Image of the logos of the productivity platforms that the team uses. Trello, Todoist and Notion.

When researching productivity platforms online today, you’ll find that your options are simply unlimited. We all know how difficult it can be to keep track of your to-do lists and tasks each day, but Notion, Trello, and Todoist could be the key to improving your productivity this year. 

Within our team, Deanna, our CEO and Founder, uses Trello and Alex, our Digital Ads Manager, uses Todoist. Victoria, our Social Media and Account Manager, uses Notion, so as you can see, we are all fans of different productivity platforms for various reasons. Keep reading as we compare these three apps and who each of them would be most suitable for.

Note-Taking with Notion

One of the reasons that Victoria enjoys using Notion is that it helps her to organize her work in detail. This productivity app is more like a note-taking app, which also allows for collaboration. You can use a range of different content types within the app, such as links, photos, and PDFs. Once your work is complete, it can then be shared with your team so everyone is on the same page about upcoming projects. We love the variety of templates on offer as well! Notion is a great place for both those who would like a custom experience (like Victoria) or one that is pre-set for you. Victoria’s favourite feature is creating a database. This allows her to input everything in one place, but filter how she would like to see it.

Project Management with Trello

As the CEO of our company, Deanna is a huge fan of Trello when it comes to productivity apps. This project management tool is ideal for leaders! It can be used to help keep track of their team’s work and improve collaboration within a business. Trello has a very simple board layout. You can easily record what you need to do and tasks you’ve finished. It can be used for both personal and work use. It’s a very versatile option which is easy to update as you progress through your to-do list.

Stay Organized with Todoist

Finally, the third of the productivity apps used within our company is Todoist. This is probably the simplest of the three apps. It’s a great task manager for anyone who feels they have too much on their plate. It can be used by both teams and solo workers and will help you to organize any type of project or list. The reminder function is one of its best features, which can come in handy for your personal life as well as for your professional needs.


If you are looking for a way to cut down your to-do list over the upcoming months, our team is here to support you with this task. We know how hectic balancing your work and personal life can be, but finding work-life balance is something we should all strive to do. Alongside these productivity apps, we can offer you the services you need to regain control of your time once again. Contact us today for more information or to discuss any questions you have about how our team can help you.

5 ways to stay focused this summer rosewood deanna simone

Summertime is officially in full effect – complete with rising temperatures, family activities, exciting trips, pleasant weather, and BBQs with friends. I am sure that almost every business owner can agree – it’s incredibly challenging to maintain the same level of focus on your work during the warmer months.

Let’s be real here – how are you supposed to maintain productivity with so much other stuff going on? That’s where this article can help! By implementing a few simple changes to your routine, you will be shocked at how productive your summers will become! Check out our top 5 summer-specific tips to stay on task below.

  1. Take Breaks Often

Even if you only have 5 minutes to spare, always try to find ways to take a quick break to rejuvenate your mind and body. A few of my favourite tactics include:

  • Going for a walk around the block with my dog
  • Stepping outside and soaking in the sunlight for a few minutes
  • Powering through a quick yoga/pilates session to re-energize the muscles
  • Having a yummy and brain-boosting drink to cool off (my go-to favourites are fresh lemonade and fruit smoothies)
  • Taking a quick, 15-minute nap (if your physical location allows it)

Even just a few moments away from your desk can help put you back into the correct mindset to get things done.

  1. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

If you have a special event or vacation coming up, remind yourself that keeping your work-life in order will make your time off even sweeter. If you set your priorities straight now and get your work under control before you go away, you will be able to enjoy it even more wholeheartedly. It is always less stressful to leave for a vacation when there isn’t any unfinished work or loose ends to worry about.

Our very own founder and CEO of Rosewood, Deanna Simone, reflects on her recent vacation to Europe – “I took my first vacation in almost 4 years since starting the business. I ensured that I had a team to cover the day-to-day operations and guarantee no fires started. It allowed me to rest and come back rejuvenated and with a renewed passion for my business!”

  1. Don’t Forget to Treat Yourself!

Plan to allow yourself to indulge in something you really love after you’ve completed tiresome tasks. For example, if you need to get through a long day (or week!) of client meetings and tedious paperwork, you may promise to treat yourself afterwards. This could be a trip to the movies, a bubble bath, a night out with friends, a massage, a new outfit, anything goes! Knowing you’ve earned your special treat will make your hard work that much more meaningful.

  1. Limit Time on Social Media

Try your absolute hardest to refrain from scanning the news feeds of your personal accounts until after you have finished your work for the day. When you’re trying to focus on work, seeing your friends vacation pictures won’t help you concentrate on what you need to accomplish.

A big portion of my own job as a social media coordinator, is to tend to the social media accounts of my clients. However, I am consistently working on fighting the urge to take a quick peek on what is happening on the news feeds of my personal accounts until my time is clear to do that.

  1. Find a Change of Scenery

Of course, it is understandable that getting away isn’t always an option. In those situations, consider moving your work somewhere outdoors for a change of scenery. For example, if I’m craving a breath of fresh air, I’ll take my laptop to a nice park, an outdoor cafe, or sometimes even the front porch or backyard will do. Just a simple and temporary change in your physical environment can do wonders for your mood and motivation.

Voila! By taking these 5 tips into consideration, you will quickly realize that summer doesn’t have to sabotage your business goals. You can enjoy what the season has to offer while staying focused on your career—all it takes is a little creativity and self-discipline.

Questions or Comments? Get in Touch!

Until Next Time,

Ananta

Content Coordinator

Rosewood Inc.

words of intention 2018

As we come back from a week of holidays, I would like to share my words of intention for 2018.  This is a tradition I started thanks to Karen Armstrong of Inside Out.

Instead of setting New Year’s Resolutions, we set Words of Intention that we would like to keep in mind for the New Year.  I like to practice this as I think we can learn something every day, week and year.

Balance (Work/Life)

This past year, I learned a lot about work/life balance and why it is so necessary for entrepreneurs to have this.  I started 2017 with a bang.  Part of getting to work with other entrepreneurs is that they are equally as excited for the new opportunities of a new year: new websites, new marketing, new businesses, etc. Therefore, January is a VERY busy month for Rosewood VA.

Last year, after working my butt off from dawn til dusk for all of January and February, my body shut down with the worst cold I’ve ever had. And not just the sniffles. I was bed-ridden for a full week, and sick for a total of 3 weeks. My body was telling me that it could not support my work habits.

So this year, I intend to focus more on that work/life balance which is always difficult because I love my job.  I enjoy working as much as I enjoy other “life” activities.  But there can be balance, and I will focus on that.

Friendships

Because of my crazy schedule last year, it wasn’t easy to see my friends and family as much as I wanted to. I would have to cancel last minute because work always takes priority. This year, I will have to stand up and commit my time to my friends.

I would also like to make new friendships, both inside and outside of work/networking.  I have met some amazing people through Rosewood VA, and I will focus on continuing that trend this year.

Actively Explore

I love living a healthy balanced lifestyle. I try to eat healthy and exercise when I can.  I would like to extend on that by being active while exploring new places.  Instead of presents this past Christmas, my husband and I are purchasing mountain bikes so we can explore new places while being active together. We’re fortunate to live in Uxbridge which is the trail capital of Canada. I can’t wait!

While this may not seem revolutionary, that’s the point. These are attainable intentions to focus on every day throughout the year. What are some of your intentions for 2018?

Don’t forget to join the conversation online on FacebookTwitter, and LinkedIn. And sign up for our monthly news for even more tips.

Until next time,

Deanna