One of the things I liked the most when I launched my iPhone 5 was the ability to put an extra row of apps on the home screen. Yes, okay, that’s a minor detail, but the order of these apps this is something i have paid a lot of attention to for a long time. Attention that led me to some conclusions that I consider interesting to present.
A hierarchy according to usage
Of course, when it comes to organization, everything is a matter of personal opinion. What I present below is exactly that, but after several questions and comments from friends and interested people, I think this gives us an opportunity to reflect on it. I tell you then, How do I organize apps and information on my iPhone?.
I have to start off by saying that my organizing system is pretty much the same since my first iPhone or, at least, since we can organize apps into folders. I always preferred only have two pages of applications
Given the number of applications available on this second page, I have always organized it with several folders at the top, and with secondary applications immediately below. The hierarchy of apps is something I’ve always been clear about. Then, over time, the apps that occupied a secondary folder, the second app page, or even the primary screen changed. News has appeared or the applications have simply jumped out of place.
And then the widgets and the app library arrive
At some point in the evolution of my order, widgets arrived. These widgets have changed locations in different versions of the operating system, so they don’t fit into what we are talking about before. in iOS 14 they might start to blend in with icons, on the home screen.
From the first beta versions, I had my reluctance to change my home screen. It is true that the information provided by the widgets is most interesting, but at the same time take up some valuable space.
Also in iOS 14 the app library has arrived, a system that takes care of organizing all our applications in files, without us having to do anything. A feature that I loved from day one and use it regularly.
Four pillars: proactive, current, daily and others
And we finally come to the organizational system that I use today. Mentally I organize it in four main sections: proactive, current, daily and others. The “proactive” section refers to the information that I must consult beforehand, in order to plan. This is the widgets section.
And where do I have it? In the widget area, left from the main screen. There I can see my reminders for today, calendar events, weather information, the stock exchange, especially from Apple, and the time in other countries, to locate certain news and people.
The second section is what I call “current” refers to what is currently happening and focuses on the notification center. Here I can see my news sources, follow posts, receive messages, emails and ultimately manage the news. I always try to deal with notifications as they arrive, to prevent them from piling up or losing sight of something interesting.
Four sections that, when internalized, take me straight to what I want to do without distractions.
The third section, that of “day to day” is my home screen. Here I have located the apps, and only the apps, that I use every day, several times a day. Camera, Photos, Messages, Mail, Reminders, Notes, Slack, Shortcuts … Here are the applications that I should use in 95% of my iPhone requests.
And finally “others “, which is simplified in the application library, just to the right of the home screen. By having no more pages, I can access them directly with a single gesture. Very comfortable for all applications that have no place on the main screen.
In the end, my interaction with the iPhone is simplified, and in a way that I already have very internalized, I go straight to what I want to do at all times. Planning on the left, top notifications, central applications and other applications and management on the right. A system that avoid distractions, focus on what I’m going to do and it’s really comfortable for me.
As I said before, the question of organization is extremely personal. However, many of you have asked me or expressed interest in this subject. This is how I organize my iPhone.
