Getting Started

Learn how to use Nix It to manage your work and free your mind.

The app currently supports Microsoft Outlook (email and calendar).

The Interface

Nix It's interface is divided into three main areas that map to the system's philosophy:

Sidebar

Navigate between folders like Inbox, Archive, Drafts, and Sent Items. Your connected email folders appear here.

Intake

The left panel shows items in your current folder. This is where you filter what enters your system.

Canvas

The main area with columns for organizing items you're tracking. Default columns are Owned, Delegated, and Pending.

Working with Intake

The Intake panel is where items first appear. Your goal is to process items quickly—either eliminate them or move them to the Canvas for tracking.

Processing Items

For each item in your Intake, you have options:

Done — Complete the item and archive it
Nix — Delete the item (remember: elimination is safe)
Drag to Canvas — Track the item on your Canvas

The 2-Minute Rule

If an item can be handled in 2 minutes or less, do it immediately. Don't track it—complete it and move on. This keeps your system lean and your mind clear.

Creating Items

Use the toolbar buttons to create new tasks or compose emails. New items appear in your Inbox ready to be processed.

Working with Canvas

The Canvas is where you track items that need ongoing attention. Organize them by state to maintain clarity.

Owned

Items where you need to take the next action

Delegated

Items waiting on someone else

Pending

Items waiting on an event or date

Managing Columns

You can customize your Canvas by adding, renaming, or removing columns. Drag columns to reorder them. Click the column header menu for options.

Moving Items

Drag items between columns as their state changes. Use number keys (1-9) to quickly move a focused item to a column. Press 0 to move an item back to Intake.

Enriching Items

Click an item to open its details. From there you can add tags, set due dates, create checklists, and attach notes. These help you stay organized without cluttering the main view.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Nix It supports keyboard navigation for fast, focused work. Press ? anytime to see all shortcuts.

Navigation

Move up/down i / k
Move left/right j / l
Open item Enter
Close/deselect Esc
Search /

Actions

Mark done e
Nix (delete) #
Toggle read u
Add tag t
Compose new c

Move to Column

Move to column 1-9 1 - 9
Move to Intake 0
Reorder up <
Reorder down >

Folders

Go to Inbox g then i
Go to Archive g then a
Go to Drafts g then d
Go to Sent g then s

Periodic Review

Schedule a regular review (weekly works well) to audit everything on your Canvas. For each item, ask yourself: does this still deserve my attention?

Review Checklist

1. Look at each item on your Canvas
2. Justify why it's still being tracked
3. Old items need more justification than new ones
4. When in doubt, eliminate—important things come back

Remember the core philosophy:

Hold Less, Do Better

Every item you track has a cost. Seek to eliminate and unburden your mind.