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Jan 19
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Streamline Your Business Productivity with Bookmarks

By Blog, Digital Minimalism, Digital Organizing No Comments

It doesn’t take much to streamline your business productivity with bookmarks in Google Chrome. After implementing these 8 simple steps, you’ll see your productivity increase TODAY!

 

 How many times have you had more than 25 tabs open when suddenly our computer updates and you lose everything? All the tabs, websites, and apps that you were logged into?

 

Maybe you have a time slot of an hour to work on a project… but you spend half of it trying to log into everything.

This is wasted time that you can prevent from happening by saving the login details and login page in a convenient location.

 

We’ve all been there. That’s why I’m here to share some game-changing tips to streamline your business productivity with bookmarks in Google Chrome.

I teach on this topic regularly, and it gets the MOST feedback for how much it has changed other business owners’ day-to-day operations! It is often the smallest tweaks that make the biggest difference 😊

 

You can also use these time-saving tips on other internet browsers like Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or any other browser.

 

Prepare to revolutionize the way you organize your digital life!

 

Streamline Your Business Productivity with Bookmarks

 

I’m Sherry Borsheim and welcome to the Simply Productive Blog. This is where we guide you on simplifying and organizing your business and life. Each week we’re sharing with you the exact strategies on how to gain more free time and shed even more stress!

 

If you’re like me, wasting time searching for web pages or logins in Google Chrome is a major frustration. It’s so bothersome to me when I can’t find something. So much so, that I have tried many ways over 20 years to solve these roadblocks in my workdays.

 

That’s why I now prioritize organizing my bookmarks, considering them an essential part of my daily workflow!

 

Why Streamline Your Business Productivity with Bookmarks?

 

Bookmark organization isn’t just about today; it’s an investment that pays off in saved time tomorrow, the day after, and in the weeks and months to come.

 

The time you invest in learning these quick, easy tips today will become a lifesaving gift down the road.

 

The seemingly small act of organizing your bookmarks can be truly impactful. Especially when you consider the multitude of apps and websites you navigate daily. Let’s introduce the time freedom and peace of mind to access your files, resources, and websites swiftly!

 

How to Streamline Your Business Productivity with Bookmarks

Enabling the Bookmarks Bar

Let’s begin to streamline your business productivity with bookmarks starting with the basics. If you haven’t activated your bookmark bar in Google Chrome, now is the time to do so! Click on the three dots in the top-right corner, navigate to “Bookmarks and lists,” and select “Show all bookmarks.” This simple step will unveil the canvas to create your bookmark folders.

 

Bookmarking Sites

With your bookmark bar now visible, let’s bookmark your favorite sites. Click the star icon located on the right of the address bar while on a webpage you want to save. Name it as you prefer, and under “Folder” is where you can choose the location to save it. For now, we will save it to your Bookmarks Bar. Your first bookmark will now appear under the address bar!

 

 

Organizing Folders

To streamline your business productivity with bookmarks while keeping things tidy, let’s work on creating your folders. Right-click on the bookmark bar and select “Add Folder.” Name it according to what category of bookmarks you’ll be saving inside. This is especially useful for grouping related sites or creating workflows.

For example, you may want folders for Social Media, Digital Tools, Product Links, Courses, Finance, Shopping, etc.

 

 

Naming and Editing

Short and sweet is the key when naming bookmarks in Google Chrome. If the default name is lengthy it won’t be able to display the whole name. Conserving space on the bookmarks bar is key to getting the most out of it. Right-click on a saved bookmark and click on “Edit” to adjust it. Don’t hesitate to add emojis that will help you remember what the item is quickly for a touch of expressiveness!

 

Subfolders

For a deeper level of organization, you can break folders down even further by adding subfolders. Click to open one of your folders then right-click within a folder (on any item), select “Add Folder.” Again, name it as you like then drag and drop the new folder within the parent folder to rearrange the order (I recommend it at the top for easiest access!). This is how you can build your hierarchy effortlessly and fine-tune how you streamline your business productivity with bookmarks. Drag the bookmarks you’d like to keep in there to rearrange as needed.

