What is Microsoft OneNote

So many times I hear about people who have seen the Microsoft OneNote icon in their Microsoft Office suite, but they have no idea what it is.

What is Microsoft OneNote?

Microsoft OneNote is an electronic binder (or notebook, as they call it).  You can compile electronic information from emails, websites, documents, videos, and much more.  In addition, you can share your notebooks with others through the Internet.  Some great features of OneNote include the following:

  • Ability to create multiple notebooks on different topics
  • No auto-formatting within the program
    • You can put things where you want them, which is often hard in other Office programs
  • Auto-save (need I say more?)
  • Powerful search function
    • You can search through all your notebooks’ content at once
  • Ability to draw & create flow-charts within your notebook
  • Ability to share specific notebooks with others

Start playing with OneNote this week & say “Good-bye” to information overload. The program is user-friendly & intuitive.

Here’s a link to some basic instructions, in case you need them:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/onenote-help/basic-tasks-in-onenote-2010-HA101829998.aspx

How do I use OneNote?

Sometimes it’s hard to visualize how we would use a new program or app. So, below is a list of ideas of ways you can use OneNote to become more productive and no longer lose all of the important information coming at you every second.

BUSINESS

  • Create one notebook for each class/workshop you offer
    • Each tab in the notebook represents a part of your talk (i.e. opening, topic 1, topic 2, topic 3, closing)
  • Create a notebook for each client if you’re doing extensive research for them on many topics
  • Create a notebook for anything new you’re researching & break down the parts of the research into the tabs
  • Take notes during meetings directly in OneNote
  • Keep a tab in a notebook for all of the blogs you follow
  • Keep your goals in OneNote and share them with an accountability partner
  • Master to-do list
  • Create your procedures in OneNote
    • The extensive search function makes it easy to find what you need
  • Notebook tab ideas: Blog ideas, Newsletter, Business Plan, Procedures, Website, Clients, Professional Development

PERSONAL

  • Master home maintenance to-do list
  • For students, each notebook can represent a class
  • Wedding planning notebook
  • House hunting log
  • Notebook tab ideas: Health, Kids’ activities, Retirement, Recipes, Books to read, To-do list, Travel

Below is a link to instructions for creating or customizing existing Microsoft OneNote page templates:

https://support.office.com/en-ie/article/create-or-customize-page-templates-2c92ef65-06aa-4b01-9bae-4fc2e7361806#template=2016

The sky is the limit here! Use your imagination and put OneNote to work for you.