My 4 Must Have Organization Tools for Business

Being a creative entrepreneur, I love to ask the question (that I heard first from Joy of Business by Simone Milasas) "Who or what can I add to my business to create more ease?"

​Over the years I have added many resources that support it. Here are my top favorite resources that I have added to my business for staying organized- I hope they add more ease (and joy!) in your world too. 

GOOGLE CALENDAR
A few years ago I was introduced an amazing free resource that is the heartbeat of organization for my business and life: Google Calendar . It allows you to sync to all your devices, has a super user-friendly mobile app, will notify you of upcoming events with alarms (at intervals that YOU set), and allows you to color code (one of the best life hacks- in my opinion) to keep every category of life recognizable at a glance. 

EVERTIDE
Alongside my (digital) Google Calendar, Evertide has been a game changer in keeping me on track and focused. Breaking down the day into meaningful and pragmatic sections, this designer is as practical as it is aesthetically pleasing. It's simple (and thorough) format hits all the key components in my life from meal planning, to daily focus, key lessons learned, and joys. I waste less time and feel more accomplished with Evertide by my side.

​P.S. there are amazing and FREE printable downloads to get you started with no commitment here. 

ASANA
For longer-term goals and tasks that have due dates, I LOVE Asana. I utilize the free version, which allows me to categorize various projects by lists, or boards (that have amazing drag and drop cards! bonus for visual/tactile folks like myself). You can assign due dates to each card (which is awesome for weekly/monthly projects that you want to keep track of at a glance). It's super user-friendly to set up, and if you require a little more assistance- I found this awesome tutorial video that explains step by step how to get started with ease. 

TRELLO
If I was to categorize an online system as the closest thing to a virtual assistant, Trello would be it. It's how I keep track of all my graphics clients and their projects. From assigning team members, uploading graphic files, keeping our thread of communication streamlined, and getting email notifications when tagged, my workflow (and specifically client communication) has gotten so much easier. I highly recommend it. And the best thing yet- it has a free version that is quite robust! I use it all the time and have never felt like I needed to upgrade to the paid version. 
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Bonus Tip!
Block schedule your day. Do you remember how much you got done in high school when the expectation was that you were focusing on whatever class you were in (not attempting to do/be all things at once all day long)? Yeah. THAT! Block scheduling allows you to focus and complete tasks feeling more productive and accomplished. For me, this has been a revolutionary. It allows me to truly prioritize the important stuff, rather than feel like I am just putting out fires all day long. The text or email can wait to be answered- and you get the benefit of gaining traction and momentum in your business and life. Yep. I'm having that!
(This amazing youtube post by mom-of-8 (!!!) Jordan Page breaks it down further.)

Remember to choose what works for you, follow what you know and ditch the rest! Have favorite organization tools you'd love to share? Feel free to leave em' in the comments. 

Happy organizing for ease, you!