Systems that help you keep track of things

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Snaptoss
Butterfly
Butterfly

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Joined: 30 Mar 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 13

28 Apr 2010, 5:39 pm

Hey, I don't wanna double post, but it's hard for me to tell which forum will collect the most input (see Link for a related post, you don't need to post to any particular thread though). I'm looking for ways to help me keep track of academic things. These things may include procedures that you follow to get good grades and all that.

Some procedures I follow:

Sticky notes on monitor I put sticky notes on my monitor which kinda helps... it kinda doesn't. I write down the things I have due on the notes. I don't have a physical, mobile planner... I'm dumb, lol.
Vocab word list On my comp, I have a shortcut key that I press which pulls up a list of all my vocabulary words. Whenever I come across a word that slows me down, I add it to the list, and copy and paste the definition from an online dictionary. I consult this list when I write papers and this helps me learn the words.

That's all I can think of right now for me. Please share your own things! =D



Last edited by Snaptoss on 30 Apr 2010, 4:41 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Gigi830
Sea Gull
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Joined: 5 Feb 2010
Age: 43
Gender: Female
Posts: 230
Location: Neptune, Ca

28 Apr 2010, 6:32 pm

those are great ideas! I'm not a student anymore, but I have issues keeping track of stuff as a mom. I tried using a planner and I tried using the comp to make lists but it didn't work for me. I am a kinesthetic and tactile learner, meaning I think better when moving- I anchor thoughts in movement and sense of touch. when I write stuff I rememebr it BECAUSE I wrote it, because I have anchored "A" with the feeling and movement of writing "A" or any other letter....not because I saw it for example- if that makes sense (???). So typing doesn't do anything for me. I do not retain much of what I type. So I have come up with a system for remembering what I need to do, what I have done throughout he day, week, month, whatever.

I use a white board and I have it mounted in the hall between the living room and kitchen. This forces me to write it while standing and moving. When I am sitting it's like my brain works WAY slower and I have issues being productive. (I need a standing desk like Mark Twain I guess. Well, that'll be next on my quest for organization :P )
I have different checklists: HAS to get done daily, weekly, monthly and then would LIKE to get done....I also have a section of the board for daily goals (things like "call so-and-so" or "Dr appt today @ 2pm" and other specific things I would like to focus on. I have a section to track feeding and stuff for my son, and also the date since I forget that often :P There is also a section for things happen this month (like birthdays or holidays or appointments). It's all color-coded. I have checkboxes next to things I need to do. I keep most of the things up permanently, but erase and rewrite the boxes and date and feeding times. Sounds complicated and I guess for some it might be but it works great for me so far :) I also write post its and stick them to the frame for things if I can't get to the board right away (I have post its available all over the place, LOL) or for things that do not have a spot on the board right away, like for instance things that may happen NEXT month. When it is next month and it is time to update that section of the board I have a post it to remind me of the special event.

My husband is also currently fixing up a pc tablet for me so I can write everything and then turn it into text. Might not sound good to some, but to me it seems much more productive since I will retain what I write better and get more written in a shorter amount of time since I write way faster than I type.


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