The Productivity Sketchbook #3: You're Already Practicing Visual Productivity

Text Version

• In her book The Art of Visual Notetaking, author Emily Mills states 60% of people identify as visual learners
  • I'm one of those 60%
• It may come as no surprise, then, that you're already familiar with and/or using at least one visual productivity tool
  • Oh wow, really?
• Have you ever used a mind map before?
  • Oh yeah, of course! I use mind maps all the time!
• Mind Maps are essentially visual bullet lists, but with some helpful advantages. The lines connecting ideas together help show the relationships between those ideas in a way ordinary bullet lists can't
  • Like that supporting point being shared by two sub topics. Can't do that with a bullet list
• Another tool you may already be familiar with is a Kanban board
• Steps in a process are represented as columns with task cards assigned to the column that matches that task's status. This makes it easy to identify the status of any given task at a glance.
• To update a task's status, simply move it to the appropriate column
• Popular tools likes Obsidian and Notion allow you to create Mind Maps and Kanban boards respectively
  • So I can practice visual productivity in the apps I'm already using!
• That's right! If you're nervous about your drawing skills these tools will allow you to still get some of the benefits of visual productivity
• While many apps have visual productivity features, you're limited to what the developer has designed the app to do
• That's why next week is going to feature the first of many simple drawing lessons to help you feel confident enough to start creating your own visual productivity tools!
  • All right, all right. I'll give the drawing thing a shot
• Until next time!