by Brandy Myers

Created on: April 25, 2009

Too busy to keep up? The greatest wish for most busy people is to have a place that they can look at their notes, tasks, and things to do. Like many people I have many notebooks, calenders, planners to help with remembering everything I have to do. Then I discovered a unique way to relieve the paper crunch and simplify my life. My five year old son wanted a new themed room, so we sent out on the task of heading to the home improvement store. While we were there walking up and down the aisle looking at all of the base paint options, I discovered my sanity. There is a dry erase paint that creates a board affect when applied to a wall or anything else the heart desires. My son and I decided we must try this out. Upon returning home we decided which wall would be best in his room, taped off the area, and followed the directions on the can. We went away for the weekend and upon our return, discovered all the fun in store. This turned my mind, I could use this to help me remember all the things I have to do. I have a wall that would be perfect for this.

I discovered that creating this wall for myself allowed me to stay connected with all the things I had to do. I organized it in a way that it broke down the day, week, and month. Then I noticed something, I was starting to remember all that I had to do. I did have to run to the wall to remember what was going on for the week or the month. I had successfully found a way to help my memory. I took into account the way I felt when I came home everyday; less stressed. By creating the dry erase wall, I had found a way to file the things I needed to do. Even though I have exposure to the wall everyday, I only look at parts at a time. I am ready for events and even surprise events. It has also increased my time management. The more pressed for time, the harder the memory has to work to take the information in.

Pleased with the success at home, I took the idea to work. I approached the owner to allow us to try a new method of appointment scheduling. We used dry erase methods before, yet working with not-so-gentle technicians the boards would fall crack and break. He gave me one quarter to test the idea, and if it was successful, he would implement it throughout all of his shops. We found that we not only could book all of the appointments on the wall, we could add so much more. Having the wall allowed the service representatives to concentrate fully on the customer, by looking at the board and knowing what the schedule looks like, it prevents over booking and time for the customer to be on hold, or the dreaded awkward silence on the phone. The benefits of the board gradually increased the memory of the service representatives and less time was needed to stare at the board, it was easy to remember. The owner was pleased as well, and after one week, all the shops had new dry erase walls.

I give dry erase boards a big thumbs up, they go beyond teaching children to write, instructing in a classroom, they are great in offices, and a great way to boost efficiency at home. Dry erase boards allow for the mind to be trained and organized. It reduces stress and increases memory.

Learn more about this author, Brandy Myers.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.