Create a stack for “shared” to keep any tags created by others who share notebooks with you from tangling up your own system. You can stack tags which are related to one another so you can better see your system. By adding my ~ tags as shortcuts, I can easily access these categories which need my attention on an ongoing basis. I use a ~ for all tags that are active such as ~to consider and ~to study.

That way, when I’m tagging a file, I can type a *WP: and pull up all the project tags for Writerly Play. Symbols are my secret weapon! For instance, I use a * in front of all tags that have to do with projects.I also have a couple notebooks where I keep items to share with others, such as “NK content,” where I keep all my blogging materials to share with my team.Once I tag files, I move them into the larger notebook called “cabinet.”.My default notebook is called “inbox,” which I use as a collection bin for incoming files. Like Michael Hyatt, I use tags as my major organization system.Also, I wasn’t thinking strategically enough. My Aha! Moment: I discovered Michael Hyatt’s post about using tags rather than using notebooks to organize Evernote, and suddenly, I understood why Evernote hadn’t yet worked for me.

What Didn’t Work: File folders, piles of paper on my desk, random post-it notes, mental notes, asking friends to “remind me,” loading up my desktop, archiving important project notes in email, allowing “to consider” items to clog up my to-do list, bookmarking web research, and more. Object: Taming the mental, digital and physical clutter of information overload so I have what I need, when I need it, clearing space for imagining and creating.

My hope is that they’ll do the same for you! Naomi’s Playlist is an eclectic collection of tools that help me approach my work as play.

Evernote support