Sorted³: The Hybrid Innovator
Sorted³ does something clever: it combines task lists with timeline scheduling. Tasks sit in the "inbox" until you drag them onto your day. Scheduled tasks can auto-push forward if incomplete.
It's a hybrid approach. Not pure timeline (like Structured). Not pure lists (like Todoist). Somewhere in between.
Clever? Yes. But does it prevent burnout? Not really.
What Sorted³ Does Well
- Hybrid Approach: Lists for backlog, timeline for today. Best of both worlds.
- Auto-Schedule: Incomplete tasks automatically push to next day. No manual rescheduling.
- Calendar Sync: Two-way sync with your calendar. See meetings and tasks together.
- Drag & Drop: Smooth interface. Moving tasks feels natural.
- Focus Timer: Built-in Pomodoro-style timer for deep work.
- Affordable: $15/year for premium. Reasonable pricing.
If you want a hybrid system with auto-scheduling magic, Sorted³ is solid.
The Auto-Schedule Illusion
Auto-schedule sounds amazing. "Just drag tasks onto your timeline. If you don't finish, they auto-push to tomorrow!"
In practice, here's what happened to me:
Monday: Schedule "Finish presentation" for 2pm. Don't finish. Auto-pushes to Tuesday.
Tuesday: Still don't finish. Auto-pushes to Wednesday.
Wednesday: Finally finish, but now 3 other tasks piled up and auto-pushed to Thursday.
Auto-schedule doesn't solve procrastination. It just automates procrastination.
Life Balance: Sorted³ Doesn't Track This
Sorted³ sees "tasks." Work task, gym task, call mom task – all equal in the eyes of the algorithm.
It doesn't notice that:
- You've scheduled 8 work tasks and 0 self-care tasks this week
- Your "Connection" category has been empty for 10 days
- Body tasks keep auto-pushing because you prioritize work
Funtasking's Purpose Wheel shows this imbalance instantly. One glance: "Oh, Work is crushing everything else."
Platform Limitation: Apple Only
Sorted³ is iOS and Mac only. No Windows. No Android. No web app (besides a basic planner).
For Apple users, great. For everyone else? Locked out.
Funtasking works on iOS, Web, and Android (coming soon). Your life balance data isn't trapped in one ecosystem.
When Sorted³ Wins
- You're Apple-only and staying that way
- You want hybrid lists + timeline approach
- You like auto-schedule magic
- You need calendar integration now
- $15/year feels right for your budget
- You already track balance manually
When Funtasking Wins
- You need cross-platform access
- You want visual life balance tracking
- You prefer human control over auto-schedule
- You respond to gamification & rewards
- You need burnout prevention, not task automation
- You want Purpose Wheel insights
The Clever vs Aware Debate
Sorted³ is clever. Auto-scheduling is smart. Hybrid approach is innovative.
But clever time management ≠ life balance awareness.
You can auto-schedule your way into perfect productivity and still burn out. Because you're optimizing task completion, not life balance.
Gamification Gap
Sorted³ has no rewards. No coins. No incentives beyond "task is done."
Some people don't need that. They're intrinsically motivated.
I'm not one of them. I need coins. I need to earn rewards. Funtasking gives me that dopamine hit Sorted³ doesn't.
Can You Use Both?
Eh, probably not. Both want to be your daily planner. You'd be duplicating tasks between two systems.
Pick the one that solves your actual problem:
Need smart auto-scheduling? Sorted³.
Need life balance awareness? Funtasking.
Final Verdict
Sorted³ is a well-designed hybrid planner with clever automation. If you're on Apple devices and want auto-schedule magic, it's a good pick.
But if your problem is burnout (not inefficient scheduling), Sorted³ won't solve it. It'll just efficiently schedule your way to exhaustion.
Funtasking won't auto-schedule your tasks. But it will show you the life balance truth before you burn out.