Why should you try a Trello digital Christmas list? What even is a Trello digital Christmas list?? Read on to find out…

Because your gift, your gift is on my list…

It’s beginning to look a lot like the time of year to write out the Christmas list. (Need some gift ideas? Click here) And here’s the difficult decision you must tackle before even getting started:

To be (digital) or not to be?

To go digital or go analog? That is the question. Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to return to the tactile tradition of paper and pencil or rather to succumb to the seduction of electronic apps and in so doing to end ongoing disorganization… 

So why would anyone even consider NOT going digital in this, the 21st century?

The Analog Argument

Well… there’s the romantic notion of holding fast to our analog roots, (pens, ink, vinyl records, books with real pages, cassettes…  on second thought, not cassettes, really) putting pen to paper, writing out a list, and checking it twice, so to speak… 

And  hand-writing things helps you connect to them in a way that typing words into an app sometimes does not. Any Bullet Journal users out there?

And I’ll confess, it’s comfortable. Familiar. Gets the job done. For many years, I’ve painstakingly handwritten my Christmas lists. I REALLY need to see the whole shebang laid out clearly in front of me.

A good old-fashioned paper list (just on a leaf from a yellow legal pad) seemed to be the simplest solution to this non-digital native for many years, especially since tweaks and changes happen, don’t they? It has always seemed like something too organic to digitize.

Digital dominance

However, in the past few years I’ve started from a printable template. It’s helped to neaten my columns of extra information, like gift ideas, actual gifts bought, as well as budgeting info. Just that minor tweak has made my paper list visually a little clearer and easier to use.

But a digital app COULD really clean up what ends up being tiny scrawled amendments to the list….

And how many times do you find yourself in a store where you might not have intentionally set out to go Christmas shopping per se (like Lowe’s, or Aldi—have I mentioned how much I love Aldi?). But then you find yourself contemplating prospective Christmas gifts??

And you didn’t grab the paper list off your desk before leaving home. Has this ever happened to you?

(If you happen to keep said list in your purse from October to nearly the end of December, it gets tattered beyond recognition.) 

A digital list on an app is always with you. It’s contained right there in your smartphone, which is strong enough to withstand the wear and tear of residing in your purse while you’re out and about. And it happens to have the same technology as a full-sized computer…!

Trello. Trello?

So I’m a serial app user in that I LOVE trying new apps and exploring all the bells and whistles, and fantasizing about how this one, THIS ONE, is going to change my life. And I’ll finally NEVER forget anything, and never lose anything, and be SUPREMELY ORGANIZED. You too?

And then I forget to keep using the app. And I go back to doing the same things I’ve always done. Writing things down on paper and promptly losing them. Old habits are hard to break!

But in reality, although I’m usually late to the party where technology is concerned, I have embraced the smart phone and a few apps that really do make life easier, and that I even remember to use with some regularity. Sometimes it just takes a few tries for me to actually get into the habit of using it.

Trello is one that I’ve picked up and put down a couple of times (it’s been around for years!), but have found it to be useful lately for accomplishing tasks.

So this year, I decided I’m going to try doing the old Christmas list on Trello. Here’s why you might consider it too.

1. It’s visual.

Remember I said I NEED to see everything laid out in front of me? Trello has a nice “board format” that allows you to put “cards” on “lists” on a “board.” 

The “Board” is the name for the whole kit ‘n’ caboodle, i.e., the project. On it, you can have separate lists, such as the people you need to buy gifts for, gift ideas, people you’re finished buying for, gifts wrapped, etc. And the really cool part is that you can click and drag cards from list to list. So you have an awesome visual of your workflow. Notice, my completed shopping and wrapping lists are currently empty, but hopefully very soon, the lists on the right will start to fill up!

(If you geek out on productivity culture, you can read about the origin of the style of Trello boards by looking up the term Kanban. Think Asian efficiency. Could I use a little more of that in my life? Yes, please.)

2. It’s customizable without being overly complicated.

The board itself is very clean and streamlined, but clicking on a card will open up space for lots more info: detailed descriptions, checklists, due dates, etc.

I have a really pretty background (by Osman Rana) that looks like a live evergreen wreath hanging on an exposed brick wall. Cool, just like everything looks in my real life (stifling laughter here…)

But if the “busy-ness” of the myriad choices of BEAUTIFUL photos distracts you, there is a range of solid colors from which to choose. Customizing with your own photos/custom colors is only included in the paid version, but there are seriously so many choices, backgrounds at least would not be a compelling reason for me to pay.

3. It can be as complex as your imagination can make it, if that’s your jam.

You can set up categories to your heart’s content. Or if you prefer, you can copy someone else’s template (also free) who’s already thought through how to construct a board.

Want to attach links to go back and find products online later if you’re not ready to pull the trigger on a gift? Done–even in the free version.

You can even put color coded labels and/or “covers” on cards to categorize them or make them stand out. For instance, I plan to label mine to show which gifts I need to take to different gatherings.

The paid version allows you to expand the capabilities of the cards in all sorts of cool ways with downloads that work similar to plugins. (Like they can help track your budget, for instance, which might be worth paying for if you use it more than just for Christmas).

4. Versatility

Even though it’s not designed to create printable work, you can print out boards (the format will look different) and add to paper files of years past if you’re like me and keep those records to avoid duplicating gifts year to year. Boards can also be transferred digitally as a PDF.

And the mobile version (thankfully for the sake of this article!) is a great stand-in when you can’t access the whole spread on a desktop.

You can even use Trello to share your list with friends and family if you’re into taking the guesswork out of shopping for everyone. There are other apps designed specifically for Christmas lists, but why not train yourself on something you can use year-round for all kinds of projects? Which leads to my next point:

5. It’s a great way to get your feet wet using a great digital productivity tool.

I don’t get any kickback from Trello here. Just sharing something I happen to like. If you enjoy using it and get a feel for it, you can use it for a million other applications for work or around the house, collaboratively, or alone.

I’ve already started another board for planning the rest of the holiday activities (gatherings, menus, decorating…). The possibilities are endless, but the one possibility I’m hoping for is a more peaceful holiday season. Less time spent bustling about; more time focused on what’s really important.

In the grand scheme of the pursuit of tranquil domesticity, this is a very small step, but sometimes the little things help in a big way.

What about you? Do you do digital productivity apps? If so, what’s your fave and why? If not, what analog tools and tips can you share?

Blessings,