• Blogging

    My Favorite Blogging Tools (Part 1)

    September 14, 2015

    The Recovering Pessimist: My Favorite Blogging Tools Part 1-- Evernote and erasable pens are a few of my favorite blogging tools. | www.therecoveringpessimist.me #amwriting #recoveringpessimist #optimisticpessimistI’ve been a blogger for seven years. One of the most important things I’ve learned is that you have to stay organized as much as possible. In my case, the more things I have to keep me organized, the better my sanity.

    So, I wanted to share with you a few things I use to keep myself organized. Enjoy!

    Evernote

    My love for Evernote will never falter (click here and here for proof). When it comes to blogging, I have several notebooks for various aspects of blogging. One is for recording blog post ideas, one is for blogging tips I find, and the other one is for things about the business of blogging. I use Evernote’s Web Clipper for the latter two.

    Moleskine Cahier Journals

    Even with all the advancements in technology, I’m still a pen and paper lover. When I shop for notebooks, I want something small and durable. After doing a bit of research, I purchased a three-pack of pocket-sized Moleskine Cahier Journals. Well worth the money, I promise.

    EPIC BLOG: One-Year Editorial Planner

    My bestie Amber at Climb Out of the Cubicle gifted me with the EPIC BLOG: One-Year Editorial  Planner by Regina Anaejionu  for my birthday. This is planner is SO DOPE! I love that there’s a section for you to document your blog’s stats at the end of each month. One more reason for me to love Regina. Seriously, she’s dope as hell!

    Paper Mate EraseMate Pens

    I just discovered erasable ink pens last year. pauses for gasps of shock I know, I know, where have I been all this time?? These erasable pens by Paper Mate come in six colors (red, black, blue, pink, turquoise, and purple) and practically eliminate my dependence on correction fluid.

    Sidenote: Don’t use these pens to complete any sort of applications/legal documents that involve a signature.

    WordPress App

    I can’t always be around my laptop or tablet. Having the WordPress app installed on my Android phone allows me to blog while on the go. I can see my stats and comments. Not only can I write a new post, but  the app also has my drafted, scheduled, and published blog posts available. The only downside to the app is that all blog posts are grouped together vs. being separated. Other than that, the app is pretty useful.

    Social Media Sites

    Social media is a huge source of inspiration for this blog. Usually, I’m avoiding doing work by going on my social media accounts (specifically Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest). It’s a great tool for breaking out of writer’s block and learning new blogging tips/tricks.

    Did you find these tools useful? What are some tools that you use to keep your blog organized and keep your sanity intact? I would love to hear from you. Let’s discuss in the comments.

     

    Updated: May 8, 2016

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  • The Complexities of Life

    #PressPlay

    March 2, 2015

    The Recovering Pessimist: #PressPlayI’m a habitual planner. I don’t like surprises so I try to plan as much as possible. Usually, there’s nothing wrong with this.

    The problem with constantly planning is that I never execute the plans. In my Evernote account, there are sooo many notes full of ideas that have never made it to the execution phase.

     

    [bctt tweet=”You can plan all you want to, however NOTHING is going to happen until you #PressPlay” via=”no”]

    When I made my theme for 2015, I understood that I would have to actually do the things I had taken so much time to plan. They definitely aren’t going to execute themselves right? Take those ideas and/or plans to the execution phase and make it happen.

    #PressPlay

     

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  • Blogging

    How I Remember Ideas for Blog Posts

    August 21, 2014
    Image via Flickr.

    Ideas for blog posts tend to come out of nowhere. Emphasis on nowhere. After forgetting countless ideas, I finally have a system to record the first idea before they disappear. It’s nothing fancy, but it works for me.

    Ready? Here we goooo…

    Evernote

    • I love, love, love Evernote! If my phone is nearby, I use my Evernote app to jot down blog ideas and/or the source of inspiration. It’s pretty awesome.

    Post-it Notes

    • I literally have these in every room of my apartment and I also have them in my car. Gotta be ready when the ideas hit, then I can just stick them to whatever is nearby and come back to it later. Now that it’s back to school season, I can stockpile these things for little to no money spent.

    Repetition

    • When I don’t have access to Evernote or Post-it Notes, I use repetition. I repeat key aspects of the blog idea until I’m able to jot down the idea. This isn’t the most reliable part of the system, but it works.

    This is my system. Again, nothing fancy. I’m always looking for more tools to add to my system. The woes of being a blogger, always on the hunt for something better, haha!

     

    Updated September 7, 2015

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  • The Complexities of Life

    Keeping My To-Do List Organized

    August 1, 2014
    Image via Flickr.

    Between my full-time job and this blog, time management is crucial. Having to-do lists help me to organize my tasks not only by importance, but also the amount of time it takes to complete each task.  Even on my lazy days, there’s always something I can check off that damn list.

    I wanted to share a few tools that I use to keep me organized.

    1. Evernote

    I discovered the awesomeness that is Evernote last year. Why it took me so long is beyond me. I love that Evernote works not only on the web, my also on my cell, laptop, and tablet. I manage my to-do lists, and keep blogging/writing tips, blog post/short story/essay ideas. Oh, and Evernote Web Clipper is a blessing! I have it installed as a Google Chrome extension and use it to clip webpages for future use. Saves me a lot of money on printer ink.

    2. Google Calendar

    Life happens. I wouldn’t be able to keep up with appointments, social events, birthdays, etc if it wasn’t for Google Calendar. Like Evernote, Google Calendar works across multiple platforms. You can also create different calendars within (e.g. blogging, social, etc).

    3. Physical Planner (For Writing Only)

    I have a physical planner that I use for writing only. When participating in writing challenges, I like to plan posts at least a week ahead of time. I also use it to notate deadlines for writing contests and blog maintenance tasks. There’s something about using pen and paper that’s soothing in a world where a keyboard has slowly become the norm.

    What tools do you use to keep yourself organized? Are you totally technology-based, pen & paper only, or both?

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