July 16, 2010

Want a super easy way to organize and remember things? Then discover the dozens of uses of sticky notes.

Their key advantage is in their ability to stick cleanly to files, papers, banners, phones, walls, doors, chairs, and books.

They come in all shapes and sizes–even smells! My personal favorites are Post-It notes in the shape of orange stars and my pink ones imprinted with a Louisa May Alcott quote: “She is too fond of books, and it has addled her brain.”

Uses for Sticky Notes

There are all kinds of paper sticky notes and free computerized sticky notes. [See the end of the blog post for unusual uses for computer sticky notes.] You can order paper notes online or buy them at WalMart or any office supply store. Some uses are obvious–but many will be new ideas to help you as a writer.

• Leave yourself message reminders (about writing and non-writing chores to do, when you have to leave for an appointment, when you have a phone call scheduled)
• Bookmark pages to find research, places to call in the phone book, and directions and names on your map.
• Make business tools. You can order sticky notes with pre-printed messages, your personal logo, or your business card info. Use them if you’re out to lunch (post on your front door or computer screen). Give these business tools as gifts.
• Map your day. Put sticky notes on a wall map showing where each errand or meeting  is located. Group them. After running that errand, remove the sticky note.

There is also a free sticky note software download for Windows.  With it, according to their website, you can do more than customize their look and then stick the note on your computer screen. You can also:

• send sticky notes over a local network
• send sticky notes over the Internet
• customize sticky notes any way you need
• edit and format sticky notes
• print sticky notes

Time Management Books

Using sticky notes is just one time management idea. For hundreds of other ideas, see my time management book list.

What is your most unusual use for a sticky note–either writing or non-writing-related?

7 Comments »

1. 

   Hi, Kristi, it’s nice to know I’m not the only sticky-note freak! There’s an online wall you can use stick virtual sticky notes on to help you develop characters, plot, or whatever: http://www.wallwisher.com/

   Comment by Jane Heitman Healy — July 16, 2010 @ 12:01 pm

2. 

   My aunt used to make an amazing trifle dish. After a couple family holidays that were trifle-less, my dad got an idea. He found her Post-Its and wrote TRIFLE on a bunch of them. He then proceeded to stick them all over her house. It worked.

   I use them when reading books on writing. I make note of the part of the page that resonated with me, and why, and then I stick it in the book. That way when I’m looking for something, I don’t have to page through my (usually illegible) notes in a binder, or try to find it in the book again.

   Comment by Yvette — July 16, 2010 @ 8:22 pm

3. 

   Hi Kristi,
   I came across your blog by chance, perhaps serendipity but I’m glad I did. I’ve visited a lot of blogs and I usually leave after a minute or so. Not to sound cliché but first impressions do count. If a blog is not appealing, I exit the page. However, that’s not the case with your blog. Yours, I find it refreshing: it’s helpful, informative, organized, and uncluttered. I recommended your blog to one of my friends and fellow writer.

   Comment by Claudia Del Balso — July 18, 2010 @ 1:42 pm

4. 

   One of the most useful ways I use post-its is with an idea-management tool called Affinity Diagram. The purpose is to organize a large number of ideas into their natural relationships.

   Each idea is written with a marker on one post-it – large enough to read easily from a short distance. When all the ideas are written down, you start moving them around. Put together ideas that seem to be related in some way. You shouldn’t try to understand or articulate how or why — just go on your intuition. Then, after everything is grouped, try to find a heading for each grouping — either from an existing post-it or by making a new one.

   I used an Affinity Diagram recently when I couldn’t figure out how to organize my book (nonfiction, history). My post-its contained key events, characters, themes. I did the process 3 times and came up with 3 different groupings. Then I studied and pondered each one, tweaked a bit, and decided one worked much better than the others. That became my chapter-by-chapter outline. It also helped me understand the underlying theme and how it moved through the entire work.

   Comment by Nancy — July 20, 2010 @ 3:56 pm

5. 

   Jane, thanks for the great URL for the virtual sticky notes. I’m checking that out right now!

   Yvette, loved the story about how your dad got your aunt to remember the TRILFE! I used Post-Its in books I’m reading too—especially those tiny skinny ones in bright colors. Sometimes I use different colors for different things (on the days I’m REALLY organized!)

   Claudia, thanks so much for the very kind remarks about the blog. I really appreciate it, plus recommending it to your friends. I’m so glad you find it helpful. So much of writing is a “head” game that has nothing to do with plotting and marketing!

   Nancy, I’m intrigued by your Affinity Diagram. It kind of sounds like the brainstorming idea, or you can move the parts around (which I would like better.) I can really see the benefit when organizing nonfiction. What a great way to come with a chapter-by-chapter outline! I must remember this technique to tell my students. Thanks!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — July 23, 2010 @ 4:06 pm

6. 

   As a teacher, I like to have my students use them. It’s a lot more fun than writing in a notebook. They can use them for text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world connections. Also, it’s fun to have them write specific things on them, such as their height and make a class chart to teach graphing. Or their favorite animals to teach Venn Diagrams, etc. Very useful in the classroom!

   Comment by Christie Wright Wild — July 28, 2010 @ 10:06 pm

7. 

   Christie, you’re way ahead of me. What great ideas to use in the classroom–or with your kids at home, for that matter. Thanks for sharing!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — July 29, 2010 @ 5:40 pm

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