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Digital Sticky Notes: Tech Hack for Your Busy Life

Sticky notes, those colorful squares stuck on office desks and bulletin boards for decades, have undergone a digital transformation. Beyond their physical counterparts, digital sticky notes have emerged as a tool that keeps you organized as well as contributes to boosting your memory and overall productivity.

In this article, learn how to paste a digital sticky note to your computer desktop to assist you in remembering important appointments or keeping your aims top of mind. Whether you’re a professional, a student juggling assignments, or someone simply trying to stay on top of household chores, digital sticky notes are a free and easy addition to your reminder systems.

Here are the step-by-step instructions for creating, pasting, or hiding a digital sticky note on your Windows computer or Mac computer.

Windows computer: Sticky Notes

  1. In the Search field on your Windows desktop, type Sticky Notes.
  2. Select the Sticky Notes App from the results list.
  3. If you do not see Sticky Notes App, install Microsoft Sticky Notes from the Microsoft Store.
  4. From the Notes List, double-click a note to open it. Or click the Plus sign (+) to create a new note.
  5. Drag and drop the note to change the placement on your computer desktop.
  6. Change the color of the note by pressing the More icon (…), then check mark your preferred color.
  7. To close a note, press the close icon (X).

Microsoft Support article: Get started with Sticky Notes

Mac computer: Stickies

  1. Open Launchpad.
  2. In the Search bar, type Stickies. Double-click on Stickies.
  3. If you’d like to keep the Stickies icon in the taskbar, right click on Stickies and select Options, then Keep in Dock.
  4. To create a sticky note, at the top of the screen click File and New Note.
  5. Type your note.
  6. To change the font or the color, use the Font tab or the Color tab at the top of the screen.
  7. Keep the note on your screen to aid your memory.
  8. To either close the note or delete the note, click Close (box icon) in the top left of the sticky note. Name the note if you choose to save and close the note.
  9. For additional customization, read the Apple Support article Stickies User Guide
Yellow digital sticky note reads "Strive for progress, not perfection" David Purlmutter. The sticky note is place predominately on a Mac computer desktop.
“Stickies” on a Mac computer desktop
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Other strategies for time and task management

  • Add your schedule and activities to a digital calendar include reminders and alerts
  • Sync your work, school, or athletic calendar with your personal digital calendar
  • Set a timer to focus on tasks and take breaks
  • Set an alarm to remember appointments or tasks
  • Use a project management tool with categorized columns and task cards
  • Use reminders to remember appointments or tasks
  • Reference a digital to-do list
  • Speak a voice note
  • Put digital sticky notes on your computer desktop for memory support

Start your journey to greater efficiency

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