Sometimes you have to be open to reverse engineering.  Today is one of those days.  A conversation about organization and time management with Mr. Love-of-My-Life led to this quippy soundbite….to-do today, ta-da tomorrow.  We had one of those wide eyed high five moments as we said simultaneously “BLOG TITLE” .  Yea.  That’s my life.

In the context of my original conversation, the gist was, if you organize your life with some to-do lists today, it offers the possibility of a “ta-da” tomorrow…in other words, getting your goal met or your to-do list finished gives you a definite “ta-da” moment.  I don’t know about you but organization and time management are vitally important in my life to help maintain a smooth and creative flow.

I am a list person.  I utilize two methods of list keeping.  For the ability to access my lists easily no matter where I am, I ♥ Evernote.  One of my favorite features of Evernote is the ability to record my notes audibly because, maybe it’s just me, but I seem to get my most brilliant ideas when I am not able to write them down…like during my long commute to and from work.  My simple remedy is to grab my smart phone and speak  my brilliance into my Evernote app.  Evernote syncs information between my laptop, my iPad and my iPhone so I can retrieve aforementioned brilliance anywhere.  I also love the limitless organizational features of Evernote.  That said, when I am at my desk, my to-do-ing takes on a more primitive format.  My second method of list making is to keep the trusty notepad and pen at my side.  For me the benefit of the old fashioned but always reliable notepad and pen is easy viewing during my crazy day and the ability to scratch off each accomplished task.  As an adjunct to Evernote and notepad/pen, I also use the StickyNote feature found on Windows.  I keep Sticky Notes on the desktop of my computer so that I can add and remove list items as necessary.

Here’s something that I have found from personal experience and observation.  Sometimes we spend too much time acquiring and playing with organizational tools.  We are romanced by the techy quality of various list making apps but we end up needing lists to remind us as to which app our lists are located.  I believe, simplicity is the answer.  My Evernote and Sticky Notes append my tried and true notepad and pen with it’s handy scratch off system. These are all I need to create my daily, weekly and monthly to-do lists so that, at the end of a productive day, I can have that oh-so-satisfying ta-da moment.

How about you?  How do you keep your personal and work life organized?  Are you a list maker?  Do you utilize various apps to help keep you organized?  What works for you?