background preloader

How to Organize Evernote for Maximum Efficiency

How to Organize Evernote for Maximum Efficiency
Please note: The way I organize Evernote today is completely different than what I wrote here. You can find my updated methodology here. I have been using Evernote for months. However, I have not really taken time to explore the depth of this incredible program until just recently. Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/STEVECOLEccs However, thanks to Brett Kelly’s very helpful e-book, Evernote Essentials, the Evernote user forum, and a little experimentation, I have begun to see the incredible power of this digital repository. It all begins by establishing a solid organizational structure. If you are just getting started with Evernote, I suggest that you buy Brett Kelly’s remarkably practical e-book, Evernote Essentials, 4.0. First, let’s define some terms: Notebooks: These are collections of individual notes. I tend to think of stacks and notebooks as a vertical (or hierarchical) way of organizing, and tags as a horizontal (or lateral) way of organizing. Here are my current tags: Related:  GTD

The Item Hierarchy in v0.8 Parents and children When we want to get something done - like, say, get a web-package to manage my task list - then usually I can't do it in one action: it gets broken down into several tasks. So, I create a project "get a web-package to manage my task list", and then I set out what the very next thing I have to do, to start making that happen: "search web for existing GTD software". That's a next action, and the sole reason I'm doing it is to get one step closer to making the project happen. A lot of the things I do are very specific, with a definable completion status - they are projects. A description of the hierarchy In 0.8, the hierarchy of projects and actions that form the core of the GTD productivity system, has been extended as follows: Values -> Vision -> Roles -> Goals -> Projects -> Actions This is a synthesis of the hierarchy set out in Covey (needs reference) , with the runway-50,000ft analogy set out in the GTD book. For these four categories: You can use it as you see fit.

10 Tips for Using Evernote Effectively Evernote is a tool for keeping track of, well, everything. At least everything as far as digital information goes, or information that can be digitized. Evernote comprises a Web-based service and clients for Windows, Mac OS X, mobile devices, and extensions for Web browsers. It's a service I've been using for years, and over that time I've picked up a few tips and tricks for getting the most out of the tool. Learn the Shortcuts If you're using Evernote on the desktop, you'll want to start by learning the keyboard shortcuts. If you have something in the clipboard you want to create a note from, you can use Cmd-Ctrl-V to start a new note with whatever's in the system clipboard. Want to search for something that's in Evernote? The Evernote Web site has a full list of Windows shortcuts and Mac shortcuts. Use Evernote as an Address Book and Contact Manager I've yet to find a contact manager/address book that I actually like, whether it's Web-based or native desktop software. Local Folders

Using a Traditional Paper Notebook with Evernote I live in Evernote. It has quickly become one of my most important software tools. I especially liked using it with my iPad. However, I gradually stopped using my iPad after buying a Macbook Air. I ultimately gave it away to a colleague. So for now, I have returned to a traditional paper-based notepad for taking meeting notes. If you are just getting started with Evernote, I suggest that you buy Brett Kelly’s remarkably practical e-book, Evernote Essentials, Second Edition. But how do you get these notes into Evernote, so they are accessible later? Recently, I created a new workflow that I am really liking. I replaced my Moleskine notebook with an EcoSystems notebook. The value of this system for me is that it is the perfect blend of old-world and new-world technology. Question: How do you process meeting notes? Want to launch your own blog or upgrade to self-hosted WordPress?

A Closer Look at How I Organize My Notes In Evernote Of all of the questions I get in my capacity as Evernote’s ambassador for paperless lifestyle, the one asked most frequently is: “How do you organize your notes?” I’ve written on this subject before, way back in May, when I provided some tips on organizing your digital filing cabinet. But if I have learned one thing about note organization in the months since, it’s that it is an evolving process. At least, that’s the way it has been in my case. So this week, I thought I would dive into more detail on how and why I organize my notes the way I do, and in doing so, take a closer look at note organization in general. ETA (1/30/13): I’ve created a subsequent post that annotates my actual notebook and tag structure because a lot of people asked for it. A Caveat About Organization The question I get asked is “how do you organize your notes.” Defining Goals In my earlier post on the subject, I suggested that the very first step in note organization was defining your goals. Documents.

Time management systems - how to choose from the leading systems. Time Management Systems - There are many time management systems available today. An effective system is a key part of getting control of your time. Most people need some sort of a system to save time and make time -- because it is pretty much impossible to keep it all in your head.We like to save you time so we have summarized the key aspects of some of the leading systems available. The Systems we have selected for this overview are: Getting Things Done - GTD - David Allen Time Management Franklin Time Management -- Fraklin Covey Time Power -- Brian Tracy Time Managament from the Inside Out -- Julie Morgenstern Firstly lets look at why you should consider using a System at all. The idea of a System is that it captures all key information. Next we move on to what we suggest you look for as a starting point for your System. Look for a System that includes: 1. Please note, that we are talking about a system here, not a planner or diary. So, we have summarised 4 leading systems for you.

