I can dream, right?)
More meanderings through minimalism
For more minimalist options and ways to cut distractions on your Mac, take a look at some of the other content I’ve written:
