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10 Must Have Tools for Organizing Yourself and Your Workspace + a GIVEAWAY!

*Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links.  Should you choose to shop via them, you will not be charged anything, but it will help support this blog!

When I first started working from home I didn’t think I needed anything more than a computer and an internet connection.  A week into it, I remember sitting at my parsons-style desk, on my super cute lucite chair making a list of what I truly needed to stay organized and be able to work comfortably and effectively.  Some of the items were tactile, some were cloud-based but all have helped me immensely. I’m so excited to share with you my 1o must have tools for organizing yourself and your workspace (and a giveaway!).

FOR THE DESK

Drawer organizer: The one thing I despise the most is not being able to find something when I need it.  Being able to find my sticky notes, stapler, a highlighter, or even a simple paper clip can be the most daunting task when they aren’t where they should be.

10 Must Have Tools for Organizing Yourself and Your Workspace Plus a GIVEAWAY!
I love my sticky notes!

Planner: I reviewed and purchased so many planners before finding the one that fits my needs – for now.  I tried a regular weekly calendar with lines and without lines.  I tried to solely go paperless – I can’t do it.  There’s something about writing down what the task or appointment is that helps me to remember it, and develop on it.  I also have a love for everything stationary-related.  I have enough notecards and super cute sticky notepads to open up my own shop.  I am a true believer in the power of a handwritten note.

I have started using the Passion Planner and it’s been working well for me.  I’m able to block out time for calls, brainstorming, basically anything – but see it at a glance, weekly.  I use the bottom sections to jot down my tasks for the week, both personal and work-related.  Each week, I transfer the tasks that were not completed to the current week (and hopefully there aren’t any!).  The bottom right section serves as a notepad for a myriad of things ranging from social media schedules, to important phone numbers for the week, etc.

10 Must Have Tools for Organizing Yourself and Your Workspace Plus a GIVEAWAY!

I found erasable colored pens that I use to write in the planner.  These are great for color coordinating tasks and easily erase if you make a mistake.  I used to use a pencil but after a while the text would schmear.  I have this thing against crossing out mistakes – it looks messy (could also be my OCD kicking in…).

Bulletin Board: Aside from posting motivating and visually adorable items, I also pin up my social media calendar as well as any papers that serve as reminders (such as payment reminders for my children’s school events, etc.).  You can find bulletin boards in every size, shape and color, but overall remember to find one that is more functional than pretty.  I did that – I purchased a beautiful pin board from an Etsy store, and it looked perfect on the wall BUT I couldn’t pin anything to it. The cushioning was too fluffy so the pins would pop out causing whatever was being held up to fall on the floor.  FAIL.  I then found a great, usable pin board at Michael’s and now don’t have to worry about things falling off of it.

White Board: Although I write down my tasks in my planner, and this may sound duplicative, I need to also see my projects at a glance.  I list my client’s name and the pending projects, updating it regularly as projects are completed and new ones arise.  Make it fun and organized by using different color dry erase markers.  I found the cutest dry erase monthly calendar at Target’s Dollar Spot – perfect for family organization between all of the sporting practices and games!

Bins:  Any mail that is work related goes straight up to my office, where I go through and either keep, file or toss it.  So as to not make a million trips up and down the stairs with one or two pieces of paper, they get “filed” in bins.  I repurposed two plastic bins that I previously used for the boys’ toys for my recycling bin and shredding bin. Once a week, before the recycling truck comes, I bring down the bins, shred what needs to be shredded and then bring the empty bins back up.  Easy Peasy.

CLOUD-BASED NECESSITIES

Evernote: I’ve been using Evernote for about a year and it is so helpful.  I created a notebook for each of my clients as well as one for my blog, and one for personal lists and notes.  Inside each notebook I have notes for whatever pertains to that specific client.  I collect article links that are relevant for social media sharing, credentials for certain websites that require access, and more.  Here I jot down blog post ideas that I would’ve possibly forgotten hadn’t I put it in Evernote when it first came to mind.  You can attach images to your notes, share the notes and create conversations with other fellow Evernoters (I may have made that word up).  And the best thing – it’s free!  There are paid options, but I am totally fine using the free version.

Cozi: Cozi is heaven-sent.  I started using it just for my family and personal needs but just started integrating work-based tasks into it as well.  Cozi is a jack-of-all-trades app.  It is a calendar (with color coded entries for each family member – including Sadie!); it’s a kick-butt shopping list maker.  I have a list for every store that we frequent, and as we run low on items, I add them to the particular store list that I need to go to replenish.  For example, I have a list for Target (obvi), Publix, Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Costco, and some others.  My husband no longer has to ask me if we need anything from the supermarket because all he has to do is go into the app on his phone (or the computer) to see what we need.  Once the items have been purchased, you check it off and it’s crossed off the list in real time.  Love that!

10 Must Have Tools for Organizing Yourself and Your Workspace Plus a GIVEAWAY!

I make to-do lists for myself and my husband, a list of scheduled deliveries, packing lists, holiday gift lists and more.  Recipe Box and Contacts are two functionalities you can use if you pay for the upgraded “gold” package, which I believe it worth it.  You can try the gold version for free for 14 days and see how great it truly is!

Dropbox: Ever have the need to send large files to clients or even photos to your family but can’t do so because your email client won’t allow it?  Dropbox is perfect for that.  You create an account and seamless send any large files and also file them – and it is all cloud-based.  You can retrieve the files from anywhere.  It’s FREE too – up to a certain storage capacity.

Picmonkey: I love Picmonkey to easily create social media images or fix up my photos.  This program isn’t cloud based, but you can access it easily from your computer.  It is relatively easy to learn and use, and if you purchase the premium version you get access to more bells and whistles in terms of fonts, filters and more.  It’s worth the splurge of $33 annually!

10 Must Have Tools for Organizing Yourself and Your Workspace Plus a GIVEAWAY!

Asana: My graphic designer and I use Asana for project management.  Yet another free program (YAY!), I can easily create a project, list the required tasks to be done and assign a person and deadline to each of them.  I get notifications when a task has been worked on or a note has been placed in that particular project.  You can upload files pertaining to rach project, making it easily accessible for the other people, as well as archive projects once they are completed.

FOR OVERALL ASTHETICS

Personal Photos: The best thing to turn my frown upside down is to look at photos of my two beautiful boys.

Daily Calendar: I enjoy tearing off the page from the previous day to see what my page-a-day calendar has in store.  This year I have the Someecards calendar and it’s definitely made me laugh quite a bit!

10 Must Have Tools for Organizing Yourself and Your Workspace Plus a GIVEAWAY!

Laptop: I love working on my laptop.  It goes with me everywhere – downstairs, outside, to baseball practices.  Since it is practically attached to me, I wanted to make it “pretty”.  Caseapp kindly offered for me to design my own custom laptop skin, so I decided on the marble look.  I’ve seen it all over and love the clean look! It was so easy to apply (even for me!) and makes my laptop look a little fancier.

10 Must Have Tools for Organizing Yourself and Your Workspace Plus a GIVEAWAY!

You can choose from their predesign options or upload your own photo to create a custom iPhone case or custom laptop skin.

Caseapp was super kind to offer my readers 20% off their order.  Use the code “PELLERINI20” at checkout!

One of my readers can win $40 toward their custom designed skin!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What do you need to keep organized?  I’d love to know!

85 Comments Filed Under: Giving Away! Tagged With: desk, drawer organizer, giveaway, organization, phone case, planners, Social Media, sticky notes

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rachel @ Countdowns and Cupcakes says

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    My planner is so insanely important to me, I would be lost without it! I’m already looking at my different options for 2017 because of how much I use it!

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Rachel, what planner do you use? I’m always on the lookout for a new one!!

      Reply
  2. jenny says

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    Yes to all of these!
    I love your laptop cover, by the way.

    xoxo, Jenny

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Thanks Jenny! You could win one if you’d like to enter the giveaway 🙂

      Reply
  3. Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says

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    I have been using PicMonkey a lot lately! I think all bloggers need to use it.

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      I agree with you Robin. I also play around with Canva, but always go back to PicMonkey. Have you ever tried Relay?

      Reply
  4. Jessie says

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    What a lovely post! 🙂 I absolutely adore planners. Thanks for sharing! Xo

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Thank you Jessie!

      Reply
  5. Susan says

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    Thanks for all those great tips. You brighten my day.

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Thank you Mama!! I love you and you brighten my day too!

      Reply
  6. Natalie Timperio says

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    I worked from home for a few months and I too thought I would need minimal materials. I learned the hard way…had I this article only a little bit sooner! Great tips 🙂 x Natalie http://www.thegirlwithbangs.com

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Thanks Natalie! Do you work from home now or are you in an office?

