I don’t know about other people, but I’m already plotting for 2017. I know some of the comics I want to draw. (Attention: It will be a new theme. Yay!) I have a list of people to contact at the beginning of the year. Dates for Collective, trainings, and other events — I’m hoping to participate in Creative Missions again — are already blocked off.
Obviously, I have a thing for organization. It comes naturally but is required of a person who owns a business. Without organization and attention to detail, things fall apart. That occurs regardless of a natural proclivity toward lists and deadlines, which is I why I use a number of tools to keep myself on task. Maybe they’ll help other people, too.
To-Do Lists
To-do lists stand as a go-to method for staying organized on a daily basis. I’ve written about them previously. I essentially write my assignments into three categories.
The first contains items for the day and are ranked by priority level. The second features weekly tasks. The third includes upcoming projects and reminders about calling the doctor or insurance company.
Calendars
I use a wall calendar, as well as Google. The two overlaps sometimes, but the wall calendar usually features assignment due dates and local events. (Example: the Relient K concert or Network After Work.) It helps with viewing and understanding my work and personal life at a glance.
The online and mobile calendar offers different benefits, namely, phone numbers and addresses. I almost always know when to leave the house to get to a meeting—if no traffic surprises occur. I also like the digital calendar because it makes calling a potential or current client easy to do.
Planners
I can’t remember the last time I used a planner, but the latest faithbox may make me try one again. The box included “Sacred Ordinary Days,” a liturgical planner. I like it because it offers a weekly Bible reading plan, sections for reflection, and quotes galore.
Apps
Apps and I have a limited relationship, but I might add Evernote back into the mix in 2017. Aaron Ivey and Brett Land shared how they use Evernote for songwriting during a Collective training. I saw the potential application for poetry and other writing projects, which could help me be more successful with the app this time around.
Other apps include Basecamp, Trello, and Slack. I use them to stay in touch with clients and to manage projects. I personally like Trello the most out of the three, though Slack has grown on me—again thanks to Collective.
Those are the ways I’ll stay connected and organized in 2017. How about you?
Image: Shawn Rossi (Creative Commons)