© 2014 Evernote Corporation                                   © 2014 Microsoft Corporation

Microsoft OneNote and Evernote are among the top programs when it comes to virtual notebooks, yet arguments continue over which wins out over the other. After reading Lifehacker Faceoff: OneNote vs. Evernote, we here at Innovatively Organized started wondering what we thought of each program. We realized that we recommend OneNote to certain clients and Evernote to others. Why? Because they each offer something unique that fits particular personalities and certain needs.  Here are some of the pros and cons of each program:

Evernote Pros:

•  You can set reminders. This feature is great not only for your to-do list in your Evernote account, but also for any actionable items that are in your meeting notes. Learn more about this feature from our previous blog post, How to Set Reminders in Evernote.
• More features with web clipping. When you want to clip certain webpages into your Evernote account, you can clip the full-text article into whichever notebook you want it to be placed into. You can also add reminders to the webpage you clipped and highlight certain parts of it.
• Easy to use interface. Evernote has a simple interface that makes it easy to organize all of your individual notebooks and lists.

Evernote Cons:

• Some features are only available with Premium. Some of the features that users like, such as uploading large files, can only be used if you pay for the Premium version.
• Outdated interface. Although there are pros to the interface being easy to use, some complain that its also outdated and laid out almost too simply.

Microsoft OneNote Pros:

• Works well with Microsoft applications. Since it was created by Microsoft, it syncs well with your Outlook, Word, Excel, etc. For example, you can easily embed a Word document into your OneNote account. Additionally, you can hit the Windows button and N at the same time and your OneNote will appear- just another way that Microsoft integrated this great program into their software.
• Great tags feature. OneNote allows you to effortlessly add small tags to notes that remind the user of tasks and important information that is in the note.
• Perfect for researching. If your job requires heavy amounts of research, OneNote may be right for you. It has features such as the ability to look up references to sources, language translation, and even a thesaurus. You can also drag and drop images and text from webpages.

Microsoft OneNote Cons:

• Less features with web clipping. Yes, you can clip web pages into OneNote, but they are automatically sent to a folder called Quick Notes, so you have to move them into the proper folder after you have already clipped them.
• Syncing issues. Some users have troubles syncing across multiple devices, which could be a problem if you are a mobile professional.

Overall, both Evernote and Microsoft OneNote are solid options. On one hand, Evernote is simple, easy to use, and has some great features such as setting reminders.  This application is probably better for the individual who is looking for a great way to organize all their electronic documents and other random things such as to-do lists and meeting notes. On the other hand, OneNote offers a more robust interface with greater researching capabilities. This makes OneNote the better option for someone who is looking for a program where they will do some heavy note taking and plenty of research projects.

Which program do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below!

Miscellaneous is a word that almost everyone can say they’ve used to describe a file in their office, a box in their house, or an email folder. The definition of miscellaneous is “consisting of diverse things or members” (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary).

The shortened version that many of us use on labels or to refer to piles we have is MISC. From here on out please think of this as the worst 4-letter word in your organizing vocabulary. When you give a drawer, file, or pile the label of MISC it means you have no intention of sorting or categorizing and thus are putting files or items in a place that you’re guarenteed not to find them again.

Labeling a file, drawer, etc as MISC is a direct reflection of our delay to correctly categorize the items. Or perhaps is a reflection of us being overwhelmed by decision making in our days and wanting to put something “there” gives you one less decision to make. But just think about all the time we are wasting when we have to find something later and we can’t find it “there” in the MISC pile.

Taking the split second to make a decision upfront to file or categorize each item where it belongs can save us all precious time later on!

Want additional file management help? Follow The Productivity School on twitter for daily tips!

