My best tool for engaging content in 2019

Today is Improve Your Office Day, and I wanted to share the one thing that I rely on for content throughout the year.

In fact, so much so, that next year I am thinking of getting two.

Now, we’re not talking about the latest laptop from Apple or a new digital camera. It’s not a new piece of software. It’s not a new printer. In fact, it’s distinctly old school and analogue. It’s not even particularly pretty, although I guess some might be.

Time to get the new calendar orderedYes, a good old-fashioned wall calendar is my go-to piece of kit. I have an A3 one, and it’s hung up by my desk/kitchen table. I’ve only had one calendar this year so have relied on different colour pens to cover my content ideas, the big national events and then the random days, like Homemade Cookie Day.

Next year I’m going to keep my content on a separate calendar, just because it’s cleaner. As I write for other people, then it also means I know when I’m scheduling their work for as well.

You could go digital

Look, I grew up when the BBC Acorn computer was the height of home tech. I love all kinds of stationery, and I still like to write things down. I don’t send my clients their content on parchment written with a quill pen. It’s all about the right tools for the job.

That said, I can see the value of something like Trello if you are a more digital person. I use mine for storing ideas rather than calendar planning. Or you could use Google calendar, or whatever suits you.

It’s about using it rather than what it is

I am sorry to be a bore and say it again, but planning is your best friend when it comes to getting great content away. The calendar can only help you with planning if you use it, and then use what’s on it. No point writing up all the ideas and then never doing anything with them.

So whether you go analogue or digital, the tools are only as good as what you do with them. Time to get planning!

What would you change about your office or workspace? And are you all digital or is there’s still room in your life for some analogue stuff?