Gmail is an incredibly popular email service and there is good reason why. Google hosts a myriad of tools all connected to your one account which make synchronizing effective and easy. If you have a Gmail account you most likely have used some of these tools:

• Google Hangouts
• Google Drive (which includes Slides, Sheets, Docs)
• Google Calendar
• Google Tasks

One overlooked tool is Google Keep. Google Keep is a hidden gem within the Google Suite of tools. It is comparable to Trello or Evernote, though different in its own right. Think of it as a digital notebook. It allows you to create small documents where you can copy and paste links, jot notes, put photos for reference, record voice memos, drawings, and anything you would put in a notebook. The best part is that you can collaborate with anyone you invite to join you.

I have been using Google Keep for a few months. I tried it previously, and to be honest, I just didn’t like it. I started using Google Tasks (an app for… tasks and to dos) during the summer and then decided to give Google Keep a whirl again in the fall. There is something to be said for compatibility across devices and apps. It’s nice that I can easily add a task to Google Tasks and then see it appear on my calendar. I quickly saw the power of Google Keep when I started going to the doctor more frequently postpartum. I could write down my questions I had between appointments and then easily have them ready at my appointment. When I was at my appointment I could then write down the new information I had gotten. With features like labels, I am able to have all of my previous doctors’ appointment notes easily accessible. I even color coded the different doctors I see for more ease of use. After I have the appointment I then archive the note so that my screen is not overrun with notes upon notes.

Still, even with all its usefulness, something about Google Keep just didn’t feel great. I am creative and like to personalize things. So, imagine how awesome I felt when I discovered I could make Google Keep look more my style. Using Canva to create headers for your Google Keep is pretty simple and straightforward, but it can also be confusing. To help I put together a video tutorial that you can find at the beginning of this post.

Note: I forgot to mention that you should pin your notes so that the main notes stay at the top. You can find the option to pin when you are within one of your notes and click on the pin icon in the top righthand corner.