How to replace index cards with Excel or Google Sheets

Digital index cards can be just as useful, if not more so, than paper index cards. That's what I set out to demonstrate when I share the value of creating index cards with Microsoft Word How to Make Index Cards in Microsoft Word 2016 How to Make Index Cards in Microsoft Word 2016 Index cards are one of the best organization tools in your information and memory aids For its simplicity. Design your own with Microsoft Word and these tips. Read more . But the problem with traditional tokens? They cannot be searched.

One of our commenters on the previous article, William Caldwell, gave us a simple but great idea:use Excel sheets instead of tabs for better search and organization.

Instead of Excel, I prefer Google Sheets because I can access it from anywhere (and Google Sheets is free). This tip also doesn't require any prior knowledge of spreadsheets. It's that easy! Let's see how William converts a single spreadsheet column to a database.

In His Own Words How to Make Index Cards in Microsoft Word 2016 How to Make Index Cards in Microsoft Word 2016 Index cards are one of the best information organization tools and memory aids because of their simplicity. Design your own with Microsoft Word and these tips. Read More

1. Open a new file or workbook.
2. Change the width of column A to approximately the width of the screen .
3. Enter each information you want to save on its own line.
4. Give it a 2-4 letter code. (eg “Add” for an address or phone number you need to type, or “Travel” and the name of the B&B you stayed at in Michigan.)
5. Save the file.

Thanks to the letter codes, you can make a data classification to put all the elements together. You can use the search feature to find information faster than a stack of index cards. Also, you can create a new spreadsheet for each year.

You can track any information with a code or a "tag" word. Think about these uses and create your own as you go:

• A list of Christmas presents.
• A database of recipes organized by main ingredient.
• A common document for excerpts from favorite books organized by subject
• Anniversaries and birthdays in your extended family
• Follow up leads with a mailing list

My favorite spreadsheet is a regular workbook where I match the ideas mentioned in the books to the areas of my personal life that I can apply them to. I can quickly scan the rows or use a sort to narrow down the ideas I've gathered for a specific life area (eg motivation).

Is the idea of ​​a simple database too obvious for you? Or have you applied it to store a particular type of information?