Example of how the app works.

One Big Thing

The simple app to keep you focused on your biggest task every day.

Free on the App Store
Example of how the app works.

What does the app do?

Every day, you type in one big thing you want to do. Add a few little tasks you might also want to get done. Check the app during the day to focus on your goals. Next day it’s a blank slate. That’s it? Yeah! Trust me, it totally keeps your aim on the game.

I used to track my daily goals on a sticky note. It worked pretty well, but I’d often forget to fill it out or I would lose the paper during the day. So, I made this simple app that works way better! It’s with me wherever I take my phone and it gives me a friendly nudge every morning to fill in the things I want to focus on. I can also add in tasks for tomorrow so I make sure I get them done too.

Oh, and it has themes and stickers

If you want a snazzier look for your app, I designed more themes and stickers for you. Please upgrade (it’s only a few bucks) so I can keep making free software for you. Thanks for your support!

Default theme
Grey theme
Black theme
Sunrise theme
Red theme
Examples of stickers

Priority, not priorities

A smart guy named Greg McKeown wrote a book called Essentialism that has a quote that really resonates with me:

The word priority came into the English language in the 1400s. It was singular. It meant the very first or prior thing. It stayed singular for the next five hundred years. Only in the 1900s did we pluralize the term and start talking about priorities. Illogically, we reasoned that by changing the word we could bend reality.
Yeah! We should really only have ONE big priority. That makes sense and it’s why I really like having to prioritize my one big thing each morning.

Hasn't this been done before?

Sure! There are heaps of ways people use to-dos and this specific one is sometimes called the “1-3-5 Rule”. I didn't invent the idea, but I think I’ve created the best app for it. Every other task app I’ve tried had too many bells and whistles, made me feel bad for not getting tasks done, or let tasks pile up in a way that felt overwhelming. I wanted something dead simple with just a light sprinkling of delight on top, so I created One Big Thing.

Picture of Nick

Just one developer

My name is Nick Burka and I’m a developer based in Montréal, Canada. I partly made this app for myself and partly because I think there's a broader need for simply designed tools that make our lives easier. So many of our apps today beg for attention or create stress or are over-complicated. If you agree, please upgrade your app to the paid version - the variety of themes and stickers rocks! ;)