      Reply
  7. tara pittman says

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    I recently got a planner. I love it and will get one every year.

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      My planner really helps keep my in line with what needs to get done throughout the day!

      Reply
  8. Kathy Kenny Ngo says

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    I actually have almost all of those things. I like calling my desk, disorganized chaos.

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      I love the name of your desk Kathy! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Donnica says

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    People always question why I’m so attached to my physical planner (I use an Erin Condren and a Day Designer). However, like you said there’s just something about writing down tasks and important dates that helps me.

    I really need to start using Evernote. It’s one of the tools I see that is recommended the most that I don’t use.

    Reply
  10. Cara says

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    Awesome tips! I use the Passion Planner too! I absolutely love it and advice anyone to use it. It really helps bring perspective in the things you do and the tasks you decide to take on.

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Thank you Cara! I’m happy to meet a fellow Passion Planner!! 🙂

      Reply
  11. Eugenia says

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    These are so wonderful ideas! I love using planners, but this Cozi app seems like an amazing tool. I should try this free version! Thanks for suggestions!

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Thank you Eugenia! I definitely recommend trying out Cozi – now I can’t get “I didn’t know you were going out” or something along those lines from my hubby because I put everything in Cozi!

      Reply
  12. Ana De- Jesus says

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    I would love to work with Caseapp as I adore their products and it is so different to anything I have seen!

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      I love that I could create my own skin – and they have a bunch of other products as well!

      Reply
  13. Sola says

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    I would be absolutely lost without my planner. However, I recently starting to use Wunderlist to help me stay organized as well. I also love the case!

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Hmmm…I need to find out what Wunderlist is! Thank you for stopping by Sola!!

      Reply
  14. Michelle Gwynn Jones says

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    Having an organized and well functioning workspace is very important. After all of that is in place, it is time to decorate.

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      I agree – I tried to decorate before organizing and that was a mistake! Thank you for stopping by Michelle!

      Reply
  15. Elizabeth O. says

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    I love being organized, it makes me think a lot clearer. I always make sure I have a planner in hand. I don’t use a lot of apps but I make sure that I list everything down in paper or in my phone. Schedule is also important to me, especially since time management makes a huge difference when it comes to being productive!

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      I completely agree with you – time management was a struggle for me at first when I started working from home. There were too many distractions…like my bed calling me for an afternoon nap LOL. I have since really embraced time blocking and have been super organized. Thank you for stopping by Elizabeth!

      Reply
  16. Ron Leyba says

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    Love all the tools you mentioned here. Will definitely try to get all of them. Nice giveaway too!

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Thanks Ron! I hope you entered! 🙂

      Reply
  17. Edye says

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    Thanks for the giveaway! I’d love for my case to be muted earth tones 🙂

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      My pleasure Edye, good luck! I think your case would look beautiful in earth tones 🙂

      Reply
  18. Heather says

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    This inspires me to organize my desk better! Thanks 🙂

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      I’m glad I could help Heather! 🙂

      Reply
  19. Amy Jones says

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    i have never been organized, ill try to keep your tips in mind.

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      No time like the present to start 😉

      Reply
  20. Liz Mays says

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    I totally envy your organization! I didn’t know there were erasable colored pens. You can bet I’ll be picking those up!

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Awww, thanks Liz! The erasable pens are game changers!

      Reply
  21. Doran @ Haute Beauty Guide says

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    Thanks for sharing the passion planner! I have wanted one for a bit now.

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      It’s helped organize me quite a bit!

      Reply
  22. Farrah says

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    I love “Fly Away”–so pretty! <3

    Reply
  23. Lexie Lane says

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    Well that sounds great! I will check that out. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  24. adriana says

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    Love love love this list! So perfect, I use my planners soo much throughout the day! This giveaway is amazing, thank you!!

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      I’m so glad you love the list Adriana! Good luck on the giveaway!

      Reply
  25. Roxy says

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    I’m loving all the detail you gave of how to make the perfect home office. I’d love to work from home, but would definitely need to implement all 10 of your must have tools. I’m also loving this giveaway. If I win, I want a marble one like yours! perfect background for IG pics!

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Thank you Roxy for your kind words! The marble is PERFECT for IG pics!!! 🙂

      Reply
  26. Leslie Soto says

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    These are awesome tips for staying organized while working from home. I’m a huge fan of my planner. It has changed my blogging game so much! I also love PicMonkey. I think i’ll download Cozi, too!

