This week: staying organized in a world of too many options.
The more projects I juggle, the more I realize how much chaos creeps in without a clear system. No plan, no system… not much gets done.
Spending just one focused hour to plan things out often saves me hours in the long run, and I find this true in both work and life. Planning meals ahead of the week helps me eat better and waste less time cooking.
The same goes with work. So this week, I’m sharing app to help you get organized ✅.
Plus: a smarter Grammarly alternative, and an AI trick to make videos of yourself (perfect for socials, but use it responsibly 😉!).
Notion is like a modular digital HQ: your notes, tasks, docs, and databases all in one place. Start with a simple to-do list and end up with a full content calendar, project tracker, or even a lightweight CRM. With real-time collaboration, comments, and shared workspaces, it’s also great for teams.
We mainly use it as a knowledge base, and love how easy it is to structure information. It even has advanced features like databases and AI integrations (we haven’t explored these yet but hope to soon!). And yes, the free plan is surprisingly solid 💸.
If I had to pick only one app to stay organized, Notion would be it. It does (almost) everything.
🔁 Alternative to: Google Docs + Trello + Evernote + Airtable (sort of)
Airtable turns boring spreadsheets into something you'd actually want to look at. You can build your own database with custom fields for text, checkboxes, file uploads, links, etc. And... you don’t need to know what SQL stands for; just drag, drop, and done.
It blends structure with flexibility, letting you organize data visually with calendars, kanban boards, and even timelines. Whether you're building a content pipeline, a simple CRM, or a project tracker, it handles complex info without feeling heavy 🪄.
I currently use an open-source alternative (NocoDB), but Airtable keeps tempting me back in. With NocoDB, managing the hosting and setup takes time I’d rather spend actually working, and for what it offers, Airtable’s price feels totally reasonable.
🔁 Alternative to: Google Sheets, Trello, and classic databases
AppFlowy is a robust open-source alternative to Notion, designed for users who want more control and privacy over their data. You can self-host AppFlowy on your own server or device, ensuring your information stays private, or opt for a managed subscription if you prefer a hassle-free setup.
It offers a similar set of building blocks to Notion: pages, rich text, kanban boards, and lightweight databases, all wrapped in a clean design. Whether you’re taking notes, managing tasks, or building a knowledge base, AppFlowy keeps your data in your hands.
It’s still maturing and not as polished as Notion or Airtable, but it’s open-source (read: free).
Some useful tool deals we spotted this week, which are worth a look if you're into smart savings.
💸 AI Plant Identifier: Identify plants in seconds with this AI-powered plant identifier. Lifetime subscription for $19.99.
💸 Press Ranger: Track media coverage, monitor backlinks, and stay on top of brand mentions across the web. Lifetime deal for $59.
💸 Surfshark VPN: Protect your privacy with data encryption, unlimited device access, ad-blocking and cookie pop-up suppression. 3-year deal for $83.99.
LanguageTool is like Grammarly’s multilingual cousin. It is also surprisingly generous on the free plan.
It checks grammar, spelling, and style in over 30 languages, including English, Spanish, German, and even Catalan (all languages I work with, and often mess up). Whether you're polishing a blog post, sending an email, or drafting a social caption, it catches the awkward bits and helps you sound sharper.
The browser extension works almost everywhere you write: Google Docs, Gmail, Notion, LinkedIn. It automatically detects the language (or lets you set it manually) and highlights issues in real-time, offering helpful suggestions as you type.
It’s one of those tools that’s genuinely changed my workflow, and made my life easier.
A few weeks ago, I shared how I use Replicate to generate AI images of myself (because awkward photo shoots are the worst). This week, we’re taking that idea one step further: turning those images into videos of yourself doing things—without ever pressing “record”.
Here’s the workflow:
Use Replicate (like I showed in this issue) to generate a custom, photorealistic image of yourself doing whatever you can dream up.
Drop it into Runway’s 'Image to Video' tool and let Runway animate it into a short clip. You can have yourself walking down the street as a Roman soldier, or riding a horse across the plains like a cowboy.
Not sure what to prompt for your video? Ask ChatGPT for a video prompt. You’ll get ideas like camera angles, motion, and lighting you might’ve missed.
Great for spicing up social posts, adding movement to a landing page, or making your AI avatar look like it has real weekend plans.
🍿 Plot Twist of the Week
Too many tools, not enough clarity
I’ve been trying to streamline (and automate) some of my workflows lately, but every step turns into a research rabbit hole. A few weeks ago, I finally committed to n8n for automations; it took me forever to decide.
Then came the database bit. I avoided SQL and went with NocoDB. It's open source, self-hosted, and… character-building. But it has limitations I didn’t expect (e.g. a dry interface), so now I’m eyeing AppFlowy, Coda, or Notion.
More time lost 🫠.
And don’t even get me started on LLMs. Every model out there claims to be the one. Claude, Gemini, GPT, you name it. But which is best for coding? For writing? For Spanish?
LMArena LM Creative Writing Ranking
At least LMArena and OpenRouter can help you make more informed picks when it comes to AI models with their rankings.
Lesson: Sometimes the biggest productivity hack is just picking something and moving forward, even if it’s not perfect 🚀.
That’s it for this week. Thanks for reading! Next time, we’ll look at how to secure your digital life without losing your mind with a few simple tools that make it easy.
🧰 Smart tools. Useful tips. Weekly. Hola friend 👋, I’m Josep. Each week, I hunt down practical tools and productivity hacks to help digital doers like you do more with less effort. Not subscribed yet? Join for free here This week: building better conversations with clients and users 🗣️. You don’t need to be a support rep to care about communication. But when client messages pile up across so many channels (email, social, chat, etc), it’s easy to drop the ball. I’ve been there. I’ve got over...
🧰 Smart tools. Useful tips. Weekly. Hola friend 👋, I’m Josep. Each week, I hunt down practical tools and digital hacks to help creators like you do more with less effort. Not subscribed yet? Join for free here This week: stay safe online. You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to care about security. And ignoring it can hurt. I’ve learned that the hard way, usually after breaking a site or losing important documents because I clicked the wrong button 💣. This week’s tools are all about...
🧰 Smart tools. Useful tips. Weekly. Hola friend 👋, I’m Josep. Each week, I hunt down practical tools and digital hacks to help creators like you do more with less effort. Not subscribed yet? Join for free here. This week: AI assistants that go way beyond ChatGPT. I’ve been testing tools that can write content, summarize meetings, code entire websites; and yes, even create realistic AI videos of yourself doing whatever 🤠👢🌵 (scroll down for the emoji reference). I’ve picked out a few standouts...