How I'm staying organized after a hit-and-run
April 21 2025 | Issue 40 | Link to this issue | Subscribe
Hi Reader –
On the heels of my multi-part series that explored how Evernote Spaces can help you manage the complex process of your taxes and ongoing financial management, let's shift focus to something Evernote is equally valuable in supporting: small project management.
While complex projects demonstrate Evernote's robust capabilities, it's the everyday challenges — like handling an unexpected insurance claim or coordinating a client project — where many users find the most immediate value. Let me show you how a simple notebook approach to organizing projects can bring order to these common scenarios.
Let's walk through exactly how I organize a small project in Evernote using a real-life example: handling an insurance claim after my car was damaged in a hit-and-run (I'm fine...the car was parked when it happened and I wasn't in it).
My step-by-step process reveals how to create a project notebook, organize information, and set up a project dashboard that keeps everything at your fingertips — whether you're at your desk or on your phone at the repair shop.
Set Up Your Project Notebook
The foundation of any well-organized project is a dedicated notebook. This creates a clear container for all related information.
💡 Key Lesson: Give your project notebook a thoughtful title. Include key words that help you to find the notebook in the notebook filter search. Use a naming convention if you have other similar projects.
Example: For my insurance claim project, I created a notebook titled Auto: Lexus iS300 – Geico Claim [March 2025]
I’ve got several notebooks related to my current and previous cars. I use a consistent naming convention helps me filter and find the right notebooks quickly.
I use "Auto" for all car-related notebooks, followed by the specific car model, and then the project type. In this case, it’s “claim.” Notice how this name lets me quickly filter my notebooks:
Create a Project Management Note
Within your project notebook, create a note to use as your home base, or dashboard, for the project. Use it to better organize the project and make it clear to your mind where to locate key project details.
💡 Key Lesson: A pinned project management note acts as the command center for your project. Here's another place to add a thoughtful note title. It should be one that – at a glance – represents the role of the note, and the project. Also, use the pin to notebook feature so you can always find it at the top of the notebook, and use note links to create quick access to related project notes.
Example: I created a project management note titled Project Management: Lexus Hit & Run (3/25/25) and pinned it to the top of the notebook:
This note becomes my command center for the entire project, where I log anything relevant to managing the project. Here's what I include:
Key details (like my claim number and adjuster contact info)
Action items and to-dos
Links to important notes within the project
Timeline of significant events
A table of contents for quick navigation
As shown in the image, add note links to other notes to your project notebook. This creates organization, and one-click access to related details you keep in your account. It’s also helpful to use the Table of Contents feature to insert clickable links to each header in your note, making navigation to different sections of your note seamless.
🧠 Academy Members: Get training on best practices for creating note links (one of our most popular and impactful trainings) and how to insert table of contents and organize your note contents in the Note Editor Masterclass.
Centralize Everything in Your Project Notebook
The power of Evernote for project management comes from its ability to centralize information from multiple sources.
💡 Key Lesson: Use Evernote’s multiple capture techniques to centralize all data related to your project in this notebook.
Example: For my insurance claim, I forwarded emails, clipped web pages, uploaded documents, took photos of the damage, and created notes for phone conversations — all in one place.
Store data from multiple sources: email, PDF docs, typed notes, images…and more.
🧠 Academy Members: The 23 minute Case Study: Evernote for Managing a Small Project training to bring these teaching to life. Get insight into the thought process behind my note naming conventions, watch me build out the project management note, and see me organize this project in real time, right before your eyes.
Why This Approach Works
What makes this system so effective is that it adapts to how projects naturally develop. When something unexpected happens (like my hit-and-run), you often don't know exactly what information you'll need or how the project will unfold.
By centralizing everything in one notebook with a clear naming convention and dashboard note, you create a flexible system that:
Keeps everything in one place
Adapts as the project evolves
Provides quick access to what you need, when you need it
Works equally well on desktop or mobile
Creates a complete record for future reference
This approach has saved me countless hours and reduced the stress of managing unexpected projects from car repairs to home renovations and beyond.
Ready to Get Organized?
The system I've shared today can be adapted for any small project in your life. Whether you're planning a vacation, managing a home repair, or organizing a community event, these principles will help you stay on top of all the details.
What single notebook projects are you managing in Evernote? Hit reply and let me know.
Cheers to your productivity –
Stacey
🎓 Want to get even more out of Evernote? Inside the Academy, you’ll find exclusive trainings that go beyond the basics — showing you how to think through your notes, set up project notebooks, title and organize everything with intention, and build flexible systems you can rely on.
If today’s example sparked ideas for your own setup, you’ll love what’s waiting inside. Join the Academy and keep leveling up your everyday workflows.
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