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Thank you Leslie! I think you’ll like Cozi – it has helped me organize my home life and a bit of work life too!

      Reply
  27. Dhemz Apdian - Dias says

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    I seriously need to get a new organizer. Sounds like a fun giveaway! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Thank you for stopping by and good luck on the giveaway!

      Reply
  28. KRYSTLE COOK says

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    I love PicMonkey too. It’s so easy to use and much quicker than pulling out photoshop.

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      I agree Krystle, and much less expensive than Photoshop, especially when you only create social media images!

      Reply
  29. Shaylee says

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    Awesome post! I’m always looking or ways to be more organized at my desk. Oh, and erasable coloured pens? I’m ALL OVER THAT!

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Shaylee, the pens are a game changer!

      Reply
  30. Jenn Peters says

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    Those pins would be perfect for my little planner 🙂 I love having a variety of colors to keep it organized better.

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      They are so much fun to work with and make the planner more organized!

      Reply
  31. Molly @ Love the Everyday says

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    I am completely addicted to office supplies! I love the feeling of a brand new planner! **sigh**

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      I am the same way Molly!! 🙂 New planners and notebooks! Oh, and pens and sticky notes.

      Reply
  32. Mariah Swift says

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    I’m an avid list maker, so I’m constantly trying to find paper and notebooks to write things down! I might have to try the Passion Planner next! Right now I have an Erin Condren Life Journal that I absolutely looooove, but who knows, I like to switch things up!

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      I’ve heard of the Erin Condren Life Journal – it looks great!!

      Reply
  33. Shannon Peterson says

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    My planner is my number one go to for everything, so its definitely very important to me!

    Reply
  34. Ashleigh says

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    These are all great ideas for a nice working space! And thanks for hosting the great giveaway! I always love being organized!

    Reply
  35. Lori says

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    I love your list! So practical and yet fun at the same time! If I had my own work space, I would enjoy all the functional and cute accessories to go along with it. My favorite addition to my work routine has been Trello. I use it exclusively for my blog planning but it has also been great for my husband and I to coordinate different tasks. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      I’ve used Trello for work projects in the past and it is a great tool!! Thanks for stopping by Lori! 🙂

      Reply
  36. Ana Fernandez says

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    A Planner is essential for me! I always have one and buy a new one every year

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      What is your go-to planner Ana?

      Reply
  37. Nicole says

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    I love office supplies so much! There’s some things that I “need” that I don’t really need.

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Exactly – it’s a “need” want! xo

      Reply
  38. Emma @ The Happy Journal says

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    I’m the same as you; I can’t go paperless when it comes to planning. And I need ALL the sticky notes. They are so so useful. I’m always on the hunt for new stationery and office supplies!

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Emma, any new stationary or office supplies that you would recommend? 🙂

      Reply
  39. Emma says

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    I’ve been planning with a bullet journal recently and it has been a real game changer. Love all of your recommendations!

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Emma, I have bookmarked your post about the bullet journal and love the concept but don’t know why I’m hesitating…I just just do it, I know…

      Reply
  40. Claudia Krusch says

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    Thanks for all those great tips. Love the laptop case, mine is clear….will check it out! Thank you for sharing it!

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Claudia, mine was clear before too – so funny!

      Reply
  41. Laurie says

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    I love your organizational tips! I tend to be more cluttered and this will really help.

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Thanks Laurie, I hope they help!

      Reply
  42. Rosalyn O. says

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    I love having a planner handy!! It’s actually by my side as I write this! I don’t know what I would do without it :))

    Reply
  43. mya.k says

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    Great tips, I love that laptop case too.

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Thank you Mya!! I love the case too 🙂

      Reply
  44. Lawrence Hamilton says

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    Super awesome tips. I need to come into the new age some more and use a planner!

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Thank you Lawrence! I’m sure you are in the new age – planners are actually somewhat old school but I love them!

      Reply
  45. Mich says

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    A desk/daily calendar, an organizer and few bins are must haves for any workspace. As for the cloud based ones, Google drive and docs or sheets works best for me!

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Google drive is another great cloud-based need…I totally forgot to list that one. Thanks for reminding me 🙂

      Reply
  46. Ranch Office says

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    Amazing tools! Thanks for sharing. Where do you get your inspiration from?

    Reply

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