Since 47% of college students say their high school didn’t prepare them with the organizational skills necessary for college, it’d be fair to say that people in education could benefit from some extra help. Even those with the right skills can go further if they have the best tools.
We’ve spent time with productivity tools to separate the best from the rest. In this article, we’re going to lay out what makes Trello the ultimate way to boost your project management and organization.
If you’re ready to do more in less time, let’s get into it.
What is Trello?
Trello is a user-friendly solution to all loose ends, crossed wires, and forgotten deadlines that can stunt your progress if you’re unprepared. Its kanban-based management interface can be used by both teams and individuals to track and plan task progress. Down the line, many companies use Trello to organize their marketing and project management, which means that students already using the tool can have the edge over those who do not.
What’s the benefit of using a management interface?
There’s so much information flying around nowadays that it can feel impossible to stay on top of everything. Even if you’re one of the lucky halves taught good organizational skills at school, technology and expectations are always hurt ahead.
This progress can be harnessed to make your education efficient and straightforward. If you can clearly organize your tasks, plan the details, and communicate well, then suddenly, everything becomes a lot more manageable.
When deadlines start looming, software like Trello can help you stay ahead of the clock and give you the breathing space to produce your best work.
It’s also good to get to grips with technology like this before entering the world of work. Whatever career path you choose, getting to grips with the essential tools used by companies for social media outreach and internal productivity could prove invaluable.
For instance, writing captions for Instagram as a marketing assistant? Then it pays to use a hashtag generator like Flick to get the most results out of your hashtags, instead of spending hours aimlessly searching for the right ones to increase reach. Want to quickly design nice mockups or do quick graphic design? Mastering tools like Pixelied is a must.
What should you look for in a project management tool?
As soon as you look at a project management tool for the first time, you should get a feel for its possibilities. You want something that’s going to make life easier, not another project to get to grips with. A digestible interface and simple tools are always a good start.
That’s not to knock feature-heavy tools, though. As long as they don’t clutter the beginner’s learning process, having the options to finetune the experience to your needs can make the experience smooth and enjoyable.
Some of the most essential features to look out for are workflow automation, tool integrations, and collaboration features. Different services have exclusives and niche options but these are 3 features we’d consider indispensable to most project management tool users.
A mobile app to accompany any desktop version is also a necessity for many users. Making the most of reminders and having the option to tweak plans on the go is a non-negotiable for most students looking to boost their productivity.
Not least of all is the price, which can vary massively. Many project management tools, including Trello, have free and paid options. Sometimes you’ll find software that is extremely restrictive unless a hefty price tag is paid, while others provide a feature-rich experience without charging anything.
Price will be a key factor for most students. Not all tools will always be essential, though. Collaborative options, for one, are likely to be more useful in the working world.
What makes Trello particularly well-suited to students?
One aspect in which Trello trumps all rivals completely is its learning curve. Within a few clicks and minutes, you can have your first project set up and start reaping the benefits. Other services require a time investment to get things rolling, but you can hit the ground running with Trello.
It’s also coupled with a mobile app that’s just as pleasant to use. It has high ratings on both Android and Apple phones, making switching from computer to mobile seamless and turning productivity portable. If you’re working on group projects, this can save you from having to all be sat around at the same time.
When you are on the desktop, though, there’s a wealth of options to extend Trello’s functionality. Chances are you already use tools like Slack, Zoom, or Google Drive in some capacity at college. These can fit right into Trello through refined integration tools, meaning minimum disruption to previous methods.
When you get in the flow of Trello’s workspace, you’ll start to grips with the analytics and reporting tools. These aren’t overbearing but are always available so you can understand what’s going well and what can be improved.
Not least of all is the automation capabilities. Chances are you’re in education to learn about your subject, and all the help you can get with admin means more time to focus on what you’re interested in. These automation work with the integrations, making them a real game-changer for your studies.
And all of these features come for free! Trello does have (very affordable) priced tiers but these are mainly aimed at businesses. Individuals and students working on the odd group project will have more than enough to work with on the free plan.
What are the alternatives?
There are lots of companies competing in Trello’s space. They all have their pros and cons but few others feature as often at the top of people’s rankings as Trello.
Asana is one option that has many of the same features, but many reviews say its complexity makes it harder to get to grips with than Trello.
Monday is another choice that is more aimed at group projects. Reviews often praise its people-first layout, but its steeper learning curve and convoluted pricing structure mean Trello still comes out on top for students.
There are loads more options coming out every day. Further down the line, you may be introduced to them by an employer, but Trello still comes out on top for maximizing student productivity.
How to start improving your project management now?
Now that you’ve seen what Trello offers, it’s time for you to start benefiting and organizing your education. You can sign up with your email or a Google, Microsoft, or Apple account.
It doesn’t need to cost you anything or disrupt how you currently operate. Thanks to Trello’s famed ease of use, you’ll be up and running in no time.
