The True Cost of App Switching

The Grass Isn’t Always Greener on the Other Side

App switching, sometimes called productivity porn, is a problem. I’m as guilty as the next person- a new app is released and I want it. Even if it’s an app that I’ve tried years before, that shiny new “paint” (i.e. new UI, features, etc.) lures me in.

I download the app and the rest is history.

Can you relate? Have you ever grown restless with your current tools to the point of trying something new?

On. one hand, this is normal. We like new things. A new grocery store opens and we want to go shopping. A new restaurant comes to your town and you’re suddenly hungry.

Still, there is something different when it comes to our apps. Apps are the tools that help us get things done. Just as a farmer uses a particular tool for a particular task, we use apps in similar fashion.

Use apps to their fullest and they become an extension of yourself. Here are some examples:

• I use OmniFocus not just to do my work but to help me think, organize and prepare.
• DayOne is not just a journaling app but a place that I record memories.
• PDF Expert helps me fill out forms so that my kids can go on field trips.

The real cost of app-switching is expensive. You’re not just testing something new. Rather, you are doubting the tools you already have and then putting your faith into another set of resources. I’ve gone on numerous “app binges” over the years, mostly due to being restless with my apps.

With each new round of app-testing, I would feel the excitement of the change. Then, almost predictably, I would feel a sense of unsettling. How long would this app last? I would think to myself. Maybe there’s something new that I can try tomorrow. My loyalty was thin and things would fade.

What I’ve found to be true is that landing on an app that you trust and enjoy using is worth a lot. An app you can trust brings you peace of mind. The longer you use it, the more of its nuances you learn. Workflows emerge that make sense. Features become delightful and save you time. Muscle memory takes over and you’re no longer thinking of your apps but of your work. Your apps begin to work for you.

In short, the longer you can stay with an app, the better. The opposite is just too costly and will leave you restless.

The grass is rarely greener on the other side.