Hello Zen Organizer,
A few weeks ago, I was featured in the 2021 Favorites video of my friend Ana Alice from Nana Organise (a great honour for me 😍), and it made me think it’d be a good idea for me to do an episode on my 2021 favourites as well!
So here are my favourite organization and business tools, books, office supplies, and more of 2021!
Please note that I’m not sponsored by any of these brands. This is my honest opinion of these products!
Organization & Business Tools
Of course, since this is mostly a podcast about organization, I had to share with you my favourite organization and business tools of the year!
Notion
If you’ve been listening to the last episodes, this one should come as no surprise!
I discovered Notion in December 2020, but I completely switched all of my organization (both personal and professional) on it only this fall, as I explain in episode #30.
If you want to learn more about Notion and how to get started with it, you can listen to episode #32! I suggest giving Notion a try if you’re looking for ONE organization tool that does everything!
And by the way, it’s free!
MailerLite
MailerLite is an emailing system. I use it to send my weekly newsletter. I’ve just recently switched to it, and I’m glad I did!
It’s very intuitive and easy to use, especially compared to MailChimp, the emailing system I used for most of 2021. Plus, it allows you to schedule your emails and create workflows even with the free plan, which MailChimp’s free plan didn’t allow.
So if you’re looking for a great emailing system for your business, I highly recommend trying out MailerLite. Plus, it’s free for the first 1000 subscribers!
Appointlet
If you need to schedule appointments with your clients, having a scheduling app will save you tons of time.
The most popular and famous one is Calendly, which I used for the better part of 2021. However, while I was doing some research for the free masterclass “How to Choose the Right Organization Tools for You” (you can catch the replay in the Zenly Organized Library), I discovered Appointlet.
It’s very similar to Calendly. However, its free plan allows you to create an unlimited amount of events, whereas Calendly’s free plan only allows you to have one active event at a time.
So if you’re looking for a good scheduling tool but aren’t ready yet to pay 10€ a month for it, then Appointlet is a great choice!
Office setup
One of my goals for 2021 was to buy a good and ergonomic office setup. I’ve mostly been working from home since February 2020, and my “office” has been my kitchen table.
But in 2021, I started having physical pains because of the bad posture I had while working, so I decided it was time I invested in a good office setup.
So here are the elements I bought:
Standing desk
Since I work all day long in front of a computer, I wanted to be able to switch positions, so I decided to buy a desk that could be raised.
Since I didn't have the budget to buy an electrical standing desk, I opted for Ikea’s manual standing desk. It's very easy to raise, and I’m very happy with my purchase!
Ergonomic chair
As I mentioned in episode #27, the chair is probably the only element of a good and ergonomic office setup that is hard to replace by anything else than a real office chair.
So if you have a tight budget, I’d recommend buying first a good chair and then waiting for the rest.
I got a middle-range price office chair at Ikea, but I’m very satisfied with it!
Step
Since I am short-legged, my feet rarely touch the ground when I’m seated. So to have the correct position while I work, I need a step under my feet.
I bought this one from Ikea (for some reason, it's not available in England), and it does the job perfectly!
Laptop stand
The final item I bought this year that improved my office setup greatly is this foldable laptop stand.
Why is a laptop important? Because it allows you to look at your screen at the right height without having to bend your neck all the time.
Of course, it means you need to buy an external keyboard and mouse, but your neck will thank you for the investment!
Books
Here is a small selection of three books I read this year and particularly liked.
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry. If you like travelling and love stories and are looking for a feel-good book, I recommend picking up this book!
Your Second Life Begins When You Realize You Only Have One by Raffaelle Giordano (French title: Ta deuxième vie commence quand tu comprends que tu n’en as qu’une). If you like personal development novels, then this one is a great choice! It's a great book if you’re looking to change your life and live more intentionally.
Votre temps est infini by Fabien Olicard. Unfortunately, this great book about time management isn’t available in English. But if you speak French and are looking for ways to have more free time, then this book is for you!
Kobo
I also wanted to share this great purchase I made and that revolutionized my reading experience: my Kobo Libra H2O.
I hesitated a long time before buying it, but I don't regret it at all!
I have poor sight, so being able to put the characters as big as I need really makes it easier and more comfortable to read. Plus, I love travelling, and it’s much easier and lighter to bring my Kobo than books in my luggage!
Spirituality
This year, I got more in touch with my spirituality, and one of the tools I’ve discovered to help me be more connected to myself and my intuition is oracle cards. I bought the two following decks, and I’m super satisfied with both of them (they are in French though):
Mission de vie by Isabelle Cerf. This is a great oracle to help you navigate your professional life and find your life mission.
Oracle de l’intuition et de l’action by Fairouz Salouli-Thien and Ody Giroux. This is a great oracle to help you reconnect with your intuition and take action to live your life more mindfully and meaningfully.
I still haven't gotten any oracle in English, but here are some suggestions:
Mystical Shaman Oracle Cards. My mother has it, and I tried it when I visited her in Canada this year, and its messages are very powerful and to the point.
Work Your Light Oracle Cards. I haven’t tried it, but I’ve heard great things about it from some friends.
If you’re interested in getting your first oracle cards, I recommend looking online or going to a specialized store and finding the one that speaks the most to you, especially the images and the messages. Amazon is a great place for that because many people post pictures of the cards and the interpretation book with the messages in the comment section. So you can see whether it suits your needs or not!
I hope you liked this different format and that you found inspiration in my 2021 favourites! I’d love to know what your 2021 favourites are, so don't hesitate to come and chat with me about them on IG or by email at sarah@zenlyorganized.com!
I wish you a zenly organized week,
Sarah
