I’m a productivity junkie. I love figuring out systems and streamlining my processes to help me work more efficiently. But I’m not one to constantly be switching me entire system every few months when the shiny new productivity app comes out. So these are my tried and true favorites that I have consistently used to run my business (and heck, my life!) over the last several years.
Some of my favorite productivity and planning tools:
Online Business Planning Kit — This kit was designed from my own planning systems used to run this exact business you're looking at – Paper + Oats. This set of 37 printable planner pages helps you track numbers, plan promotions, organize ideas, set goals, prep products/services, and connect with your audience via social media, blogging, and email marketing.
Goal Planning Kit — This goal setting planner is packed with multiple ways to track your goals and habits throughout the year and check off each small win so you can start creating real change in your life. It includes several layout options and time periods (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly), so you can track your goals and habits in whatever way best suits your style.
To-Do List & Calendars — This pack of editable calendars, scheduling, and to-do lists is the perfect way to keep your family's busy schedules straight! Staying organized and on-time will help you stay in control of your family life, instead of it controlling you. Print these as many times as you need for years to come, or laminate or frame them and make your dates with a dry erase marker.
Golden Coil Planners — I'm on my fifth year of using Golden Coil planners, and I am still obsessed with them! They let you customize the pages to fit your needs and planning style, and every year when I go to create my planner, they've added new pages and layouts. Plus, their design and covers are perfectly minimal and gorgeous. I'm not an affiliate or anything, just seriously love their planner options.
Want more printable planners? I've got a whole Etsy shop full of household planners and organizers to help you keep your home life on track, not just work stuff.
Other tools and apps I use to keep myself on schedule:
Asana — I have my Asana tab open and on calendar view 100% of the time. I dump everything in there for both life + business, and assign a date to it, so I can be sure nothing falls through the cracks. (I use the free version – read this to see exactly how I use it.)
Evernote — I use Evernote like a giant, digital notebook. I have lots of sections for different projects, writings, notes, and brainstorms. Having used it for about 7 years now, the search feature is becoming very handy! (I use the free version – read this to see exactly how I use it.)
Reminders app (iPhone) — I setup recurring reminders on my phone for simple daily/weekly things like putting the trash out to the curb, watering my plants, feeding my sourdough starter, and even giving my dog his morning/evening meds.
Screen Time feature (iPhone) — My screen-time has been WAY up lately, doom scrolling ya know, which has definitely cut into my productivity. I use the built in Screen Time feature on my phone to put a daily limit on social media. Even if I go over my time limit (and that's nearly every day!), having to put in a password to get back into Instagram is a nice pause to ask myself, do I really need 15 more minutes of this? (Settings > Screen Time > App Limits)
