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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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Simplify Your Business with Effective Systems

 

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Jan 10
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Simplify Your Business with Effective Systems

By Blog, Business Organizing, Digital Minimalism, Digital Organizing No Comments

Looking to simplify your business with effective systems but not sure where to start?

 

Picture a digital workspace where chaos and clutter are replaced with streamlined effective systems. You can finally close down the tabs in your brain and your day-to-day operations are easy. An efficient business workspace for you and/or your whole team to easily navigate!

 

Below, I’ll be guiding you through the art of creating effective systems to simplify your business. We’ll cover the three basic steps of setting up highly efficient systems in your business. This includes defining a pathway to save time and optimize your workflows.

 

To begin, it’s important to think carefully about how you’ll be setting up strategic storage of digital assets. The key word we’ll focus on here is retrieval; specifically HOW and WHERE you will find what you’re organizing.

 

Next, I will help you draw up a plan of action. Don’t worry, we won’t be going back to your dusty digital files from a decade ago. We’re going in with a bite-sized approach starting with TODAY and MOVING FORWARD!

 

Lastly, we’ll be crafting an efficiency plan to keep it all together for years to come. Say adios to chaos and embrace a workspace where sophistication meets simplicity!

Get started on organizing your folder structure with my FREE Digital File Cabinet PDF: Click here to download!

 

Keep reading to learn how to create effective systems that reduce clutter and simplify your business. You’ll soon enjoy saving time, closing the open tabs in your brain, and working with ease.

 

 

Simplify Your Business with Effective Systems

 

 

1. Determine the WHERE

Write a list of everything you use in your business (a starting point is listed for you below). Ask yourself the following question for each category:

 

Where will this be stored or filed so it can be easily found and shared?

 

Now brainstorm where will you store and organize your…

  • Notes and ideas (Google Drive, Asana, Evernote, OneNote, Reminders App, Google Keep, etc.)
  • Frequently visited links (Bookmark folders, spreadsheet, etc.)
  • Passwords (Lastpass, 1Password, spreadsheet, etc.)
  • Files, videos, course content (Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, iCloud, etc.)
  • Digital assets (Canva, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, iCloud, etc.)
  • Tasks and projects (Asana, Monday, Notion, ClickUp, Trello, etc.)
  • Receipts (Evernote, Google Drive, etc.)
  • Apps (Folders, groups, pages, etc.)

 

 

2. Plan the HOW

At this stage, you will have drafted a simple outline for your categories and where you may store everything. Take a moment here to think about any frequent roadblocks you encounter in your workday:

  • What often causes you to lose momentum?
  • What distracts you?
  • What is your team constantly asking you to resolve?

 

With a defined list of frictions at hand, ask yourself the following question to come up with resolutions to simplify your business for each one:

 

What are the exact steps I will commit to taking in order to increase efficiency?

 

Where can I…

  • Make duplicates or clones
  • Create a template
  • Automate
  • Delegate
  • Downsize
  • Create an SOP

Benefits of Implementing a System

  • Easy to store
  • Easy to locate
  • Easy to grant access
  • Easy to share
  • Easy to edit
  • Easy to duplicate
  • Easy to delegate
  • Easy to automate

Important Reminders

  • Start your adjustments TODAY and moving forward
  • Your systems will be imperfect to start and improve over time
  • Document what you are doing as you go for recurring tasks so you can create SOPs later
  • Create effective systems to simplify your business that are duplicatable and scalable
  • When in doubt, write it out

 

 

3. Get it GOING

As Barbara Hemphill once said, “Clutter is nothing more than postponed decisions.” The best way to combat clutter is to take action against it. Motion leads to momentum, and once you get going, I know you will be inspired to continue to simplify your business!

 

First, you must accept that you’re going to go through a bit of a process to make it to the other side. Since clutter did not happen overnight, decluttering is not going to happen overnight either. Organization is a lifestyle not a one-off kind of thing.

 

Think about how your life will function once these effective systems are in place. As well as the little habits (see below) you will implement to keep it running smoothly and stay organized.

You have now brainstormed WHERE you’re going to organize your business’ digital assets and planned out HOW you’re going to simplify your business. Equipped with this blueprint of effective systems, you are more than ready to take the first steps today!

 

While sorting your files, if you encounter a roadblock with your new system, remember to refer back to the questions from step two. Use these to untangle your thoughts and don’t hesitate to write it out if you need to.

 

If you’d like some support along the way or are ready to streamline your business even further, join our community in Organize Your Business.

This is our community-focused course where you can meet other business owners like yourself with similar goals of:

 

✔️ A smoother, more productive workday where you have quick access to all of your frequently used bookmarks and web tools

✔️ Implementing a simple solution for storing passwords securely and accessing them seamlessly across all devices

✔️ Creating the systems your online business needs for effortless file retrieval and managing your team’s flow of content creation

✔️ Obtaining a personalized plan for scheduling important tasks throughout your week and then letting go of the rest, guilt-free

✔️ Setting up a structure for easy file, photo, and content retrieval, with confidence that your team can navigate it

ORGANIZE YOUR BUSINESS →

 

 

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Tips for Working From Home Effectively

 

 

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Dec 12
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The 5 Daily Digital Habits of Successful People

By Blog, Business Organizing, Digital Minimalism, Digital Organizing No Comments

Ever wonder what the 5 daily digital habits of successful people are, and how you can start adopting them today?

