How Do You Organise Yourself and Your Life?
Hello all,
Today I am writing about organization skills and tools. What do you use and how?
It's an irony that before the advent of computers with their apps and online calendars and organizers, planners etc, it was simply a matter of writing down what needed to be done [in a book/notepad] and then just getting on with it - life.
If you wanted to find a note - too easy! Just go to the book you used to write your notes in.
If you wanted to find a document - too easy! Just go to the filing cabinet where all documents were filed.
If you wanted to know where you needed to be and when - too easy! Just open up your calendar with that cool ribbon thingy and voila, you're on the right year, right month, right day [page] so just look down to the respective time slot and that's your where and when.
Then came along technology with the promise of simplifying our lives. Everything was now in one place ... or is it???
Documents (word/pages, excel/numbers, powerpoint/keynote and, and, and) became electronic and they still needed to be filed away but how many of you have sat there in a quandary wondering where you actually filed that document that you so desperately need now? Which folder? What did you name the folder? Is it on the desktop or the laptop that I was working on last night?
Shoot, never mind WHERE I filed it - what did I call the document? I can't even search for it because you don't know what you called it.
Tools or apps then promised to sort this out because now we can put everything into one place e.g. Evernote.
Well, once again, I find myself in the same quandary - I have no idea how to use Evernote efficiently and end up in a trial and error seek and find mission [impossible], to find notes which end up being very disjointed because I have multiple notes on the same subject. Even if they are in the same 'notebook', there're still a few of them.
Storage dilemmas - Google Drive or Dropbox or Cloud or External Drive or ...
Calendars - Google Calendar, Asana, iCal ...
Photos and videos take up more space and end up being on more devices than ever. I have the same photos on my phone and laptop and computer. Yes, I could just use the cloud to "put everything up there" but if I delete it from 'source' (my phone say), doesn't it remove it from the cloud as well - synchronization and all that garb. Now I have no photo!
Mulitple devices - phone, iPad, notepad, laptop, desktop and who knows what else.
Planners, Calendars, Notes, Documents, Photos, Videos.... I swear I have used up all the space on my computer because I have everything in duplicate, triplicate and more.
Passwords!!! I have never had to remember so many arbitrary names, numbers, codes, and random sequences of numbers and letters as I have to now. Previously I would have said, don't even go there, but I think I have this ONE thing under control - I use LastPass but also have 'The Vault' on my phone. There are just some things I don't like to put out into cyberspace.
Do you have a simple method of organizing your life? How do you work? I'd really love to hear from you.
Have an awesome day
Gary :o)
Recent Comments
14
Hey Gary!
One of my favorite software programs is MS OneNote. It's very easy to create "books" for various things/subjects. Within that book there are "tabs" for key points and you can add "pages" to them. I see it as a digital notebook that I always have with me. It syncs with my phone, laptop, desktop and tablet. It certainly helps me stay organized!
Hey Suzanne!
Thanks so much for your input. I’ll definitely take a look at that. I really like the Katherine’s suggestion of the LightArrow app. I have looked at that it but now I just need to understand I how to use it
I’ll have to check LightArrow as well. I already use OneNote at work, so there was no learning curve for me.
It's great when you're able to cross over like that (work/home)! Very handy indeed.
LightArrow has a very nice look and feel to it, but there is a learning curve for this one :)
Hey now Gary,
in sports, those who make the big bucks, if u will, focus on one thing at a time. Know your strengths. We in the community of WA sense u do. Back to the sports analogy, LeBron James missed more shots then he made yet his bank account, we can agree, states something differently. We in the community of WA, focus on one thing at a time while being aware of our weakness. Wen I first started, I submit, I neglected to use it. I have been here a mere week. Yet the principle still works. I am back to it. That principle worked in other fields. We in the community of WA do know its a face pace world yet u Gary call the shots, Gary would u concur? Make it so.
Blessed and highly favored
Your WA,
Rome
Thanks, Rome. Focusing on one thing at a time is certainly what is needed. The multi-tasking thing is a myth.
Gary,
I feel your pain. After experiencing brain injury from strokes caused by aneurysms, even the word 'task' throws me. My method is simple. I am paperless. I don't try to live in both worlds, paper-driven and electronics-driven. I no longer own a pen. In order to live paper free, it takes discipline.
