One of the most important aspects of staying organized is choosing the right platform. I have to have my weeks organized. By no means is our family unique in our business. The one additional challenge with mental clarity I have at times is that my hypothyroidism can greatly reduce my capacity to multitask or remember details. Because of this, I’ve developed the habit of writing everything down as soon someone tells me they need something. Whether it’s an item from the grocery store, school, or athletics, if it’s not on the list I’m unlikely to remember to follow through.
I first started using Airtable for two of my three clients. When I stepped in to take over a maternity leave temporarily and found myself juggling four clients and some freelance writing it made the most sense to keep my tasks in the same task management system. As you can see on the left, everyone has designated workspaces. Then within my area, I have divided spaces for a wide variety of subjects.
Why Airtable is Unique
There are dozens of task management systems. To some degree, most people find something they like and adapt to continue using it rather than finding something that grows them as they evolve. That’s where Airtable is different.
My first base was a simple To-Do list with due dates for each client’s tasks. Since then, I’ve evolved to incorporate a collaborative content marketing calendar, social media scheduling tool, bill tracker, and a grocery list.
We even used an Airtable base as we were redoing our home this summer. There was a base in the universal market specific for home makeovers that kept us on budget and housed all our paint colors, YouTube links, and ideas.
I’ve considered adding additional bases, which is what they call the main square, but so far, nothing has felt necessary. I think that’s an important aspect of staying organized. Just because you can use a tool doesn’t mean you need to. If using the tool adds additional, unnecessary time to your day, then it’s not really helping you, is it?
How Airtable Supports their Users
Airtable has built a very impressive library of training resources. Additionally, they have blog posts and webinars. Their free version is incredibly versatile on its own for individual and collaborative use. The integrations are endless including API, ICAL and Google Calendar. Improve productivity in every area of your life with one platform.
Airtable has hundreds of pre-built templates and an additional Airtable Universe where incredibly impressive designers have built thousands of bases you can access for free. When all else fails, they have a community you can access for unanswered questions.
There’s an App Too!
When I open my app I have a variety of bases (each square is a base) and they are set up with different templates that update in real-time just like the desktop app or website.
This flexibility allows for collaboration on the run. I can keep task lists for work, fun, and family all in one place.
Negatives About Airtable
Full transparency, there are a few negatives with Airtable. First, the leap from free to the paid version is very steep. I haven’t found it necessary yet, and I’ve used the platform for three years. However, I will continue to look for ways to use the platform for free before paying the monthly fee.
Another negative is that your base setup can be a bit tedious. However, this is true of any system setup, and it’s important to remember that even with import features, you will need to set aside time to build out your bases.
It took me a few weeks to set up the social media marketing base exactly how I wanted to use it, but even with the time it took to figure things out, I am still thrilled with the base I chose from the template universe. It saved me significant time over building one from scratch.
If you’re looking for a new way to stay organized, give Airtable a try. If you’re interested in trying this app out, I’d love for you to use my affiliate link. The app is free. However, using my link gives us both a credit to apply toward paid features!
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