What is the best technology to use to stay organized?
I am in high school and have a really hard time staying organized. Especially when it comes to doing big projects or studying for tests. I'm trying to find out what others have done to stay organized in school or a job. Do you have recommendations on technology tools/programs I should use? #technology #human-resources #organization
16 answers
Andy Stento
Andy’s Answer
I agree with Cam - there is no shortage of applications and tools available - from paper based to desktop to mobile. You can do an easy search on google or bing to see all of those available. Many tools follow a methodology - or framework for staying organized. That's because how you think about your priorities and time management is really the most important aspect of staying organized. So, in addition to the tools, you may want to consider different workflows and priority setting frameworks for staying organized. One of the leading methodologies is called GTD - which stands for Getting Things Done by David Allen. He has many fans and followers - his books are well known and he actively teaches webinars for the devoted and disorganized. Good Luck!
Lindsey’s Answer
Hi Kelly!
I'd recommend you look into Trello (https://trello.com/) which is a list making app that works wonders, especially when you're working on projects with a team. It gives you the ability to prioritize tasks, and show the progress as you go along. You can use it for school projects, homework "to dos", and even during your job search. A lot of companies use this so it would be good for you to start to get familiar with it now!
We swear by Trello at our org!
Trello is incredible! Absolutely my favorite tool- great for people who are visual.
Hayley Evans
Esther’s Answer
Great question that will apply to life after school too! I love the "Wunderlist" app. You can use it to create "to do" lists to help you break your big projects into smaller, manageable steps. I have fun checking off things of my list. Another great tool is using a calendar app on your smartphone or computer. Scheduling time to work on your project is a must and sticking to your schedule. That will make sure that you have enough time to complete the work without having to pull all nighters.
Also check out "Getting Things Done" by David Allen book. You will find lots of good time management tips there.
Good luck!
Rebecca’s Answer
I use Google Calendar to keep my calendar organized. It is available on my mobile phone and my laptop. I can see it from any computer that I can see Google. I keep appointments and reminders in the calendar. I also store info about my family and their school schedules as well.
Leona’s Answer
I also keep a quick to-do list, before I used the sticky note ( real one or the digital one on your desktop :) ) and now I use OneNote. It helps me to brain dump the things I need to do and make me feel that I can refer to it anytime, so I do not have to worry about forgetting anything. It helps greatly for my work-life balance and makes me sleep better.
Susi’s Answer
There are many tools to help stay organized. I use Microsoft Exchange Calendar. At the start of each day, I outline what needs to be accomplished and I allocate time on my calendar for each item. The key is to prioritize.
Taneesha’s Answer
I also like MS SharePoint. It is a great team collaboration tool. It is built off lists ( Like Access ) and can be used to create calendars, GANTT charts, project trackers and other mechanized workflow processes.
Rob’s Answer
Good news: it is absolutely possible to cultivate disciplined organizational habits that turn into a life-long system.
Probably the most recommended book on the subject out there is David Allen's "Getting Things Done". (Seeing it recommended MANY times in this answer thread!) I've personally never read it, but I know numerous people that swear by it; any time I've ever talked to anyone about it the gist of it seems to resemble the system I stumbled into myself over the years:
- capture things "to do" continuously (low tech: keep a notepad + pencils)
- every morning first thing: look at your list an prioritize those items
- work top-down from that prioritized list
- defer (or if possible: ruthlessly eliminate things) the things that you can
In addition to "Getting Things Done", another technique to read up on is Kanban, especially the central idea about limiting work-in-progress. After all, an infinitely long to-do list is stressful -- and adopting a personal "WIP limit" gives some boundaries and structure that make it more humane and tolerable.
The trick is to adopt this discipline as a behavioral habit -- if you can do it for 30 days then it should sink in.
Rachel Resnick
Rachel’s Answer
You will need to focus on stress and time management. In order to manage stress you have to manage your time wisely. <span style="background-color: transparent;">You have to set a routine for yourself and stick to it for the most part. Once you get into the groove of a routine it will be much easier for you to manage your time and have enough time for everything you need to do (including relaxing). Make yourself to-do lists on a weekly basis, use Google calendar or a planner to keep track of events, deadlines, and due dates. In addition to setting a routine and sticking to it, plan out relaxing activities into your day. Or set aside a time, after everything is done for the day, that you can have "me" time. I have also personally found it essential to not only find time for myself but also make use of that time in a way that is best for me and my holistic wellness. I have found the HeadSpace app to be an essential tool in helping me relax and generally feel more relaxed throughout the day, Guided meditation, even if you have a busy schedule, will make you feel more at ease and relaxed throughout the day as a whole (not just when you have the time to relax and focus on that "me" time).</span>
<span style="background-color: transparent;">Set a routine.Use Google Calendar.Set aside Me TimeWrite weekly to-do lists and use a planner.Find a peaceful and restful activity that will help you feel relaxed.</span>
Sheila’s Answer
Hello Kelly:
This is a great question as staying organized could help you out in many ways. I use different tools to stay organized at work such as Office 365:
OneNote: I create a notebook for each individual project with tabs. I label the tabs such as: minutes, issues, status reports, team roster, etc. I share the entire notebook with my team or part of it such as status reports
Outlook: This tool is great for scheduling tasks to my team members where I could put a deadline and reminder. I also schedule meetings and it will remind me in advance (the reminder in advance could be set to how many minutes you prefer). I also use Outlook for my To Do List, which is awesome. This way I can prioritize tasks
OneDrive: I store and share project files across various vehicles (mobile, laptop, etc.) which makes them accessible on demand
Sticky Notes: I create notes when I jot down things on the fly. There's no formal system here. I can save the note for later review
There are other tools that I use but, above are the most popular ones that works for me. I suggest that you explore the many options presented to you from posters and find out which one(s) works best for your need.
I wish you much success on your journey. Good luck to you!
~ Sheila
Cam Nicholson
Cam’s Answer
In technology there are several applications you can use but I use Exchange (Calendar). Scheduling your day is a good way to stay focused on the tasks at hand as well as set up time frames to do them.
My favorite organizational tool is SharePoint. It has an "ACCESS" Database foundation and the lists can be used to create mechanized workflows. Workflows and be set up to create calendars, assign tasks and even send emails.
Taneesha Smith
Danitra’s Answer
Haider’s Answer
Hello Kelly,
It kinda depends somehow on what your colleague, classmate uses the most, if they are into office 365 it will be easier for you to connect and collaborate with them,
Here are 5 free tools for student and teacher to use :
https://elearningindustry.com/the-5-best-free-collaboration-tools-for-teachers
Good Luck.
Mary’s Answer
Franklin Covey offers an online organizer and provides tips on how to use it.
If you are working on assignments by yourself or multiple people, use Excel. Jot down all of your tasks and then order them. Put them in high-level "buckets" that each have their own deadline. As you begin working you will need to add more tasks, so leave room for that.
With owners and due dates assigned for each task, you will see how easy it is to stay on top of work and get done early!
MJ
N’s Answer
