A couple of weeks ago I set off to crash test Evernote, to see if it could change my life. Well, it has! I have Evernote downloaded on my desktop, my iPad and my iPhone – they are all synced via my online Evernote account. It is all working rather nicely for me and I’ve only just begun!
Here are 5 ways Evernote is making my life easier
A new look Tickler file
I’ve re-created my Tickler File in Evernote and I think it’s going to work! I really like the tickler file system, but the only drawback is that I didn’t always have the information on hand and I had to remember to check the physical file each day. Not so great if I wasn’t at home. Now I have the days and months set up as tags and I just tag my notes and scanned docs accordingly. I’ve even been taking photos of the important part of bills with my iPhone and emailing them directly to Evernote with the tag #bills and the day of the month it needs to be paid.
Shopping lists
One of my biggest failings is going to the shops and coming back without the stuff I need! I’ve started making notes of things as I think of them and tag them with where I buy them eg #freshfoodmarket, #supermarket, #Bunnings, #BigW etc. Then whenever I’m in one of the those locations I can do a quick check if there is anything on my list. I can also save lists in a shared notebook with CrashHubby, which we’re yet to test. A great function of Evernote is that you can add check boxes to your list. I’m woking on creating a master grocery list and will use the check boxes in reverse. If we need something then I’ll check it. Once bought it can be unchecked. Easy!
Organising my blogging
There is always (far too much) stuff to do with my blog. I’ve created tags for different activities like #development #blogher #facebook #sponsorship #post. When I come across a good idea I can make a note and tag it #post. An article with tips on Facebook can be ‘clipped’ straight to Evernote with the Webclipper and tagged #facebook. Now when planning my week, I go through my Blogging tags (I’ve nested them all under a main tag) and decide what and when I’m going to do it (by adding it to the appropriate day of the week in my To Do Notebook). It’s so much better to have this all in one place where I can action it, rather than really good information getting lost in my Bookmarks.
Blog reading
Often the only time I have to read is when I’m away from my computer, which means I’m usually reading blogs on my phone or iPad, both of which can make it really difficult to comment. Now I can email the post straight to Evernote with the tag #comment in the subject line so I can comment when I’m back at my computer. This also works well when I come across an interesting article but don’t have time to read it straight away, I can just tag it #read. So long as I remember to check my #comment and #read tags then I’ll be up to date – well, I can only try!
Journal for the Kids
This is a work in progress. My blog is not really where I record memories and milestones of the kids as they grow up. I’ve now set up tags for each of them so I can make notes, make audio recordings and take photos of things like their artwork, talking about things, first visit to the dentist etc. All the things I was really bad at recording in their baby books. I wish I knew about Evernote before now!
Here’s my set up on the desktop so far:
And here’s how I’ve set up my virtual tickler file tags:
As I said, it’s all working fairly well for me. The layout takes a little getting used to. There are quirky little things like having to click the ‘pencil’ edit icon to make changes to a note, when intuitively you just want to click in the body of the note and start typing.
My favourite feature is being able to email things straight from your phone to Evernote and tag it by adding # in front of the tags. Because I have the ‘Tickler Tags’ set up I can also set the date to set a future action for my note straight away.
I’d love to hear if you have any more tips for me, or if you think you might start using Evernote yourself.
Laney x
excellent! I used evernote for a little renovation we did a while ago. Worked well when my printer broke down too as I was able to take my iPad with me to Bunnings etc. A good reminder to get back into it…thanks!
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I didn’t even touch on how it can help with projects like that Jasmin, but I’m really excited about using Evernote to improve ‘Crash Palace’. We have boxes of torn out magazine pages and I’ve taken dozens of photos on my iPhone for inspiration. Evernote will be a much more efficient way of storing and referring to it all!
I know we talked about this a few weeks ago and I’m yet to actually open an account but after this post I’m definitely going to. Every single time I go to the supermarket I forget my list and I have other ‘to do’ lists scattered all over the house – I need ONE place for everything. So excited!
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Yay – definitely do it, you’ll love it!
