Organize Your Life With Spreadsheets

organize life with spreadsheets

I have been a paper planner for a very long time in my life until I encountered spreadsheets 4 years ago and since then I have been hooked on spreadsheets. I am the person who will have a spreadsheet for everything. Eventually, with use, I have now system to organize almost all aspects of my life with spreadsheets. In this post, I am sharing with you how you can Organize Your Life With Spreadsheets and take digital planning to the next level.

Why choose spreadsheets to Organize Life?

Paper Planning v/s Digital Planning

I have been a paper planner for a long time but the need to write and duplicate the information made it tedious. Also, you do not get all in information in a glance and have to run through pages.

Spreadsheet Planning v/s other Digital planning

When you compare spreadsheet planning with other digital planning systems life pdf planners, good notes, etc. Spreadsheet planner exceeds benefits over all other digital planners and physical planners. Here are the benefits of spreadsheet planning against other planning systems.

Flexibility and Customization: Spreadsheets Provide a high degree of flexibility and customization. You can create your templates, formulas, and structures tailored to your specific planning needs.
Dynamic Calculations: It allows dynamic calculations using formulas and functions. This is particularly useful for financial planning, budgeting, and any scenario where mathematical calculations can be used.
Data Analysis: Excel and Google Sheets allow data analysis. You can organize, sort, filter, and analyze data used for planning. You can also observe trends and visualize data better.
Collaboration: It offers real-time collaboration features. Multiple users can work on the same document simultaneously, making it easier for everyone to collaborate on planning. You can share your budget or schedule with your partner so everyone is on the same page.
Automatic Updates: Spreadsheets allow automatic updates when data is changed. Formulas and links between cells ensure that calculations are instantly updated when underlying data is modified.
Accessibility: You can access it anywhere and even on your phone. You need not carry your planner or log in to some specific software. Just log your Gmail account and you can access it. In case of a mistake, you can restore the previous version of the data. Hence you never lose information.
Graphs and Charts: No planning system allows the creation of graphs and charts. I love this aspect of spreadsheet for planning as with automated charts I can see the progress, find days when progress for not enough, and effectively monitor everything at a glance and much more.

Choosing the Right Spreadsheet Software

how to organize your life with spreadsheet

When it comes to working with spreadsheets there are 2 most common options. The first one is with Microsoft Excel and the second is Google Sheets. There are other options for spreadsheets too but these 2 are the most common ones
I am more fan of Google Sheets for reasons I will discuss in the next section. Hence in this post, the discussion will be inclined toward Google Spreadsheets however the use for most will apply to Microsoft Excel too.

Google Spreadsheets v/s Microsoft Excel

Here is a comparison of the features and benefits of Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel

Google Sheets	Microsoft Excel
Access and Platform	Accessed through a web browser, available on any device with internet access. Collaboration is a strong point as multiple users can edit a document simultaneously.	Traditionally a desktop application, but also available as part of Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365), allowing for cloud-based collaboration. Both desktop and online versions are widely used.
Collaboration	Built for collaboration in real-time. Multiple users can work on the same document simultaneously, see changes in real-time, and leave comments.	Built for collaboration in real-time. Multiple users can work on the same document simultaneously, see changes in real time, and leave comments.
Offline Access	Limited offline functionality through the Google Chrome browser or by enabling offline mode for Google Drive.	The desktop version allows full functionality offline. Microsoft 365 allows for online and offline use with automatic synchronization.
Functionality and Features	Offers a broad range of functions and features, but may have fewer advanced options compared to Excel. Some complex Excel features may not be fully replicated.	Known for its extensive functionality and a wide range of advanced features, including complex formulas, data analysis tools, and extensive charting options.
Add-ons and Extensions	Supports various add-ons from the Google Workspace Marketplace to extend functionality.	Allows for the integration of third-party add-ins and provides a wide range of built-in features.
Cost	Free to use for basic functionality. Additional features and storage are available through Google Workspace subscription plans.	Traditionally, Excel is part of the Microsoft Office suite, which requires a one-time purchase or a subscription to Microsoft 365 for ongoing updates and cloud-based features.
Learning Curve	Generally user-friendly with a simpler interface. Well-suited for basic to intermediate users.	Built for collaboration in real-time. Multiple users can work on the same document simultaneously, see changes in real time, and leave comments.

Due to free availability, easy collaboration, easy accessibility, and availability of most required features in Google spreadsheets. Except when I need to make macros, they are available in Google spreadsheets too but the way it can be included in the sheet is not as good as Microsoft Excel.

Based on your preferences, collaboration needs, and the specific features required for your tasks. You should consider the right spreadsheet software.

Do you find Spreadsheets daunting?

If you are keen on using spreadsheets for planning but find it difficult and do not know how to make formulas and charts, don’t worry. You can use a template for your need and use fill in your data and start to use. I have many planning spreadsheets for all the planning needs that are affordable and can be used again and again by just making a copy of the file. You can see them here.

10 Ways to Organize Life Digitally with Spreadsheets

Here are 10 ways you can you can use spreadsheets to simplify your day-to-day life and get organized and productive.

ways to organize life didgitally

1: Managing Daily Tasks and To-Do Lists

You can use a spreadsheet to make your To-Do list, plan tasks, easily monitor progress, and be more productive. Here is a macro-enabled Microsoft Excel task planner to see your progress easily.