 

If you’ve experienced the overwhelm of desperate searches in the depths of your digital files… keep reading, this one’s for you!

 

The frustration of navigating through an unruly inbox or a cluttered desktop is a commonly shared struggle. It’s not easy to avoid in our hyper-connected world today. The constant incoming emails, habits of saving everything to the desktop for “later,” and the perpetual fear of losing important information – it is a digital jungle out there.

 

Inevitably, your digital files will soon enough become a mess. It gets so overwhelming that you don’t even know where to start picking through.

 

Below, we’ll delve into the very real challenges of digital disarray. As well as combat each of the 5 struggles with an even stronger habit to overcome them. Also known as the 5 daily digital habits of successful people!

Being digitally organized is not just a matter of convenience. It’s a key to reclaiming your peace of mind and boosting your overall productivity. Allow these 5 habits to be your compass in navigating the sea of digital clutter. Together, we’ll work toward guiding you towards a more streamlined workspace and stress-free digital experience.

 

 

Here are The 5 Daily Digital Habits of Successful People:

 

Tip 1: Schedule Dedicated Email Time

 

Getting up first thing in the morning and going straight to check your phone is going to derail your day. Not to mention heavily impact your productivity.

 

Seeing all the emails that you have waiting is never going to do your mental health any favours. Avoid diving digitally head first upon waking up. Instead, schedule two or three times a day to check your email regularly. This first habit of the 5 daily digital habits of successful people creates space in your schedule. Now you can work on improving the other four habits. Make sure you implement this as soon as possible to be able to move on to the others!

 

During those blocks of time, you can quickly process your emails. Review them, reply to anything that takes less than two minutes, schedule appointments into your calendar, and so on. Whatever it may be, just get it off your plate, then archive it out of sight.

 

Tip 2: Avoid Computer Desktop Clutter

 

Don’t save files to your desktop and leave them there to deal with later. This is not one of the 5 daily digital habits of successful people, as staying successful means staying organized.

 

What happens when you save files to your desktop, you may ask? Your desktop becomes a big, cluttered mess. It may appear convenient at first. But there is only so much room for convenience until it becomes in-convenient to find what you’re looking for. We have the ability to create folders for a reason, right!

 

Once it piles up, then you’ll say, “I’ll deal with it later.” But as we all know… later doesn’t come. Then it’s just a huge, annoying, time-consuming, daunting task. Let’s face it – it’s overwhelming to deal with a cluttered computer desktop!

 

So do yourself a favour and deal with it in the moment. Save your files in a folder that makes sense to you. The next time you go to retrieve that file, you will be able to find it.

 

Tip 3: Implement a File-Naming System

 

If you are already practicing a system of where to save your files, it makes it a lot easier to name your files. And to find them again!

 

You may want to file them by date format or alphabetically (A – Z). I highly recommend that when you’re naming the files you use a space, underscore, or dash between keywords. You can also use a capital letter for each word. This makes it easy for you to scan quickly. It’s a whole lot simpler to search for your files when you separate the keywords in the file name.

 

You won’t waste any time searching through your computer again. It will be much easier to find your files the next time you need to access them!

 

Tip 4: Save Files Where They Belong

 

Saving your files immediately where they belong in your folder structure is quite possibly the most important habit.

 

To use the default computer Downloads folder, make an agreement with yourself to only save files there temporarily. Know that you can do a quick delete after you’ve used what you need.

 

I delete the contents of my Downloads folder about once every 2 – 3 weeks. It’s not information I need to save. This releases any stress about having important files randomly saved in there or needing to spend time-saving them beforehand. My files have already been saved into my folder structure the moment I downloaded them.

 

Tip 5: Filter Email Subscriptions

 

Create a filter in your email system for subscriptions. You can thank me later!

 

This last habit of the 5 daily digital habits of successful people is a simple automation. Predetermined emails will skip your inbox and go directly to the folder you set up in the filter. You won’t have to process them one by one manually, which is going to save you time every single day. You can adjust your filter settings for specific email addresses to be forwarded directly into a label or folder in your email upon arrival. This is a great hands-free way to declutter your inbox.

 

To view the sorted emails you can simply go to your subscription folder at your leisure. And the emails are not cluttering up your main inbox!

This week, put into practice the 5 daily digital habits of successful people! You will definitely see a massive difference in your productivity in only one week.

 

You won’t have anything piling up, causing you stress, and wasting your time anymore. Maintaining digital organization does require consistent effort, but the benefits far outweigh the initial investment of time.

 

What is your top tip for keeping digital clutter from piling up? Share with us below!

 

 

 

 

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Organize + Level Up Your iPhone for Better Productivity

 

 

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