Managing My To-Do List

For Business Owners, For Photographers

May 20, 2014

One of the things that didn’t work well for me last year was staying on top of my to-do list. I tend to be a somewhat forgetful person and with last year being my busiest year yet, I ended last season knowing things needed to change! One of the biggest changes I’ve made is taking my calendar and to do lists all digital! As much as I love paper and pen (and pencils too!) it wasn’t really working for me to keep a paper agenda, Google calendar, and use the notes app on my phone from time to time too.

Last year when I blogged about my favorite apps, I mentioned really loving Clear. Clear is essentially a list making app, and that’s all. Which is pretty much what I use it for! Here’s how I use it to manage multiple to do lists!

1. I keep one list for “everything”, which is essentially just a running checklist of whatever I have to get done. I used to separate my lists out by personal and business, but right now I’m just dumping everything into one. Otherwise, my personal things would just never happen during wedding season! This list is the first list I go to when I’m laying in bed and remember I need to drop something off at the post office, or send an invoice, or whatever. I just add whatever I think up to the big checklist!

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2. Each day (either in the morning or the night before) I create a separate list for that day. I just title it with whatever the days date is, and after looking over my “Everything” list, I add things from there I need to accomplish and feel like I can manage to get done in that day. This is so much less overwhelming for me! I think I got the idea initially to break out each day’s work from a bigger list from Katelyn James…and boy, do I love her even more for sharing that tip!! (That’s her picture in the background of the list, btw…it’s my MacBook wallpaper!!). I’m the kind of person who likes to break out tasks and accomplish them piece by piece….when I was training for my marathon I would run routes that were broken up into 5 mile chunks in one direction, then back in the other, etc. I also edit this way! I edit each category of the wedding day separately because I feel like it’s easier than trying to edit an entire wedding at once. So much of being productive is mental, and tricking yourself to feel like you CAN accomplish everything, is key! For me, it is at least!

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3. Throughout the day I update the list on my iPhone if I’m running errands or on my computer if I’m in the office! At the end of the day I go back to the “Everything” list really quickly and cross off anything I did that day! This is the MOST satisfying feeling! Clear makes a little noise and vibrates…I love it! I always feel super accomplished:)

4. I also use this app to keep ongoing lists pertaining to other things…like my Workshop currently has a list specifically dedicated to it. I also started keeping my grocery list on it after forgetting my paper list at home two weeks in a row. Using Clear for my grocery list has been amazing because since my phone is almost always in reach when I’m cooking, I can add things to it as I run out of them or use them up. Before I would constantly forget something at the store and have to go back. I also keep a “packing” list on here so if I’m going out of town I can check things off the list (phone charger, contact solution, etc). This has helped immensely! I am the queen of forgetting something at home!!

5. Clear also has REMINDERS now!! Which is amazing!! A lot of times I would use Siri to remind me to do things, but being able to set a reminder in my actual to-do list is so awesome and helpful for me…especially when it comes to being reminded I’m skyping with clients or have appointments the next day. I love this feature of this app, and it’s definitely something my old beat up target agenda couldn’t do!

The BEST part of this system is that since I have my Clear connected to iCloud, I can access my to-do list on my iPhone AND my Macbook. So instead of having to carry a paper notepad everywhere, I have my entire to-do list AND my grocery list, packing list, etc with me at all times. I love using this app, and would definitely suggest if you’re having a hard time keeping it all straight you look into Clear! It does cost money (I believe it’s $2.99 or $3.99 for iPhone and $9.99 for the Mac app), but it’s still a great investment and has saved me a ton of money on notepads I would probably lose, knowing me!

 

Leave a Comment

  1. Janelle C says:

    Awesome tips! I definitely need to download this app! 🙂

  2. Okay I might have to try this – I use my Emily Ley Planner as my big list (I write everything I have to do down on Mondays page) and then there are pages for each day where I write down the tasks for that day – I love it but not when I have to travel and still have work to do – this might be a handy solution!

  3. Natalie says:

    I’m a huge list maker too! Will have to check out this App!

  4. Lindsay says:

    Cool!! I never knew this existed, I’m totally going to try it!

  5. Katie says:

    I’ve spend a long time searching for the perfect agenda/to-do list and perfecting an organizational strategy. I absolutely adore paper calendars so I’ve been using that as my big list and than I have a little notebook for my daily tasks. However, I love the portability and convenience of having a to-do list app as well. I’ve searched high and low for the best one and so far I haven’t found the perfect fit, but I think that Clear may be the answer. Thank you so much for sharing! I’m going to keep it in mind for when I get tired of toting a notebook with me! 🙂

  6. Sarah says:

    I love lists!!! This is such a good app! I’m glad it works well for you 🙂 I am a pen and paper gal, through and through!

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