Its that time of the year again when people start escaping winter by heading south for tropical weather. Whether you’re heading out for a long vacation or just taking a business trip for a couple of days, its essential that you pack the right things in an effective way so you don’t have to deal with wrinkled clothes or an overstuffed bag. Here’s how we suggest packing your bag for your next trip:

Tips for packing:

1. Color Scheme. Pack clothes in color schemes that all match each other so that you can take less (think packing light) and mix-and-match throughout your trip

2. Roll your clothes. Rolling your clothes will reduce wrinkles and give you an easier visual view of your wardrobe choices quickly

3. Buy extra travel toiletries. Keeping an extra travel sized toiletries set on hand in your carry on bag allows you to not have to worry about not having toiletries if your bag gets lost for a day or two

4. Don’t forget the essentials. This includes your chargers for electronics, sunglasses, or anything else that you’d have to buy there if you forgot it

© 2014 DamselsInSuccess.com

The person that focuses for hours in a loud coffee shop, the individual who works from their home in the middle of the night, or the friend who is able to set their own work hours.  We all know these people (or are them), but what is it really like to have the life of a remote worker, and how can you effectively be a remote worker yourself? Here are our four tips on how to be a successful if you don’t work in a traditional office:

1. Balance time zones- Usually remote workers are individuals who communicate with people that are in different areas of the country or world. Because of this, as a remote worker you should communicate effectively with your clients and coworkers so if you’re holding a virtual meeting with someone that is in another time zone, no one will get confused on when the meeting is

2. Have your tools ready- Your tools include the things you need each day to be productive.  This usually includes your chargers, mobile devices, syncing software (the cloud), and your laptop

3. Discipline to focus on-the-go- Since you don’t work in an office environment, you may have trouble dealing with distractions. Learn to discipline yourself by focusing for an hour then giving yourself a quick coffee break or walk as a reward. Eventually, focusing won’t be an issue at all no matter where you are

4. Get good earphones (or a good playlist)- You’ll need music that gets you back in work mode when you are struggling with other distractions (especially in coffee shops!)

Want additional tips on how to be a successful remote worker? Check out The Productivity School’s blog for daily tips!

When your entire team feels overwhelmed by the flood of emails each day and their to-do lists that just keep growing and growing, it may not be a coincidence. Many offices leave it to each individual to decide on their own email plans, but if your team comes together and decides on a company-wide plan, then team members can be freed up to spend less time on emails and more time on their job responsibilities.  Refocusing attention and priorities in the workday as a team effort also provides a good boost to those that aren’t naturally as organized as others.  Here are 3 reasons why an email management plan could work for your team:

1. Improves Efficient Communication - If you compose each email properly with a specific subject and include your email signature, hopefully you won’t receive as many emails looking for your contact information.  Recipients will also be more inclined to call you instead of type out another email to you if your phone number is right in front of them.
2. Reduces Digital Clutter - When you create a system that works for how to handle your incoming emails, you’ll be able to eliminate the clutter in your inbox quicker.
3. Saves Time for Your Team - If you can manage email effectively, especially as a team, you can reduce the amount of time you spend in meetings. Instead of making all the decisions face-to-face, your team can make those decisions through email.

Want additional tips on how to manage your email effectively? Follow The Productivity School’s blog for daily tips on email management and other productivity topics!

When projects start piling up on you and your coworkers in the new year, you may begin to panic and wonder how you’ll ever remember all the tasks associated with each one and how you’ll get them all done on time. Instead of stressing out more than necessary by depending on yourself, consider using apps and online tools that are designed to outline and manage your projects for you. Here are the 5 apps that we, at Innovatively Organized, recommend most to our clients:

1. Liquid Planner- This online project management software allows you to easily distribute tasks among coworkers, schedule tasks based on priority and on best-case/worst-case estimates of time, and view your project analytics and reporting. Also included in this software is document sharing abilities and a timesheet so that team members can track their time.
2. Smartsheet- This is a project management tool that allows you to view your entire project all in one sheet. The sheet includes the status and budget of your project. It also allows you to compare your estimated and actual cost and time of each project. What’s great is that there are many templates to choose from that can suite different needs for each project.
3. Basecamp- This project management app’s simple interface allows you to view your to-do list, files, and discussions with team members all in one place. It also includes a shared calendar between team members and allows you to track daily progress. 
   
4. Pro Workflow- This app features a comprehensive dashboard that displays the summary data of your project and the tasks at hand. It also includes a timeline so you can visualize your tasks and provides messaging for you and your team members, clients, etc.
5. Azendoo- This project manager is partnered with Evernote, Box, Dropbox and Google Drive so your project can be handled seamlessly with all your favorite tools. It is great for handling to-do lists and allows you to share task lists and files with team members.

