I'm a fan of 37signals. I like the what they build, and I appreciate the way they think. 

I was first introduced to them through Basecamp, their project management software. At the time, my supervisor and I were trying to determine what tool we should use for managing our projects. We had access to Basecamp, so I jumped in to see if it would meet our needs. It wasn't until I explored other options, which were jam-packed with way too many features, that I started to realize the simplicity and genius of Basecamp. And that was that. We haven't looked back.

Since then I've adopted HEY (email, calendar, and blog) for my own use (I don’t want to go back); contributed to the Basecamp Community; experimented with Writebook and Campfire (and plan to more in the future); read Shape Up, It Doesn't Have to be Crazy at Work, and Rework; and now, I'm employing Fizzy for personal projects.

I was hesitant to use Fizzy at first. I liked the fresh take on Kanban, and I was familiar with the concept after extensively using Basecamp's Card Tables. But I wasn't sure that I actually had the volume of work or the right type of work to actually utilize this tool in a way that would be useful. It's a waste of time to use a tool that's not necessary just because you like it. You might like your tractor, but you don't need it to put away your socks.

In order to make Fizzy work for me, I needed to pair it with the right tasks. Not only that, it needed to be straightforward and easy to access. I needed it to lend itself to getting in, making updates, and getting out. The goal is to minimize my time in the tool so I can maximize my time doing stuff. It tracks the work, but the real work takes place outside of the tool.

By design, Fizzy is straightforward. It took me a moment to orient myself, but I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I became familiar with the navigation. As for access, using Fizzy as a Progressive Web App (PWA) on my iPhone and Mac gets me in and out quickly. (And did I mention it’s free to use?)

That left the need for pairing it with the right tasks. I started by creating boards for a few of my writing projects. I wanted to see how Fizzy could help me track different chunks of writing.

After adding some cards and adjusting the columns, I liked what I saw. Here's an example tracking some of the blog posts I would like to write:

This screenshot shows some of the key features of Fizzy: 

At the moment, it's just me working with Fizzy. However, it is possible to add collaborators, and I could see my wife joining me in the future. Especially as we work together on household projects.

Household projects. That's where it became a game changer. My writing hobby is one thing, active household management is another. That's where I saw the volume of work and the right type of work meet to shake hands. That's where I can utilize this tool in a way that is truly useful. Since employing Fizzy, I've used it to track things like replacing the kitchen faucet, planning our family’s Easter celebration, deciding if we will go to family camp this summer, and much more.
 
The truth is, I can't do everything at once. I also can't remember everything at once. So I welcome a tool that helps me remember in order to help me do. When I think of something, I add it. When I have time, I do it. There's sweet satisfaction in seeing cards get stamped as they’re moved to the Done column.
 
Thus far, Fizzy is working better for me than to-do lists. I expect to stick with it.

Thanks for another great tool, 37signals!