9 Evernote Products You Have to Try You've heard a ton of positive stuff about Evernote, but rather than learn about its seemingly endless functionality, you've left the app sitting lonely and unused in the Productivity folder of your iPad. After all, Evernote offers so many features, it can get overwhelming — especially when you'd so much rather take a big old nap. In an effort to help you learn more about Evernote's potential, we explored its branded products and partner apps. Apart from Evernote's basic note, memo and archive tools, these products expand the functionality of the app for a richer, more organized experience. SEE ALSO: 7 Photo Editing Apps to Use With Instagram Use these tools to document your travels, save online content, sketch over photos and even create food porn. How do you use Evernote?

How to Use Evernote with an iPad to Take Meeting Notes In 2004, I bought a Toshiba Tablet PC. I had hoped I could use it for taking notes in meetings, using Microsoft’s OneNote software. However, after a few months, I gave up. However, a few weeks ago, I was sitting in a meeting with one of our authors. If you are just getting started with Evernote, I suggest that you buy Brett Kelly’s remarkably practical e-book, Evernote Essentials, Second Edition. Although I had bought an iPad, I wasn’t that impressed with it. Watching these people type into their iPads made me re-think my position. Since that time, I have replaced my faithful Moleskine notebook with an iPad running Evernote. Here’s why: The iPad is just a little bigger than my Moleskine notebook. I have adapted my paper note-taking system to Evernote, using the following notations symbols for the four types of items that require follow-up: If an item is particularly important or insightful, I put a double exclamation mark in front of it, like this: !! The system is not perfect.

6 Ways To Secure Your Dropbox Account Dropbox is a hugely popular cloud storage service beloved by many. Unfortunately, it’s had a history of security problems, ranging from compromised accounts to once allowing access to every Dropbox account without requiring a password for several hours. If you’re using Dropbox, there are a variety of ways you can secure your account against unauthorized access and protect your files even if someone does gain access to your account. Enable Two-Step Verification Dropbox now supports two-step verification, also known as two-factor authentication. With two-step verification enabled, you’ll have to enter both your password and a security code from your mobile phone whenever you sign into the Dropbox website or add a new device to your account. To enable two-step verification, log into your Dropbox account, open the Settings page, and click the Security tab. You can receive codes by either text messages or via a smartphone application such as Google Authenticator. Get Email Notifications

GTD in 15 minutes – A Pragmatic Guide to Getting Things Done GTD—or “Getting things done”—is a framework for organizing and tracking your tasks and projects. Its aim is a bit higher than just “getting things done”, though. (It should have been called “Getting things done in a much better way than just letting things happen, which often turns out not to be very cool at all”.) Its aim is to make you have 100% trust in a system for collecting tasks, ideas, and projects—both vague things like “invent greatest thing ever” and concrete things like “call Ada 25 August to discuss cheesecake recipe”. Sound like all other run-of-the-mill to-do list systems, you say? One of the basic assumptions of GTD is that you are dumb—or, rather, that your subconsciousness is quite dumb when it comes to thinking about things you should have done. Jessica Kerr put it perfectly: Pretend your brain is a white board. A great part of the “magic” is to convert both tasks and whims into physical and visible actions as you soon will see. Awesome! Agenda contexts But… why‽

What Do You Mean Evernote Could Get Better? Last time I wrote about the way I organize myself completely changed for the better with Evernote. Really, I can't talk enough about this program and the endless possibilities there are for it. (Just look at the comments from that post.) In that post I gave a few resources for learning about Evernote and even fewer with how to use it in the classroom. Well, lots of people have sent me lots of great resources and I wanted to follow-up and post some more. These are sites, lists and ideas all for using Evernote for your personal use or in the classroom. Get Productive Fast With Evernote- Mark Stout contacted me about this great eBook he created about getting started with Evernote and then some of the more advanced features like integrating IFTTT.com. 10 Tips For Using Evernote Effectively- This recent article from ReadWriteWeb was a great addition to my Evernote resources. The Evernote-Livescribe Connection- Last year at ISTE I was able to get my hands (finally) on a Livescribe pen.

4 Cool Things You Can Do With Wappwolf and ifttt Wappwolf and ifttt are a bit like the chocolate and peanut butter in Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Separate, they're pretty good. Together, though, is when the magic happens. For folks new to the services, Wappwolf is an application that performs actions when you drop a file into your Dropbox. ifttt, on the other hand, can interact with websites and services and then do things like send an email or save a file in Dropbox. Let's take a look at a several ways to combine the services for maximum effect: For example, Wappwolf can watch Dropbox and convert files to Kindle format and then send them to your Kindle. ifttt might watch Instagram or Flickr for photos, and save them to your Dropbox when they appear. Separately, they're pretty handy. (If you haven't tried Wappwolf or ifttt before, don't worry. 1. Start with Wappwolf and create an action for the appropriate folder. Next, go to ifttt and choose the Email channel. Don't care for text messages? 2. 3. 4. Patience Is a Virtue

Related: