Why I’m using a digital Android application called Colornote to help me become more organised, less stressed and have more control.
Firstly it’s important to know that I am a huge procrastinator. I avoid and forget things. I often catastrophise when faced with something stressful. I can become absent minded and I wonder if this has become a trait of mine. I have self-diagnosed myself, especially the younger me, with Attention Deficit Disorder on numerous occasions. Or at least when I type the symptoms in Google that’s one of the options!
I do know that leaving things to the last minute or missing opportunities isn’t helpful for me. In the past I tried to write lists on bits of paper and I even bought a special to do list pad from Wilko’s. However it didn’t work for me although I know it works for many. In my case the Wilko’s pad gradually became submerged under newspapers, paperwork and unopened mail. I found it six months later and noticed that I was only half way through a to do list. I had no chance with a scrap of paper!
My organisation skills are one of the first things to slip if my mood becomes low or if I become overly anxious. This decline in organisation and my ability to manage time effectively can lead to a negative spiraling of my mood.
Hello digital !
Moving forward a few years and I’m in a slightly different state of mind and my Smartphone is now attached to me like an umbilical cord. So hey ho, why not try again with digital? I am trialing Colornote which is an Android App for note taking, to do lists and general organising. It is free to use, at least for the basics.
The verdict
It feels like it’s working and I feel like I need it. I’ve had a very productive day and I doubt that I would have written a blog post for a while without it, at least not yet. I also feel very satisfied after I tick things off as I watch a little line appear through the task relegating it to the bottom of the list.
Managing the overwhelming feeling that comes with some of the tasks
Many of us have to manage our mental or emotional health. We may be less robust in certain areas. I have to guard against feeling overwhelmed with stress, at least I do presently. The words to do list immediately send me into a Flight, Fright and Fight response, so I alternate my tasks and soften my approach. I complete one stressful task and then move on to a comfortable buffer task, I see this as a recovery phase. For instance a difficult phone call may be followed by ten minutes of guitar practice and even the washing up can feel therapeutic at times. The app is aesthetically pleasing and user friendly.
It is early days but I’m really hoping that I stick with this app and that it helps to keep me on my toes.
I’d love to hear from anyone who has any comments, maybe you feel the same way? Maybe you have some tips or questions? An app you can recommend? Maybe you feel the opposite ?
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Many thanks XXX
Leeds Wellbeing Web 