 

 

Workflow Creation

Now we’ll be focusing on leveraging folders to create workflows. For instance, in your financial folder, you may want to organize bookmarks for tasks like monthly bills, tax-related sites, or receipts. This visual checklist ensures you won’t miss essential steps come monthly taxes and yearly tax season!

 

 

Access on All Devices

One of the perks of using the bookmark bar in Google Chrome is seamless integration with any device. Once organized, your bookmarks will magically appear when you log into your Google account on Chrome on your phone, computer, tablet, etc! This feature is a game-changer for those who frequently switch between desktop and mobile.

 

 

Keeping it Neat

Remember, any bookmark on the bar is accessible quickly only if it fits on your visual bookmarks bar. If you have more folders or bookmarks than what fits on your bookmarks bar, a double arrow will appear on the right that drops down a list of the excess. To keep your bookmarks bar neat, you should categorize every loose bookmark into a folder on your visual bookmarks bar. To maintain this, keep folder and bookmark names concise and avoid any quick saves to “Other bookmarks” or “Mobile bookmarks.”

 

 

 

As you now see, when you streamline your business productivity with bookmarks in Google Chrome, it’s a time-effective strategy for organizing websites and apps you frequently visit!

 

Whether you use a PC, Mac, or access your bookmarks on mobile devices, these tips will keep your digital tools streamlined and accessible at your fingertips.

 

The impact goes beyond the immediate; it’s about streamlining your digital workspace and ensuring quick access to everything you need, on-demand.

 

Let’s start on this journey of bookmark mastery and streamline your business productivity with bookmarks now! And don’t forget to stay tuned for more weekly tips on enhancing your business’ productivity and organization.

 

 

 

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Oct 30
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Tips for Working From Home Effectively

By Blog, Business Organizing, Time Management No Comments

Whether you’re new to or have experience with working from home, there are similar challenges we have all faced at one time or another. Working from home has become more prominent than the typical “office lifestyle” now more than ever.

 

But that’s great! This opportunity can give many of us more freedom and a less stressful workday.

 

However, it takes a lot of adjusting to work from home. Especially for those who are just beginning their first transition! This is also where self control and accountability come into play.

 

I’ve got your productivity covered 😉

 

Below are my top practices for how I plan and execute my productivity goals when working from home.

These tips also double as mental health tips for working from home!

1. Balance Family Obligations

There may be times when younger kids are home from school during your work week. For parents who work from home, caring for kids can make staying productive even more of a difficult task.

 

If this sounds like your life, it’s important to create a schedule that works to balance your family and work commitments effectively. This might look like one partner waking up to work earlier while the house is quiet and the other working later in the day afterward, or sharing the responsibility of taking the kids to/from child care. Having a plan ahead of time can eliminate a lot of stress from having to make in-the-moment decisions.

 

2. Prepare Meals

It can seem convenient to have the ability to make nice meals for yourself during the day, but you don’t need to waste productive time on this every day. Preparing food ahead of time ensures you are using your meal times to eat.

Have your meals ready the night before. To avoid wasting time, cook and prepare all of your meals ahead of time just like you would for a day at the office.

3. Be the Early Bird

It’s tempting to sleep in when you’re setting your own hours and not having to rush away to the office. But if you’re struggling with consistent productivity, challenge yourself to get up anyway.

 

Set an alarm for yourself an hour before your partner and kids wake up. Make a cup of your favorite morning beverage and start tackling one of your more unfavorable tasks. You’ll be surprised at how much you get done when you give yourself a little extra quiet time to be productive.

4. Batch Time for Emails

Do you find yourself going back and forth between a task and each ping of your email? If your work doesn’t require you to be on top of every email all day, set times to check and follow up with your emails.

 

Use these email breaks to sort through your inbox and reply to any that need your attention. Multi-tasking might sound like a good strategy, but dividing your attention between multiple tasks will spread you too thin. You gain productivity by accomplishing one whole thing at a time.

5. Set a “Finishing Time”

It’s easy to get so wrapped up in your work that you lose track of time. Working from home seems like a positive work-life balance attribute, but be careful not to get caught up in the relaxing environment and workflow too often.

 

Make a clear boundary for your work and personal life. Use an alarm to remind you when your work day is over. This doesn’t mean you have to quit at that moment – but use it as a guide to know when you should start to save and tie up any loose ends from work.

