I’ve been wanting to write about my most used apps for so long but didn’t have enough motivation to do so, until I came across this directory of apps people commonly use. Inspired by this, I’ve decided to compile a list of my default apps.

Prioritize Native Apps, then Fantastic Updates for New OS Support in Apps

For over ten years, I have enthusiastically tried thousands of apps. Throughout this time, I have learned that the best apps are the ones that withstand the test of time, receive frequent updates to support new operating system features, and, if necessary, offer excellent options for sharing and exporting.

The most important lesson I've learned from my years is this: the less I have to worry about the longevity of support, the better. And ultimately, which apps would have a longer lifespan than Apple's own apps?

Therefore, this year, I have decided to mostly use native apps instead of trying to find apps with the best features.

Only if Apple's implementation did not meet my standards then would I choose popular apps that closely follow native app guidelines and are most suitable for my use cases. That is why I have chosen a vastly different list of apps this year compared to my previous years, but I'm happy with my current choice.

However, since writing, learning, and note-taking have been my passion, I don’t use Apple Notes and Freeform because it’s difficult to export and share to other apps. Therefore, I couldn’t bring myself to use the native apps, and opted for Drafts and Bear as Apple Notes alternatives, and Muse as a Freeform alternative.

My Default Apps List

• 📨 Mail Client: Spark (I’ve yet enough time to figure out my workflow for Apple Mail yet)
• 📮 Mail Server: Gmail, Hotmail, Custom Domain using Porkbun with iCloud server. 
• ✍️ Journaling: Drafts, Stoic. (morning and evening prompts), Day One (memory keeping with photos and videos)
• 📝 Notes&Writing: , (jotting downs ideas and tasks to fully crafted articles), iA Writer (Long-form writing), Craft (large projects), Obsidian (daily journal, reference notes, but uses iA Writer to access files on mobile devices), Bear (Book Notes because it’s much simpler to use it for attachments)
• 👩‍💻 Blogging: Using Ulysses  or Drafts to publish on my main blog in Micro.blog. Also use Scribbles, Bear Blog, and Ghost hosting with MagicPages for my other blogs.
• 💡 Brainstorming and Ideation: Muse as my digital whiteboard
• ✅ To-Do: Apple Reminders (Just ditched Things), Agenda (for projects but considering just using Apple Notes or Craft instead.)
• 📆 Calendar: Apple Calendar, but still use widgets from BusyCal
• 📚 Books: Kindle, Libby, Audible 
• 💪 Health and Fitness: Apple Fitness and Apple Health(for logging) and Gentler Streak (health state), just ditched Fitbod (tracking workout progress), Athlytic and Bevel (daily exertion and recovery),  Foodnoms (food log)
• 📷 iPhone Photo Shooting: Apple Camera
• 🟦 Photo Editing: Photomator, Darkroom
• 📁 Cloud File Storage: iCloud for active files, OneDrive for archiving
• 📖 RSS: News Explorer
• 🌐 Browser: Arc and Safari, but considering trying out Zen Browser next year.
• 💬 Chat: Line, Facebook Messenger, Instagram 
• 🔖 Bookmarks: Goodlinks (for websites), Play-Save Videos Watch Later (for videos)
• 📑 Read It Later: Readwise Reader
• 📰 News: My Family and RSS feeds, but mostly my family, LOL. 
• 🎵 Music: Spotify 
• 💰 Budgeting and Personal Finance: Still figuring out. 

My grandmother lived for 94 years, experiencing wars and four reigns of Thailand.

Year after year, our entire family—over a dozen of us—gathered at Grandma's house to share meals during ceremonies, holidays, and birthdays. It was certainly more than a hundred gatherings that she graced us with.

She was always there with us from the moment we entered this world. You could even say that our earliest memories began with her presence.

She lived so long that we sometimes thought she would live forever. Even in her final year, she remained healthy enough to smile, talk, and navigate her days—until she could not anymore.

The reality struck us: no one can live forever, no matter how much we wish for it.

She was always calm and collected, yet her presence radiated warmth that made us feel safe and comfortable.

Most importantly, she was a fighter. The doctors told us she had less than a month to live, yet she gifted us two whole months to be with her and process our grief—a testament to her strength.

Though her absence has left a significant void in our hearts, it comforts us to know that she did not suffer much in her final moments. Now, she can rest peacefully after a long, well-lived life.

As descendants of Chinese heritage, we held a traditional Chinese funeral ceremony. We walked her soul to heaven ourselves and burned essential items for her use in the afterlife. We also buried her alongside Grandpa, who passed away a decade ago, so now she can finally enjoy eternal peace with the love of her life.

This is not a forever goodbye; we will visit her every year as part of The Qingming Festival. However, it is undoubtedly one of the hardest goodbyes we have ever faced together.

Although, sadly, the journey back to Grandma's house together as a family will no longer include her physical presence, we still find joy in being together. The atmosphere remains filled with warmth from the bond that Grandpa and Grandma created for us, just as before. We continue to chat and laugh, looking at each other with happiness. We can see old memories overlapping with new stories being created in every moment we spend together in the room where we have always shared meals.

I believe this is what people mean when they talk about leaving a legacy behind: when what you’ve done becomes the norm and the way you loved becomes second nature to those who remain. There’s no need for grand gestures or eloquent speeches—just pure habits lingering like a perfume that never fades away.

This is what grandma left us: 
Her way of life.  

And I’m so grateful for it. We all are.

With what you taught us, I’m sure we will be okay, no matter how difficult it may be. The lives we shared will remain with us until our own last breaths. And the love will continue to persevere, and your legacy will thrive through our way of life. No one is truly gone as long as someone remembers them, and we all plan to remember you for the rest of our lives.

So may you rest in peace. Don’t worry about us; we will meet again soon enough.

Grandma is dying; there’s no way around it. She’s already 94 years old, so no one is surprised, and we’ve all been preparing for it in our own ways for a long time. Still, when the doctor said she had less than a month, putting a definite deadline on something we were too scared to think about, it made us realize that it’s really happening and not just some arbitrary prediction anymore.

Sitting in a hospital room together, sharing our silent grief, puts things into perspective. This is truly the most important thing we all face together as a family. We might not grieve in the same way, but we’re all grieving together. All those interactions that seemed trivial before have become more meaningful than ever. Though we didn’t say much, we felt closer than ever before. We can even notice each other’s pain through even the tiniest expressions.

I'm not sure how long we’ll get to sit together like this, but I’ll cherish every smile and tear I saw today and every day after until her time comes. I’d hate to see her go, but I know it’s for the best. And I know I don’t have to bear the grief alone because we’re all sharing the pain.

The only thing I wish for her is that she could remember all of us—the grief, the love, and the memories as a family—in her final moments, ensuring she’s not alone in her journey. She’s lived a long life; it’d seem hard to remember everything, but I want her to remember that she’s always loved by everyone around her. I truly hope she will take our shared love in this family with her last breath.

We’re in this together, and we’ll get through this together. But most importantly, this family will keep her in our hearts forever.