The Power of the Post-It

I would like to take this moment to thank 3M's Art Fry for creating the post-it note.  They hold immeasurable value in my life as a busy doctoral student and mother.  Here are some of the most valuable uses to date:

1. Documenting random thoughts- I have a lot of these and typically I don't know what to do with them, where to file them in my brain let alone my work, and fear loosing them.  Enter Mr. Post-it.  I write it down and stick it up on my desk.  
2. Marking favorite sections of a book, magazine, legal hearing, or journal article- OK, I realize this is an oldy but goody trick, but it truly is invaluable!
3. Organizing my writing- I'm still working on this one, but my thought is if I write down each main theme/argument on it's own post it I can keep rearranging them until the piece flows.  Like a moveable stick-note outline.  I'll let you know if it helps.
4. Keeping me focused when writing- this is related to #1, documenting random thoughts, but deserves it's own number.  My brain is very interactive when I write and often one topic will cause me to think, almost simultaneously, about another. I used to write it all down in my pieces making the flow seem quite illogical at times.  What I do now is keep a stack of post-its near by (or use the electronic post-it feature of my mac) and write down all the thoughts I have while writing, stick it where I think it might fit and then go back and re-arrange as need be to fill in my piece.  This trick has GREATLY improved my writing and I highly recommend it for people that tend to write/think as a flow of conscious vs. planned out method.
5. The Sticky Mess- OK, I don't use this one as often, but train schools to use it when planning educational services for kiddos.  Here is what you do- put all the classrooms on the top of a table so each column is a different teacher/period/course.  Then write each child's name on their own post it.  Put each related service provider's name on their own post it. Put each educational support provider/teacher on their own post-it. I like to color code- but that's bc I'm a visual person.  Then move things around until you get a good match between what the child needs and what classroom they are placed in.  It works wonders!
6. Love notes to my kids- OH yes. Definitely invaluable for a busy mom who is at school for many bed times.  My kiddos love to get mommy love notes in their bed when they awake in the AM after I missed bed time, in their lunch box, or stuck to the bathroom mirror.  The love note opportunities are endless when they stick!  I suppose this could, and should, be used for spouses and great friends.   You see where my priorities lie these days- my poor husband.
7. To do lists- I get overwhelmed with my never ending list of "to-do's" so the long checklist never worked for me.  A 20-30+ line to-do list causes me unnecessary (and at times crippling) anxiety.  Instead of a list I put each to-do item on a post-it.  Then I get to actually THROW IT AWAY once I've completed it.  Throwing something away provides me with MUCH MORE satisfaction then crossing items off a list that never ends.  It just seems more final.
8. ADD TO THE LIST WITH COMMENTS- I can't wait to hear how you all use post-its. Please, do share.