For the longest time, I used Google Keep for all my note-taking needs. This included making to-do lists either for work or for other tasks, like buying groceries, making a travel checklist, etc. While Keep got the job done for the most part, my biggest issue with it was the lack of accountability. All my tasks, irrespective of the priority, were on Google Keep. So I wasn't able to prioritize them and clearly demarcate between important tasks and non-urgent ones. I tried several alternatives, like Notion and Obsidian. However, they, too, had the same issue. I wanted a dedicated app just for to-dos that added a sense of urgency, depending on when the tasks were due.

That's when I stumbled upon Sleek. It's a simple to-do app that's free and open source. I downloaded it just to see how it fares. But as I used it more and more every day, I realized this was exactly the type of app I was looking for. It doesn't have any fancy bells and whistles. You can add your tasks, followed by how much of a priority they are, and the app sorts them based on the due date. This adds an element of urgency and accountability -- something that was missing on other apps. That's exactly why I think you, too, should try out Sleek.

Simple yet effective UI

Keeps me accountable

Adding a fresh task on Sleek is simple. Click on the '+' icon and enter the name of the task. You can also pick other parameters like priority, due date, the maximum threshold, recurrence if the task repeats, and a Pomodoro timer duration if you want to complete the task in sessions. The priority of a task is represented by a letter from A-Z. A represents a task that has top priority. Since Sleek follows the todo.txt syntax, there are several additional commands that you can use to categorize your tasks. For instance, append the name of the task with '+tag', where 'tag' refers to the name or filter you want to add. Additionally, you can also append the task's name with '@filter', where 'filter' refers to the category or context.

A good example of using these features is that I've used the '+' function to differentiate between work tasks for all the different publications I write for, since I'm a freelancer and I contribute to several outlets. Similarly, I've used the '@' function to differentiate between work and personal tasks. Whenever you add these tags, it automatically creates a filter in the sidebar. I can simply click on the filter to look for those specific tasks, which is handy.

Does exactly what it's supposed to

No unnecessary features

Sleek segregates your tasks based on priority and when they're due. So every time I open the app, I can see my most important tasks right at the top, followed by the less important ones. I can view the due dates and decide which ones to prioritize. Once I complete a task, all I have to do is hit the checkbox next to it to remove it from the list. I like this approach, as it gives me a sense of closure each time I check an entry off the list.

If you find that viewing all your tasks in one place is still distracting, use the side pane to filter tasks based on specific factors. For instance, you can only view tasks with the priority set as 'A' or 'B', or only view to-dos that are due the following day. I also like the search functionality on Sleek. You can look for a keyword included in the task's name or any of the other tags added to it. The best part is that the UI is extremely snappy since it's a lightweight app, and there's no dependency on the internet. However, due to its offline nature, Sleek cannot sync across multiple devices, so you're restricted to using it on one machine. This is the biggest downside, as I would have liked a mobile app. An option to self-host would've been nice, too, since you could then access the service from anywhere using a browser. Hopefully, something like this can be rolled out in the future, since the app is under active development.

Say goodbye to procrastination

I'm not sure if it's the way the app has been designed or just a placebo effect, but I have been adhering to my deadlines strictly from the time I started using Sleek. Apart from keeping me more accountable, I also appreciate how my tasks are laid out in one place based on priority. This way, I get a clear view of what to do next and when my tasks are due. It makes it easier to prioritize my submissions and plan the next day's work accordingly.