Our Dashboard Deskpad is a game changer.
The Dashboard deskpad is a clever tool that helps you manage big projects and see all your tasks and to-dos in one place. And the best part? It’s not just for project management. The beloved Dashboard Deskpad is a great way to stay organized and productive in all areas of your life.
Whether it’s hosting a dinner party or expanding your professional network or planning a dream vacation, you can customize the Dashboard Deskpad for your own needs.
The Dashboard Deskpad is great for…
- Making lists
- Brainstorming
- Seeing all your to-dos at a glance
- Organizing information into separate categories
- Breaking down big goals into small action steps
- Keeping track of various work streams in one place
Let's take a look at some of the creative uses for the Dashboard Deskpad so you can get the most out of it right now.
1. Grow your professional network
You know that a strong professional network is important for your career. But if your idea of networking is connecting with random people on LinkedIn, then it might be time to rethink your strategy and get organized.
The Dashboard Deskpad is perfect for this purpose. Use the 6 Focus Areas to keep your various networks organized and to brainstorm action steps to forge a connection.
Create columns for your inner circle (friends, family, co-workers), acquaintances you’d like to get to know better (friends of friends, co-workers, etc.), and another one for professionals you’d like to meet.
Now look at all your columns. Do any of these networks intersect? Could someone from your inner circle deepen your connection to someone in your acquaintance column? Could one of your acquaintances introduce you to a professional you’d like to meet?
You can create a column or two to brainstorm ways to reach out to your connections. And don’t just make it about you. See if there’s a way that you can help them out or make their job easier.
Make sure to consult your networking sheet regularly and keep it up to date. Seeing all these names in one place will remind you to reach out and find ways to connect.
2. Plan a special occasion
Maybe you’re organizing a special event like a dinner party or a milestone birthday. You don’t want to leave everything to the last minute so use the Dashboard Deskpad to plan in advance.
Make a guest list. Use the Focus Areas to manage your guests list and keep track of RSVPs. Jot down notes if they plan on bringing guests or if they have any dietary restrictions. If you’re creating a seating chart, use the columns to organize your groups.
Brainstorm recipe ideas. For dinner parties, brainstorm dishes and drinks you’d like to serve. Take inventory of dishware you have on hand and extra supplies you’ll need. Write down a list of ingredients and then bring your sheet to the grocery store.
Make a list of chores. Hosting a festive event means you’ll need to get your house sparkling clean before your guests arrive. Make a list of the rooms/spaces that need to be tidied before the event as well as chores you’ll need to do on the day of.
3. Plan your dream vacation
Vacations are wonderful once you arrive at your destination. But pre-vacation planning is a big project. From booking flights and hotels to coordinating with family members and friends, planning a big vacation can be stressful to say the least.
Here’s how to make vacation planning a lot easier with your Dashboard Deskpad.
Do a brain dump. First, you’ll want to make an overarching list of all the things you have to do before you travel. Example: make hotel reservations, renew passport, get travel visas, buy extra phone chargers, buy travel pillow.
Create categories for your vacation planning. Now organize your tasks into separate categories. For example, passport and visas can go under Travel Documents. Hotel reservations can go under Accommodations. Your to-dos will be laid out neatly and you’ll be able to knock them off one by one.
Make a packing list. Write down a list of clothes, shoes, toiletries, etc to bring on your vacation. Brainstorm outfit ideas to ensure that you’re packing efficiently. If you’re also packing for the little ones, then use the Dashboard Deskpad to keep your packing lists in one central place.
4. Treat your big goal like a project
Big goals usually require a ton of tiny steps to get there. They also require multiple workstreams. For example, if your big goal is to launch a side hustle, then you’ll need to do everything from developing a business idea to figuring out a budget to marketing and landing new clients.
Don’t worry, the Dashboard Deskpad is here to help. By managing your goal like a big project, you can pay attention to all the moving parts.
Break down your big goal into work streams. A big goal usually entails multiple workstreams. To demonstrate, we’ll use the above example of launching a successful side hustle. In your Dashboard Deskpad, you would dedicate a column to business ideas. Another column for budgeting needs. Another one for marketing, and so forth and so on.
Create action steps. Now, under each workstream make a list of all your action steps, tasks, or ideas. These are all the things you have to do to accomplish your project.
Example: Marketing for my side hustle
- Figure out brand colors and design
- Create a website
- Create social media channels (Insta, TikTok, Facebook)
- Create assets for website and social
- Launch an email newsletter
- Promote side hustle ot friends, family, and social networks
At the start of the week, consult your Dashboard Deskpad to figure out what to work on. Which workstream has been neglected? Which is close to being done? When you’ve completed your tasks, move onto the next sheet and update your workstreams as necessary. By managing your big goal like a project, you’ll never miss a beat.
Want more ideas on how to use the Dashboard Deskpad? Check out our guide here.
Written by JiJi Lee