I downloaded it last week, and have been meaning to get organised using it. I would love it if Country Boy would do the same, but I can’t imagine it happening! I just need some time to get it started
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I did spend a little bit of time reading the Evernote blog to get an idea of how people use it. The main advice was to minimise number of notebooks and rely mostly on tags and the search function. Good luck with it!
It sounds very interesting . I might give it a go too.
Please let me know if you do and I’m here to help where I can :)
My most favourite Evernote thing is using it for school notices. Instead of having excursion/special person’s day/whatever notices hanging on the fridge or getting lost, I snap a picture in Evernote, add a title with who/what/when and then I always have the details of who needs what. It means I can access it when I’m out too, which has been a lifesaver!
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Yep – perfect for that! My physical tickler file was perfect for all that stuff, but like you said, you don’t have it hand. I’m loving my virtual tickler file now!
I’ve been using evernote for about a year now – simply could not do without it. One thing I use it for is to send photos of things I see out and about for presents – you know when you’re in a shop and you think “That would be perfect for so and so”? Well, I can’t justify buying presents almost 12 months ahead of time, so I get it to remind me of the photos about 2 weeks out from the birthday, which works out well because by that time I’ve lost any idea of what to get the person and panic thinking “Oh my goodness what am I going to get her?”
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That’s a really great idea. Now all I need to do is remember to record everyone’s birthdays!
Thanks for this Laney, I have Evernote, I just never knew how to use it! I will have to have a proper go now that I know how, paper clutter is one of my biggest downfalls :-/
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You should see my desk right now! I need a total clean out and I’m avoiding more paper by using Evernote. Stemming the tide!
I would be lost without Evernote. I love how easily it syncs between all my devices and how easy it is to take a photo on my phone and wack it into Evernote.
Do you have a pro account? Have been considering it but the free version is great so not sure I need it.
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I don’t have a pro account Kate. If I go over my limit I may very well consider it!
Now this is a new one on me CTM. It looks complicated to set up thou. Should I brave the messy start up phase and consider using it??? I’m finding I read a lot of blogs on my phone these days too – and yes commenting that way is frustrating!!!
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The complication isn’t in setting up, it’s in deciding how it will best work for you. Being able to recreate a physical system I was already using was the obvious choice for me, but it took a bit of thinking to get there. I really recommend reading the evernote blog to see how others are using it. I think there is a lot of sense in using the tags rather than the notebooks to store your notes. As you will see, you can nest tags into sensible ‘folders’ anyway.
I’m so glad you’re a fellow convert, Laney! I only use a fraction of its potential but adore it. I use it only when at my PC with the webclipper. When I eventually get an iPhone (we’re currently an iNothing family!), I can see it really hitting its straps. I have the pro version – a snap at only $5 a month for the extra storage. J x
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Hi Laney. I recently downloaded Evernote onto my iPad and laptop but I haven’t used it as yet. Now I know how much easier it makes organising our life I will definitely take the time to set it up properly. Thank you so much for the great info.
I just downloaded it last week and am loving it, but use a millionth of its functionality – I’m just clipping and making notes to do with my blog so far. You’ve inspired me to get into it a bit more.
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Thanks for being the pioneer here for us. Hubby’s mentioned it and I think I even downloaded it thinks ago but the need to set up an account turned me off dabbling. One thing I’m curious about is the uses of a paper diary system vs a virtual system. I moved to virtual ages ago but don’t always check it. So I thought paper might be better ie: more tangible. Do you think it’s just a matter of discipline to make it work?
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Yep, it’s all about creating the habit if checking your files each day. I’m still not great at it. If it is something I need to remember like an appointment, then I usually put it in iCal too. I like having the paper system for stuff that’s too big to take a quick photo of or when I don’t have time to scan it. Good luck with it!
Laney,
Thanks for writing this review. I need something to organise my life & apps always seem to fall short, but it sounds like Evernote is what I need. I found you as BlogsyApp retweeted your review of theirs & I wholehearted agree this is the best app. Will be keeping a look out for your future posts.
*wanders off to download Evernote*
jo
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