Time Management

A month ago, my personal organization system consisted of…

  • Outlook Calendar
  • Outlook Contacts
  • Outlook Tasks
  • Outlook Notes
  • Outlook Mail

I opened Outlook, and there I would see it all. Five buttons.

Now, my system consists of…

  • Google Calendar
  • Google Contacts
  • ToodleDo Note: In October 2018, I left Toodledo in favor of Remember The Milk due to changes made by a new owner.
  • Evernote
  • Gmail

Sounds more complex, right? I want something that is as simple as what I had for the last 10 years with Outlook—something where I click once and see everything.

Actually, that one-click-and-you-see-it-all is exactly what I have. Last month, I wrote about the Netvibes page I created and which serves as my homepage.

When I open my browser, my Netvibes page comes up. Across the top are my Google Calendar, ToodleDo, and Gmail. I added links—known as “Link Module” widgets in Netvibes—which will open Google Contacts and Evernote. If I click the blue title bar on my Google Calendar, ToodleDo, or Gmail, I am taken to a full-screen version of that tool.

So, here is the bottom line…

  • I open my the browser on my desktop computer, and I see my Netvibes page with my 5 organizational tools.
  • I open the browser on my laptop, and I see my Netvibes page with my 5 organizational tools.
  • I open the browser on a computer in someone else’s office, the public library, or the business center at a hotel in a distant city. I go to Netvibes.com and login. I am now looking at my Netvibes page with my 5 organizational tools.
  • I pick up my tablet, and my 5 organizational tools are represented by 5 icons side-by-side on the home screen.
  • I pick up my mobile phone, and my 5 organizational tools are represented by 5 icons side-by-side on the home screen.

When I add Dropboox to the mix, allowing me access to the documents and projects I in progress, I can truly work from anywhere. All of the pieces are together in one neat package, and I can access it from anywhere.