Tools to change your life
These three things can help students, professionals and parents find peace and productivity
As I sit here, looking at my to-do list and wondering how some of Monday’s tasks always seem to make their way to Friday’s list as if by magic, it feels silly to be giving you advice about productivity. But despite this week’s struggle, I wanted to share the three productivity tools I can’t live without.
Whether you’re a busy student, a professional with a to-do list longer than your arm, a parent trying to manage four schedules at once or any combination of the three, I hope these tools help you find peace and productivity.
Planners
The tattoo across my side reads “The faintest ink is better than the best memory.” Not only is it a cheesy proverb from some unknown origin, but a reality in my life. I forget everything. If it weren’t for my planner being glued to my hip I would forget appointments, dinner dates and probably even my own birthday. Writing things down helps eliminate the feeling of dread that comes along with knowing you’ve forgotten something, but being unable to put your finger on just what it was.
A planner is a simple and old school way of staying organized and productive. On the recommendation of rad local graphic designer Jacquie Blanchard, I picked up my newest planner, the “Get to Work Book,” a couple of months ago and have been really pleased with it so far. Each month starts with a page of reflections and goals, followed by project pages, and weekly spreads with lots of room for customization.
Having a visual reminder of your schedule and ongoing projects helps you see the bigger picture and be realistic about how much time there is in a day. For me, keeping a planner has always been a form of stress relief and a creative outlet.
Washi Tape
This adorable little tool was stolen from the craft world but is a great accessory for organization. Washi tape originated in Japan where it was simply marketed as a form of masking tape. A group of artists reached out to
one of the manufacturers of the rice-paper tape requesting that it be offered in various colours and designs.
The newly designed product became a huge hit and is now used by crafters and artists all over the world.
Washi tape is low-adhesive, which makes it perfect for sprucing up your work-space without doing any long-term damage. It comes in thousands of patterns and a variety of sizes allowing you to let your creativity explode.
When a wall-sized whiteboard was installed in my office, I used washi tape to block out a calendar, avoiding all of the mess and smudging of trying to draw with whiteboard markers. Other uses for Washi tape include colour co-ordinating schedules, labelling containers and tangles of cords and personalizing your planner or journal.
This eye-catching and visually pleasing tape adds a little fun to your daily routine.
Asana
If paper just isn’t for you, check out Asana.com. This free online project management tool is a great way to take your to-do list to the tech world. When your to-do list lives in Asana, you don’t have to worry about forgetting your planner at home because you can access it from any device at any time.
It’s a great program that allows you to create individual task lists, manage projects and
track your progress. If you’re on the go, you can even email yourself a task and have Asana automatically upload it into your to do list. Asana also offers free how-to videos so that you can get the most out of their software.
What are your favourite productivity tools? Is your to-do list
your life-line, or are you winging it? I’d love to hear about your tips and tricks for staying organized and productive!