In today's episode of The Executive Coach Podcast, I shared a simple yet powerful technique that has revolutionised my digital organisation. It's a small change that's had an outsized impact on my productivity, especially as someone running an online business.
Despite having organised my files and utilising various cloud storage solutions, I found myself facing too much friction in my daily digital activities. The culprit? The humble browser bookmark. It turns out that this often-overlooked tool held the key to streamlining my digital life.
Let me share with you how I transformed my digital workspace through the power of organised bookmarks.
The Personal-Professional Divide
As someone straddling the line between personal and professional life, I found myself constantly juggling different browser windows and struggling to find the right links. My solution? I now use two separate browsers: one for personal matters and one for work, each with its own Gmail account.
In my personal browser, I've created folders for key areas of my life. There's one for personal finance, another for health, and a third for my children's activities. As a parent navigating busy schedules, this last folder has been a complete game-changer. I now have direct access to my children's school calendars, complete with sports matches and school events, as well as links to payment portals.
Tip: Consider separating your personal and professional browsing. Create folders in your personal browser for key areas of your life, such as finance, health, and family commitments.
Streamlining Professional Workflows
On the professional side, I've tailored my bookmarks to support my workflow as an online business owner. For instance, I've created a folder specifically for business software. As someone running an online business, I use quite a lot of software, and having quick links to these platforms has made a world of difference.
I've also bookmarked specific Google documents that I frequently need to access or update. As someone who isn't a huge Google Docs user but needs to collaborate with a team, this has significantly improved my efficiency. I can now quickly update operating procedures and templates without wasting time navigating through folders.
Tip: Create bookmarks for specific documents or pages within your most-used work platforms. This can significantly reduce the time spent navigating to frequently accessed resources.
Mindful Social Media Usage
Social media can be a double-edged sword for businesses. I'm not a frequent Facebook user, but my mastermind group communicates via a Facebook group. I found myself often forgetting to check it. My solution? I've bookmarked a direct link to the group chat. Now, when I click the Facebook favicon in my bookmarks, it takes me straight to the group, bypassing the potential distractions of the main feed.
This approach has not only helped me stay connected with my mastermind group but has also allowed me to use social media more intentionally. I'm no longer at the mercy of algorithms designed to keep me scrolling; instead, I go directly to the content that's most valuable for my business.
Tip: Create direct links to specific pages or groups within social media platforms. This allows you to engage with the content you need without getting pulled into endless scrolling.
The Ripple Effect
The impact of this bookmark organisation has extended beyond my own productivity. I've found myself being more responsive to my team. When they ask me to review something or make a change, I can now access the relevant platform or document in seconds. This has not only made me more efficient but has also improved my ability to support and collaborate with my team.
Moreover, this system has made life admin tasks much less daunting. Having all my personal finance, health, and family-related links in one place has turned potentially time-consuming tasks into quick, painless actions.
Tip: Regularly audit your bookmarks. Spend an hour or two organising them, and you'll reap the rewards in time saved and reduced stress for months to come.
In conclusion, while reorganising your bookmarks might seem like a small change, it can have a profound impact on your digital life. It's about creating an environment that supports your productivity and reduces daily frustrations. By investing a little time in setting up this system, you're setting the stage for a more organised, less stressful digital existence.
If you've found these insights helpful, I encourage you to listen to the full podcast episode for more detailed anecdotes and examples.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-executive-coach-c-suite-career-planning-goals/id1463542602 (Apple Podcasts)
OR https://open.spotify.com/show/12x8jhevqX6GtF085Nhtmt (Spotify)
And if you're keen to explore enhancing your productivity and organisation further, do consider looking into my coaching programme, where we delve deeper into these and other efficiency-boosting techniques.
Happy bookmarking!
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