What’s important is finding the right project management tool for you and your team. Share and test out these apps with your coworkers and then decide which ones you’ll use as team to make your project as efficient as possible.

© 2014 Gigaom, Inc.

With our extensive use of Evernote and our support of ScanSnap, we here at Innovatively Organized were thrilled to hear the news of the new http://www.innovativelyorganized.com! Two of our favorite productivity tools coming together into one amazing device was reason enough for us to get excited, but here are some more reasons why this Evernote scanner is a must-have for 2014:

• Automatically organizes everything. The ScanSnap can detect what type of document you’re scanning and automatically file it where it needs to go within your Evernote account.
• Operates under a WiFi connection. With this scanner, you won’t be cluttering up your office with more cords because it can be used with a WiFi connection.
• Simple Operations. This ScanSnap automatically detects double-sided documents, rotates them, and detects color.
• Includes a free year of Evernote Premium. This allows you to use the ScanSnap without having to buy Evernote if you didn’t have it previously.

This partnership of two of our most recommended productivity tools can help declutter your office and get you a step closer to becoming paperless.

Want more useful tips and recommendations that can help boost your productivity? Follow The Productivity School on Twitter for daily tips!

Make 2014 your most productive year by actually eliminating an item from your list. Many people pack on tasks and goals to their to-do list in January and become overwhelmed immediately. This can actually hinder someone from getting any of those goals completed. Instead of adding something else to your to-do list today, what is one thing you can take off your list and let go of? This should be something that doesn’t add value to your life or is more of a filler than a real goal. There is a productivity myth between being busy and being productive, which makes most people inclined to add more items to their new years goals than necessary. By taking something off your list, you can focus on your main goals and utilize them. We want you to create a list of resolutions and goals that are realistic and attainable instead of overloading your list with things you may want to accomplish but aren’t yet ready to commit to doing.

As you enter the new year, it is important to start fresh with the right calendar for you. Here are 3 tips for choosing a calendar to keep you productive:

• Take a moment to consideration whether you want a paper or electronic calendar then choose the specific one that’s right for your personality and work style.
• Stick to only one calendar and avoid switching around between different ones if possible.
• Once you have picked your calendar, put your new years goals and timeline in it so you can hold yourself accountable.

2013 was a great year here at Innovatively Organized and to celebrate we are sharing our ‘best of 2013′ blogs. From useful downloadable checklists to step-by-step processes for increasing productivity, here are our top blogs from the past year:

1. Must Haves On-the-Go: Mobile Professionals Checklist- In February, we shared our Mobile Professionals Checklist to all our readers so that they could be more productive no matter where they work.

2. How to Efficiently Delegate to Your Assistant- Whether you need help from your assistant or a coworker, this article will help you delegate efficiently so you can save yourself time.

3. Essential Productivity Apps Checklist to Keep You Efficient- As a celebration of Small Business Week in June, we compiled a list of our top productivity apps that we recommend to our clients and shared them in this article.

4. 7 Ways Our Team Has Efficient Meetings- We described our step-by-step process of how we at Innovatively Organized hold efficient and productive meetings.

5. 5 Common Bottlenecks in Your Office- Whether it’s the chatty coworker in the cubicle next to you or duplicate documents that make finding the most recent version a headache, most offices deal with numerous productivity killers on a daily basis (sometimes unknowingly). This article helps bring awareness to some of those common bottlenecks.

6. App Recommendation: EchoSign- When a client signs a contract with you, the process of faxing or scanning documents is tedious and makes the negotiation process longer and more stressful for everyone involved. Fortunately, EchoSign allows users to send, sign, track, manage and access documents digitally. Read why we love EchoSign with this post.

7. Staying Productive When Your Self-Employed- When you are your own boss or work from home, there isn’t always someone pressuring you to complete that tedious report and while this can be refreshing for some people, it can also lead to procrastination or added stress because you are fully responsible for your own work load. In this article we provided a few tips we have come up with to help you stay motivated and productive when you’re self-employed.

8. Decide & Delegate During the Holidays- As more and more people in the office start disappearing during the holiday season, it can be stressful for those still left working. We provided a list of questions to go over with your team or coworkers so that everything is handled accordingly.