Angela Crocker

Write. Teach. Organize.

Think Like a Librarian

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Digital Cleanse Day 6:

Think Like a Librarian

Your digital cleanse is, in large part, about organizing your digital clutter.  It’s time for you to think like a librarian.

“Google can bring you back 10,000 answers, a librarian can bring you back to the right one.” ~ Neil Gaiman

As you sort through your data, consider how you will use that data in future. Will you access it again? Will you need it in several contexts? Do you need to assign tags and categories for effective search at a later date?  Its time to curate your data so you can find what you’re looking for. For now, cultivate the librarian mindset. Think about how you’ll use your data.We’ll talk about more specific strategies for organizing your information in future installments of the digital cleanse.

More on the 30 day #digitalcleanse tomorrow. Hope to see you then!

(If you missed yesterday’s installment, take a couple extra minutes to explore the Idea City Method. For links to the complete Digital Cleanse series, click here.)

 

Idea City Method

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Digital Cleanse Day 5:

Idea City Method

Idea City Method brainstorms for the Toy Rhapsody websiteGood news! You live in Idea City. At any moment, you may be inspired with a bright idea or simply remember a task that needs doing.  To avoid distracting yourself trying to remember the idea, put all your ideas in one place. The goal is to document the idea, inspiration or task so you don’t forget. By writing it down, you improve your focus on your current task.

What I call the Idea City Method, is not a new productivity idea.  I’ve heard variations discussed by many students and writers. By following three simple steps, you increase your productivity.

  1. Capture any idea as it occurs to you. Just jot it down quickly and continue with your current task. Capture personal and professional ALL in one place.Once the idea is documented forget about it until step 2.
  2. Schedule 30 – 60 minutes every day to review your idea notes. Take immediate action on any item that can be completed in the time available.
  3. Schedule time to execute more complex tasks. Make an appointment with yourself to pay your bills, get a haircut or review the proofs of your new book. Simply moving the idea to your calendar means you’re done with that item for the today.

As with other steps in the digital cleanse, how to capture your ideas is a matter of personal preference. Some people prefer a digital solution while others go analog with pen and paper.

There are a wide range of digital solutions. Evernote, Google Drive, Basecamp and many other applications. Use the one that works for you and your workflow.

Analog solutions are varied, too. You can use a scrap of paper, loose-leaf paper or a notebook. I must admit to a deep love of pretty notebooks so I’ve always got a few in my desk drawer. I prefer pencil and I’ve seen my friend Joyelle Brandt use a full rainbow of colored pens.

I must admit I’m a little bit sneaky in my execution of the Idea City Method. I use pencil in a notebook to capture my ideas. However, my notebook is a specially formatted Evernote notebook from Moleskine. My quick scribbles and sketches can always be converted to digital notes, when needed.

More on the 30 day #digitalcleanse tomorrow. Hope to see you then!

(If you missed yesterday’s instalment, take a couple extra minutes to explore Dedicated Devices. For links to the complete Digital Cleanse series, click here.)

 

Dedicated Devices

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The Digital Cleanse Day 4:
Dedicated Devices

To streamline your digital life, you need dedicated devices. We’re talking full-blown, long-term commitment. Decide which device does what. Then stick to it.

Laptop computer with WordPress dashboard and iPad screening The House of ElliotHow you divide your digital activities will be a matter of personal preference. Your choices will be unique to your hardware and the content you create or consume. A dedicated device strategy creates patterns that focus your efforts. Here’s how I dedicate my devices:

I use my mobile phone primarily for phone calls, text messages, photography and Instagram.

I use my tablet, an iPad, to write rough drafts, read Facebook, peruse Twitter, read e-books, listen to music and watch TV either from iTunes or on Netflix. I also use it to delete spam emails and read/reply to priority emails from a small group of carefully selected VIPs.

I use my desktop computer with its two monitors to read and reply to email, format and upload writing for the web, to organize and edit my photos,  for spreadsheet work and file management.

My one exception is travel. I love to travel light. Carry-on only is ideal in this era of excess baggage fees and intensive security screenings. With the right combination of apps, I can do 85% of my work and digital leisure on my iPad.  I don’t work as efficiently as usual but its a joy to travel with ease. (If you’re interested in packing light, too, my gurus are Rick Steves, Marc Smith and Alex Tilley.)

If you’re struggling to decide how to use your devices, I suggest you go analog for a few minutes. Get out your sticky notes in two colours.  Using one colour, make a sticky note for each of your soon-to-be dedicated devices. Mobile phone, tablet and computer will get you started. Don’t forget your digital SLR camera, web enabled television, game console, fitness watch and other electronics.

Next, use the other colour of sticky notes. Make one note per digital task. Email. Photos. Instagram. Facebook. Twitter. Writing. Video game. TV. Movies. Music. E-books. And so on.

You’ve probably gathered by now that you simply match each digital task with a digital device. Likely, you’ll need a test period before you finalize how you’ll organize your dedicated devices.

More on the 30 day #digitalcleanse tomorrow. Hope to see you then!

(If you missed yesterday’s installment, take a couple extra minutes to explore How Many Social Networks. For links to the complete Digital Cleanse series, click here.)