OS X Mavericks now features the use of “tags” within the entire operating system. Tags have long been used within apps — especially task management applications like Asana — to help with searching and to add context to action items. With Evernote and several email apps also using tags extensively, those who’ve spent some time using apps that incorporate tags have had the ability to use them in a way that makes their workflow more efficient and effective.
Now that Apple is including tags as an integral part of their operating system, it’s only a matter of time before they go from being something that are used by power users to being used in a more mainstream way. And it’s about time that happened.
Why?
Because adding tags (or “tagging”) tasks, projects, and (now) OS X files can really boost your productivity when used properly. Keep in mind they can be used to identify items that are based on location (home, office, project) or for things as unconventional as energy levels, emotions, or days of the week.1
The best part about tags is that their use can be subjective, which is great as it allows for users to find their own ways of making them effective. The key is to use them in some way in order to make searching for things easier and to align similar items up with others that pertain to certain locations, projects, days of the week, and so on.
By the way, I consider tagging to be so important that you can expect more written about them here – and in my other work – now that they are becoming more mainstream. I’m also going to talk a great deal about tagging during my upcoming three-day workshop for creativeLIVE.
Tags may not be widely used yet, but they are becoming more fashionable. It’s time for you to get ahead of the curve and familiarize yourself with tags now. Your “future you” will thank you for it.2
Photo credit: ba1969 via SXC.HU
1 By the way, tags often act as contexts (a la David Allen’s GTD) in a lot of these apps. So keep that in mind too.
2 Hat tip to Mr. Brett Kelly for that phrase.
