Work Wednesday
Guest post by Ousmane Mariko.
Balanced, with a side of organization. That's precisely how I want my busy schedule to be. How about you? If that doesn't describe your current situation, fret no more, I'll try to give you insight into my organizational systems and workflow and hopefully inspire some new ideas.
The key to a balanced schedule, at least for me, is to stay well organized. We all have tools at our disposal; whether or not we choose to use them is another question. I'm sure a large number of you reading this own a smartphone -- probably a Blackberry. Have you ever set a reminder or appointment in it? Chances are, you have not. How about made heavy use of a planner? Trust me, it helps. And Post-It notes? Don't even get me started!
My M.O. in doing the things I do, and doing them well, typically requires technology and Post-It notes. Lots and lots of Post-It notes. That may not be the case for you, my unorganized reader, but be vigilant. Productivity awaits around the corner. Find what works for you and incorporate that into your workflow. Keep things simple. Getting from one task/chore/appointment to another in a timely fashion is easiest if you use something to help. I, for the life of me, cannot remember every appointment, assignment and task I must attend to throughout a day. For example, I remembered to write this post by writing a Post-It note to myself.
Post-It's, to me, are little snackable pieces of information that tell me what I need to know at a glance. More or less widgets. So basically, a little bit of info is written, for example “Physics test, Oct 25 12PM,” and when I see the note, it will be a quick reminder that I have a test in my Physics class and to make absolutely sure to study.
The trick is knowing where to put reminders. Where do you spend most of your time? TV? Kitchen? Office? You may be like me and spend a large part of your day in front of a computer workstation. So it would make sense to place my reminders there, right? Right. My monitor is lined with Post-It's around the border.
On my laptop, I have digital stickies on my desktop. Digital stickies are just as good as the regular ones, and they're better for the environment. In addition to my workspace, I place friendly reminding stickies in my planner (see picture). Why in a planner, you ask? They're quick and easy and reserved for tasks. If a task is completed, I dispose of the expired Post-It and call it a day. Simple.
Don't be afraid of the Post-It, it won't bite. Just stick
Ousmane Mariko is an engineering student, CurrentMom intern and long-time gadget freak.
Hi Ousmane,
I've been using digital sticky notes for years. Can't live without them. I love how you can share them with others. My pc is full of them. I keep the paper ones stuck to my desktop monitor as well. I recommend them for everyone.
Posted by: Mbizsimple | Monday, November 23, 2009 at 12:02 AM