6. Trick Your Brain

Who doesn’t love a pajama day? Working from home offers the convenience of comfy clothes and alleviates the pressure of “getting ready” for work at the office.

 

Pretend you are getting ready for a day working in the office. Just changing clothes to something more formal will give your brain a signal to get work done throughout the day. It gives you a boost in the back of your mind throughout the day to be more productive and often energizes you as well.

7. Use a To-Do List

Working entirely from home can feel like you’re taking on a lot all by yourself. Keep your work organized in a paper or digital list.

 

Visually seeing everything you need to do can calm your mind and you are less likely to forget the small things. Use this method to cross off completed tasks for a sense of accomplishment, and jot down any notes or new tasks that come up throughout the day. You should also include any meetings or calls you’re participating in.

How do you keep yourself focused throughout the day?

Comment below!

 

 

Like this article?

You’ll love this one👉 7 Psychological Benefits of an Organized Home

 

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Oct 19
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Where to Donate Books When You’re Decluttering

By Blog, Home Organizing, Resources No Comments

 

If you have a collection of reading materials you’re ready to let go of but aren’t sure of where to donate books – this one’s for you!

 

Every reader knows that books can change lives. Children’s books help to shape and broaden our minds and imaginations as little ones. Self-help books give us direction in confusing or difficult times. Even recipe books bring life to our kitchens when we’re experimenting with new foods!

 

It isn’t always easy to let go of our favourites, which is why book libraries are one of the fastest-growing types of collections! When our shelves are filled to the brims, the stacks start toppling, and our little ones let go of picture books in favour of novels, these are signs it’s time to declutter. Continue reading for our full list of where to donate books.

 

Decluttering books is already quite a task in itself. But once the collection has been sorted, what should you do with the to-go books? Recycling them seems like a waste when so many others can still benefit from the books, and passing them on to friends and family can only go so far (especially if you’ve got a lot to give away!).

 

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How to Declutter Your Books

First, gather your supplies:

  • Boxes from Home Depot, a local storage facility, or banker boxes from Amazon
  • Packing tape
  • A thick, black marker (to label boxes for where they will be donated)
  • Research where to donate books (we’ve done most of the research for you here, and you can search for similar resources specific to your area)

 

Books are heavy, and glossy cookbooks are even heavier, so remember that you’ll still need to be able to lift the boxes of books for donation! Big Brothers does offer a pickup service, but you’ll still need to move them outside your front door. If lifting a box of books is too much for you, use sturdy reusable bags that you can lift by handles and carry to your car.

 

Pick one room to start in first. Use our Simply Productive Method for decluttering books – Left to Right, Top to Bottom.

 

Start on the top shelf from the left side and work your way to the right side of the shelf. Then continue decluttering on the shelf below. If you can’t get to the top shelf, then start with the floor and work left to right.

 

The goal is to make decisions on what to keep or donate, one shelf or area at a time.

 

Have several small boxes pre-assembled and ready to put your books for donation in. When decluttering with a client on-site, we prefer to use the small boxes or file boxes from Home Depot. Just don’t fill them to the top as they will be too heavy to lift! We only fill them three-quarters of the way for this reason.

 

“Now what should I do with them?”

 

To address this exact question, we’ve compiled a list of resources for where to donate books, textbooks, magazines, and comic books. Our guide spans across borders, for those in Canada, the US, and beyond. Ensure your books find a welcoming home and continue to inspire minds near and far by donating to these great causes today!

 

 

Where to Donate Books When You’re Decluttering

When deciding where to donate books, textbooks, magazines, and comic books, remember it is not just a single generous act but one that continues giving. You are capable of sparking curiosity, education, and joy in the hearts of many more readers!

 

Whether you reside in Canada, the US, or anywhere worldwide, you now have the resources to make a significant impact in your community and beyond. Don’t let your books sit idle and collect dust – share the knowledge and stories tucked in those pages! Give them a new life with someone who would appreciate them as you have by donating them to a good cause.

 

Bookmark this article to use as a reference for your next decluttering session. It will save you time from researching where to donate books on your own!

 

Make sure your beloved books continue to inspire and educate others for years to come. Share your favourite books with those in need by donating to these great causes today!

 

 

 

Like this article?

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