The Methodical Digital Workflows That Keep Me Sane

A peak inside the masterful ecosystem I've built to supercharge my work-life balance

What is a workflow?

By definition: a workflow is a series of actions, tasks, steps, or activities designed to achieve a specific goal or complete a repetitive process.

When I think of the word “flow”, I think of fluid, smooth continuous movement. Fundamentally, a workflow is a recurrent process that moves my productivity forward in a smooth, continuous motion.

The purpose of creating a workflow for your repeated functions is to:

1. Improve efficiency

2. Establish consistency

3. Optimize time

4. Increase productivity

Personally, my principal objective is to grant myself more free time to spend as I please. This is a core pillar behind all of the “systems” I design for managing my life; minimize friction in my obligations so that I can own as much of my time as humanly possible.

Time is the only currency you can spend without knowing the balance. Use it wisely.

- Harmon Okinyo

So, as you are building workflows for yourself, it’s important to first identify the root objective that is most consequential to you and build from there.

Once I have determined the best way to complete a function, I create a written SOP to save so that I am able to quickly reference it any time I repeat the same function. This takes the thinking-power out of having to remember exactly what I did before, and how to execute it with consistency. Remember, optimizing my time is my core objective - so creating an SOP to reference ensures that I am removing the “clunkiness” out of the process by knowing exactly what I need, and how to get it done right every time.

If you are new to my content: I am a big fan of a Hybrid System.

I will always love and appreciate analog-style forms of writing, record-keeping, entertainment and more. Simultaneously, I have an affinity for learning new technology and diving into the hyper-organized functionality of digital productivity tools. I am a forever-fan of the Apple ecosystem and have found a very streamlined way to utilize their network of native applications to make my life easier by pairing it effortlessly with Notion. Notion is my left arm. And leg. And other leg. I have used Notions digital workspace platform since its debut in 2016 and it just keeps getting better (in my opinion). I have consistently utilized its features to archive the many facets of my life as I have grown and evolved over the years, and that tells me it’s a perfect fit for me!

A hybrid ecosystem of digital and analog tools make my world go round.

My preferred archive to store all of my workflow SOP’s is Notion. I have created a database that I can quickly link and relate to other relevant databases and pages within my workspace so that I can access the information easily and create fluid automations to make the best use of my work.

As a sneak peek, I have included a look into my workflow database that outlines my functions that I have maintained over my work and personal life, as well as a birds-eye view of how I tag/label each.

The right hand column labeled “SOP” indicates whether or not a Standard Operating Procedure (like the one I had detailed in the tutorial above) has been created/established for that workflow by the checkmark illumination.

For my readers who have generously opted to subscribe as a paid reader, I will be linking my entire notion database with SOP’s included (my personal SOP’s that you can use, edit, or just copy the foundation for your own custom entries) as a template for you to use in your own Notion dashboard! Additionally, if you do not have/do not use Notion, I will provide Google Docs link with the written SOP’s for you to save to your devices!

This will be uploaded tomorrow evening, Friday, September 5 by midnight PST!

Thank you for reading the first publication in The Organization Edit File! I am truly having the time of my life writing these.

As promised, the first published entry in each of The Files are available for Free. That is a total of 4 published articles so that you can get a solid idea of what is to come, and if you will find it valuable to add to your life before you subscribe as a paid reader.

Reminder: all “Front Pager” articles posted every Sunday morning (the newspaper-aesthetic articles) will always be free. These will give you tasty previews of anecdotes within the files, and a lot of exciting creative surprises to come.

The Publishing Schedule:

There will be 1 published article for each individual file per month.

• 1 Entry for File 1: Research as a Hobby (first week of the month)

• 1 Entry for File 2: The Organization Edit (second week of the month)

• 1 Entry for File 3: The Independent Curriculum (third week of the month)

• 1 Entry for File 4: Business Field Notes (last week of the month)

This ensures that if you have a specific interest in one file at minimum, you will always be getting quality uploads to indulge in every month so that your subscription is worth every penny. Otherwise, if you are interested in all 4 you will have so much to sift through throughout the month, and at a consistent and manageable pace. (I do not want to information overload you!)

Let me know if you have any questions - thank you for being here.

Much love,

Flossy Fay.