Hi
When you run a business and you spend your time trying to juggle everything life throws at you, finding tools that make a difference feels like discovering hidden gems. Over the years, I’ve tested more than I can count, but there
are a few I keep coming back to. Here are five things I love and am using regularly in both my business and personal life.
It’s a good time of year to talk about planners …
1. Good Tuesday (formerly Once Upon a Tuesday)
Do you have a laminated wall planner stuck up in your office? They’re brilliant for mapping out the year and keeping an overview of important dates—but they’re not great for the planet. I used to
have a stack of old ones in the corner of my office, unsure of what to do with them. Some I use as a whiteboard or divide into 12 and use to plan out the months
Then I found Good Tuesday. Their planners are 100% recycled and recyclable, beautifully designed, and come in plastic-free packaging. Not only do they help me stay organised, but you’re making a more sustainable choice. You can even still use the reverse side as a whiteboard, after you’ve finished, if you don’t want to recycle it.
Check them out if you’re looking for an eco-friendly upgrade to your yearly wall planner.
➡️ Good Tuesday
2. Roterunner Purpose Planner
I’ve been using the Roterunner Purpose Planner for the last year. It’s more than just a planner—it’s a tool for being more intentional in all aspects of your life, not just work. Designed to help you align your daily and
weekly actions with your larger goals and values. As it says on the tin, it’s perfect for anyone looking to balance their productivity with purpose.
Each week starts with prompts to clarify your priorities and ends with space to review what worked, what didn’t, and what to focus on next. It’s not just about
ticking off your tasks, it’s about getting a grip on all the different aspects of your life.
If you prefer a daily to-do list and have a fully packed diary, this may not be for you. I work better with a weekly overview and with space for notes every week, it’s easier to keep track of meetings, ideas, notes all
in the same place. I use it combination with my online calendar and other tracking tools.
The layout is clean, functional, and inspiring without being overwhelming. There are pages for monthly plans and priorities and it’s undated, so you can start it at any time. If you want a planner that helps you stay on
top of your to-do list while keeping the bigger picture in mind, the Roterunner Purpose Planner is worth a look!
It fits well with the 90 Day Planning approach.
➡️ Roterunner Purpose Planner
3. Membership.io (formerly Searchie)
I was an early adopter of Searchie, and it’s been a game-changer for managing my courses and membership site. Membership.io simplifies hosting content, organising it, and making it accessible in a way that feels seamless and professional.
What I love most is how user-friendly it is—for both me and my members. The built-in search feature makes
navigating the library a breeze, and the customisation options mean I can make it feel like an extension of my brand. Whether I’m uploading a video, running a live session, or sharing resources, Membership.io keeps it all smooth and stress-free.
If you run courses online or you’re running or thinking of
starting a membership-based business, it’s worth exploring.
➡️ Membership.io
4. Trello
Being a small business, Trello is a great tool
for visual organisation. It uses a simple card-and-board system that’s perfect for tracking tasks, projects, or even brainstorming ideas. I use it to manage client workflows, online content, as a task planner and to keep track of personal projects and goals.
Create your own ‘lists’ and drag and drop cards
between them as you move from idea to completion. The paid features give you more flexibility but even the basic features are worth it.
Customise boards to fit any system—Kanban, to-do lists, or timelines. I use the checklist feature within a Template board to save having too many cards on each list - great for
your daily, weekly and monthly tasks using the repeat and automate functions.
If you have a small team, it’s useful for collaboration - assign tasks, set deadlines, and leave comments. It integrates seamlessly with other tools like Email, Google Drive and Slack, keeping everything connected in one
place.
You can use similar tools like Asana or step up to monday.com both of which are popular with many of my
clients.
➡️ Trello
5. Shortform
If you love learning but don’t always have time for full-length books, like Blinkist, Shortform provides detailed summaries of
nonfiction books by giving you the key insights in a fraction of the time.
There’s a one-page summary and then more detailed summary of each section and actionable takeaways at the end. Read the summary or listen to the audio. Do both if you really want to absorb the content.
Whether you’re looking for productivity tips, business strategies, or personal growth ideas, it’s like having a fast track to the most valuable content. Dip into get an overview of books you might want to read or to review one’s you’ve previously read.
I pick up so many reading suggestions over the course of a year that having a shortcut to the key content is
great. Much as I love a hardcopy book, there are only so many hours!
➡️ Shortform
6. ChatGPT
I was introduced to ChatGPT during a webinar last year, and although
initially cautious and a little sceptical, it’s blown me away with what it can do. It’s now a key part of how I brainstorm ideas, write content, and even refine strategies.
The trick to getting the most out of AI is in the prompts. Don’t just ask a generic or vague question as you’re likely to get a stock
answer. Be as specific and detailed as you can. Let it know who you are, your style, and what you need. When you do, it’s like having an extra team member who works at lightning speed.
That said, it’s not perfect. I treat it as a starting point, refining and adding my voice to whatever it generates. It’s saved
me hours of thinking time, but I always keep its limitations in mind. AI isn’t a replacement for creativity, but it’s a powerful, time-saving tool when used well.
➡️ ChatGPT
7. Fitbit
This one was a bit of an impulse buy at the start of the year, but it’s turned out to be a worthwhile investment. I spend a lot of time at my desk, and Fitbit’s hourly movement reminders are a simple but effective nudge remind me to get up, take a break, have a stretch or even to get a few more steps in with a brisk walk around the park.
Even if I don’t hit the hourly movement goal, just being reminded to take a break makes a difference. Sitting in front of a screen for hours on end isn’t great for anyone, and the Fitbit keeps me accountable.
Bonus: because I bought it
online, I earned a small donation for Odyssey through EasyFundraising. Double win!
➡️ Fitbit tracker
Which brings me on to …
Bonus ... EasyFundraising
Alongside my business, I’m the Chair of Odyssey, a small charity that supports cancer patients—a cause close to my heart. Fundraising can feel daunting and is hard work, but EasyFundraising makes it, well, easy.
Once you’ve signed up (please do) every time you shop online, participating retailers donate a small percentage of your spend to your chosen cause, at no
extra cost to you. The list of retailers is huge, covering most big names and a few smaller ones too.
Every click adds up. If you’re shopping online for birthdays, Christmas, January sales or just your usual purchases, why not raise some funds while you’re at it (it doesn’t cost you
anything)?
It might not seem a lot but as the saying goes … every little helps and with a little more support you could help fund a place on one of our courses, just from your online spending.
➡️ Sign up - Easyfundraising
These tools and resources make my life and business run that little bit smoother, giving me more time and energy to focus on what matters. Whether you’re looking to simplify your systems, boost your productivity, or make small but impactful changes, I hope this list inspires you to explore what might work for you.
