How I Use Trello to Organize My Reading & Books

Hi, everyone.  This is Lara Hammock from the Marble Jar channel and in today's video, I'll show you how I use Trello to keep track of all of the books I'm reading, have read, or want to read.

When it comes to books, my eyes are always bigger than my stomach.  And by that I mean, the number of books I want to read FAR EXCEEDS what I can actually ingest.  And my lists just keep growing based on the recommendations of others, books that have recently come out, and whatever I happen to be interested in at the time.  The problem is that my mind is constantly whirling and unlike some who have nice, orderly minds -- mine is like a hurricane inside a tornado.  This is what even a small dose of ADHD will do to you.  But what that means is that at any given time, I'm in the middle of 4-8 books with a long list of other books I want to get to.  The thing is, my brain only has so much memory, so -- I created a system using Trello to help me out.

If you are unfamiliar with Trello, it's a task organization system based on the Japanese kanban method of moving cards through a series of steps.  I have a couple of introductory videos on Trello, if you are interested.  I tried out Trello for task management, but it didn't meet all of my needs.  I love the interface, though, and have continued to use it to organize projects and other kinds of content.  This falls into the latter group.

I've changed the way I organize these boards a couple of times, but I'm going to share with you the system that works best for me.  The nice thing about Trello is that it is incredibly versatile, so you can set up things however you want.  For me, I found it best to organize by the type of reading I do.  For personal reading, I read in three ways:  I read for 30 minutes to an hour every night before I go to sleep, I listen to audiobooks in the car or as I'm doing mindless chores, and I read physical books at other times during the day -- most of which I also take notes on.  For each of these types of reading, I created a separate Trello board:

• Books - Before Bed - I have read before bed since I was a kid.  In the last 5 years, I can count the number of times on one hand that I've gone to sleep without first reading at least a portion of a book.  I find it restful and I like to fill my mind with stories that aren't my own right before I fall asleep.  Generally, I don't read non-fiction during this reading slot.  I read books for my book club, recommended fiction, and mysteries -- lots of mysteries.  And here's the thing -- I read with a Kindle.  My husband goes to sleep before me because of his schedule and temperament and I feel bad putting on a big light or even a book light when he is trying to sleep.  So -- I have a Trello board for this type of reading.  This is against Trello orthodoxy, but I tend to have my completed list as the first column on the left.  After that I have a queue of whatever I happen to be reading and anything I need to read next either because it's on the list for my book club or it's due back at the library.  Each card within the list represents a book.  I also use labels to show which book I'm reading now, what's next, what's on hold at the library and what I already own on Kindle.  When I've completed the book, I drag and drop it over into the Finished column and get a little fanfare animation from Trello.  Yay!  I also have columns for Recommended books -- sometimes these cards are books and sometimes they are authors -- like this Phillip Roth card.  Then a column for all of the mystery series that I'm working through.  Each card represents a series and I've created checklists for all of the books in the series.  When I'm ready to read one, I copy the title and make it into a card, but that way I don't have to remember which books I've already read in the series.  I also have a column for other lists -- like books about London, book club books and recommendation lists.  Next I have a list that contains all of my favorite series.  I've read all of these books, but so long ago that I can read them again and enjoy them.  And finally, I have a column for notes.  As I said at the outset, I have limited memory capacity and I can't tell you how many times I've picked up a Dorothy Sayers novel only to think "God -- I hate this.  I kind of remember hating it?" Now I have a place to tell myself that!  The next kind of reading I do is 
• Books - Audio - I listen to a lot of books on tape.  It's my favorite way to ingest non-fiction.  I have a subscription to Audible, plus I can check out digital audiobooks from my library through the Libby app (I have a couple of videos on that, if you are interested).  It's great way to make use of a long commute, a ton of carpooling, or getting two things done while doing mindless chores like weeding my garden or doing dishes.  I find that fiction by audiobook is too slow, but I like to listen to memoirs this way -- particularly in the voice of the writer.  So, I have a Trello board for Books - Audio.  Again, I have my Finished list as the first column on the left.  The next column is my current and in queue list.  I have a colorful cover on one of the cards that identifies this list.  Above the image is what I'm reading now -- 2 books, you can see.  And below is what is in queue.  I use labels to show what I'm currently reading (green) and what I've already purchased on Audible (Orange).  Like the last board, I have I list for non-fiction books and memoirs that have been recommended or look interesting and are available to borrow from the library.  I have a list of authors I love, each one with a check list on which of their books I've already read and a list for notes.  I will say that if I'm particularly taken by a non-fiction book that I listen to, I get a hard copy out of the library or purchase it so that I can take notes.  Which brings us to our third type of reading that I do,
• Books - Physical/Take Notes - Since I don't read physical books before bed, I read these at other times.  There are fewer of these books on my list.  They are books I've been given, books I got from the library after listening to them so that I could take notes, or books that I got on my Kindle that I'm reading for content rather than pleasure.  I do think you should read non-fiction very different than fiction -- I have a video on that process if you are interested.  

So, that is my system.  This has not only helped me organize what I'm currently reading, but it's helped me to plan better what I want to read in the future.  In addition, it's been a great way to keep track of the books that I've read.  I also try to make a couple of notes on each book after I’ve read it to help me remember each book better.   Let me know what you think.  Comments are always appreciated and thanks for watching!