I create logical folders in Microsoft OneDrive. Each folder is named with one or two words only, and contains files accordingly. For example,
Folder Hierarchy
ASSIST_KATHERINE top folder
PROJECT_BOOKS super folder
WWI_NOVEL sub folder
Active_Writing file
Archive_Writing file
For calendar, schedule, reminders, productivity, project promps, tasks, notes, calls, contacts, finances, I use LightArrow App. It keeps everything in one place. LightArrow is the best electronic planner on the market. I never write a note on paper, lose it in my pocket, or make to do lists. I don't even make grocery or daily lists.
I use my iPad, iPhone, and MacBook to access Cloud storage. I gave up storing files on my harddrives years ago. No files or folders are stored on my computer or devices. I was loyal to IBM PCs for decades until I discovered Apple.
Going paperless means letting go and embracing REAL computing to make my life simple through access. My electronic devices provide me with ACCESS only. They are not the entities or brains that do my work for me. I do the work and use devices to access the information that I CREATE.
Microsoft OneDrive is the only Cloud that has Folder Hierarchy. Google Drive and Apple iCloud do not. The IOS update last week to iCloud only allows for folder creation. They are way behind the curve. Microsoft OneDrive allows me to download the full suite: Word, Excel, Project, etc. to my devices and use those applications to create content. No other word processing, spreadsheets compare with MS ribbon menus. I program and code all in cloud computing.
I used to love Lotus 123 Notebook on my computer, purchased by IBM, and never thought I could replace its format when Lotus was abandoned.
The most important part about going paperless is simplicity. It forces me to produce content in its context (book, blog, illustrations, websites, html code, budgets) and no longer write myself a note to do those activities. I actively do the work that I assign myself. My folders and files are simply there to ASSIST me.
I hope this helps,
Katherine
Katherine,
That is awesome information. Thank you so much. I think I have been stuck between the 2 worlds because I couldn't make one work simply.
I end up with multiple notebooks because, well I can't have WA stuff in a book that has personal development stuff in it too and I can't just scribble notes as the day goes on, as well :)
Then I try to use google drive but of course, I have more that one gmail account so bang goes the central location of that because which darn account did I use to upload the file, document, picture etc.
Calendars, I've been between my calendar on my desktop (Apple) and the google calendar.
Aghhhh - it's been so frustrating.
Funny enough I also used lotus notes but it was at a previous company I was at when I was living in Ireland. I did enjoy using it but as you say, that's gone south now so I have since then replaced it with the email on my iMac (and iPhone). It's linked to the gmail account so I can access email from any computer if I need to.
I do still love writing (pen and paper that is) but if I can nail your system above, I'll keep the pen and paper to fun and for me time (I bought a beautiful old ink pen - the dip in the ink kind - with a writing pad bound in leather from Venice when we were on holiday there many years ago. I love using it just to write for writing sake i.e. enjoyment).
Thank-you Katherine. I really appreciate the time you've taken to respond here. I'll let you know how I go :)
Take care
Gary
Hey Gary...
I have the PERFECT answer for YOU and others perusing here on your question! It's my niche...and I'd be happy to show you how.
You can follow me on my FB group, Barefoot Journaling Chronicles for all kinds of pointers and/or my website/blog...
https://onthewingsofmypen.com
Blessings...and if you need help getting around, flip me a message. I love to help my peeps!!
~Evon (aka LadybugLove) :)
Evon, thank you so much. I’m just on my phone at the moment but will definitely take a look at your site a little later.
Take care
Gary
I wish I could give you an answer but I'm in the same boat - and I still have everything printed out in paper copies too! ARGH!!!
Hey there Gail...
Check out my response to Gary...It's available to you as well!!
I'd love to help you get organized, so you can reach your goals!
Blessings!
~Evon (aka LadybugLove) :)
Thanks for your response Gail. Much appreciated. When I have the answer I’ll be sure to pass on my findings :)
I’ll start by taking a look at Evon’s ideas below.
In the mean time, don’t shuffle those papers
See more comments
Many tools create many jobs too, lol.