5 Reasons to Use Hive Solo to Manage Your Life

Hive is widely known as a project management tool that helps teams organize for the sake of streamlining work. But it is actually the perfect tool for an array of different circumstances. So, even if you are managing projects and staying in touch with team members using Hive or another digital management system at work, the free version of Hive–Solo–is a pretty great organizational tool for everyday needs.

1. Hive Solo is Fun

First of all, every time I think of the term “Hive Solo,” I think of “Han Solo.” So, if you identify as a nerd as I do, you may get a giggle out of it. But Hive is clearly so much more than a snappy name. Its features are bar none in the free app world — and that’s coming from someone who has tried out a lot of process and client management systems in her day. (Check out how I’m using it to simplify the apartment hunt for myself.)

2. Hive Solo is Budget-Friendly

Not to mention, the Solo version of Hive is incredibly budget-friendly. This is because it is free. That’s right. People who are into the minutiae detail of their plans enough to keep a paper planner or datebook should really consider the multi-functionality of this app. And it is the most well-rounded and intuitive free version of a digital management system I have happened upon.

3. Hive Solo is Comprehensive

This free plan boasts unlimited storage, as well as unlimited collaborative notes, forms, projects, tasks, and subtasks. Four of the six project views are available to a free user, as is email integration and cloud storage connections. You can have up to two users per workspace, which is perfect for working through home concepts and chores with a partner or roommate. Custom emojis and native chat messaging are the cherries on top. While they are options you may not find yourself using if you have signed up for personal use or as a freelancer, you will greatly benefit from and enjoy these capabilities when it comes to communicating with a friend or loved one.

For those who have their entire world in Drive: OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, or Box — Hive allows you direct integration. Additional integrations, like calendars and CRM systems, are available to paid Hive users.

4. Your Household Craves It

Need a place to track your habits? Make sure you are watering your plants regularly, getting enough movement in your day, cleaning your home of dander and doom when you can? Routinely clean your kitchen and bathroom to reduce the chances of nose blindness? Want to encourage your roommate to step up and help out with a tracking system? (Hey, you can always encourage tracking with fun activities and rewards!) All of these activities and more are trackable in Hive.

As someone who struggles with routine, I enjoy making lists and sorting things in a calendar. If you would prefer to move away from using a paper planner, but want to keep your important tasks prioritized and top of mind, Hive is the perfect place to keep your everyday work and chores.

5. Your Future Encourages Its Use

Jotting down notes about ideas and future plans can be exhausting, especially if they are scattered across multiple notebooks, sticky notes, and apps. Pop open Hive and create a FUTURE board with big projects. Then, organize the steps to each project, budget, and expected timeline within the board. This way, you can prioritize projects and encourage yourself to make impactful decisions as you work toward bigger-picture goals.

Hive Helps You Innovate

I, myself, enjoy tracking when I create pitches for freelance work as well as the time I take to contribute to a future book or writing project. I can add new ideas as soon as I wake up from a particularly inspiring dream, and brainstorm ways to integrate those concepts into my art and work.

Hive Helps You Renovate

If you are a homeowner, you can track that upcoming roofing project, or expand on your ideas for the garden redesign. Something as simple as tracking quotes for a landscaping project or sending notes to the household about a particular solicitation at the door can streamline the home improvement process. Plus, it allows you to have tips and tricks to provide neighbors and friends for their future projects.

Hive Helps You Relax

Shared boards can be used to plan your next girls’ trip, itemize the budget and to-dos for a family getaway, and help you organize your plans for festival season. Aside from its capabilities in that area, the customization options help you to see the information in a format that is best suited for you. This can help cut down on unnecessary overwhelm and anxiety that would otherwise be triggered.

Hive Encourages Self Awareness

If you are using Hive without an added team member, planning solo retreats and time alone–for relaxation, productivity, play, or a combination of the three–can be incredibly helpful, especially for creative ruts and overwhelm. I definitely encourage anyone who has not experienced the app to log in and start planning your next moment of zen. Incorporate photos and make it into a mood or inspiration board of sorts. You will feel immediate calm as you create your vision of the future.

Not only can you attain self-awareness by planning these quiet moments of retreat, but you can look back at how you have managed and handled projects and processes. Having high-level views of your workflow can help you determine when you are your most productive self, what your sleep habits and routines should look like, and how much downtime you need to maintain optimal flow.