I use Evernote more than any other 3rd party software on my computer. I’ve been using it for a while now.It’s changed the way I capture and process information. It has become a part of my everyday workflow. (if you’re interested, my pastor and friend, Ron Edmondson, just released an eBook called “Evernote for Pastors.” It’s just $1.99. You can pick up a copy HERE.)

I use Evernote in place of a few things:

  • Microsoft Word/Pages
  • Sticky notes
  • Moleskine
  • Journal
  • Storage notebook

If you don’t already use Evernote, find out more basics on their blog HERE.

Let me tell you about two ways I’ve recently been Evernote that I think you’ll like.

Two Game-Changing Uses for Evernote

1. Image capture post-meeting.

I have a whiteboard sticker on my wall. I collaborate on it during meetings so that it’s a collaborative effort with the people I’m meeting with and they don’t feel like I’m just staring at my computer screen. When the meeting is over, I snap a picture of the whiteboard with my phone and drop it in Evernote into my ‘meetings’ folder, tagged with the appropriate type of meeting. Now I can go back later and reference my notes. In fact, the image (composed of my handwritten notes) is digitally searchable via Evernote’s built-in search.

2. Collaboration

Some people use Google Docs, but to be honest, I have never been crazy about it. I don’t like the absence of a desktop app, which forces me to navigate to the web-browser interface every time. It’s never become a part of my workflow.

But I’ve just started using Evernote for collaboration. I share entire notebooks with other team members. For example, I’m sharing a notebook with some staff members as we’re working through developing a pastoral care ministry. In that notebook we’re putting all of our notes documents that we’re creating (Evernote supports any type of document via Evernote Premium). Any changes or additions that are made in the notebook are reflected with all that are sharing. Everybody has the ability to upload files, take notes, and make changes.

Evernote is a fantastic program. And it’s free. There’s no reason you shouldn’t pick it up right now.

It just may change the way you gather and process information, too.

Do you use Evernote? If not, what do you use to capture and process information?