Invest in Yourself with a Big Whiteboard

As a seasoned developer, I’ve come to realize that one of the best investments you can make for yourself is a big whiteboard. I personally love my own whiteboard, and let me tell you, it’s a game-changer.

I recently moved my whiteboard to a new position, drilling holes in a fresh wall. This whiteboard has been with me since childhood, and while I don’t quite remember where it came from, I know it must have been a gift for Christmas or my birthday. And guess what? I still have it.

What sets a whiteboard apart from any to-do app or mind mapping tool is that it’s a real-world artifact. There’s something about the tangible nature of a whiteboard that makes it special. As you download your thoughts onto that big, white surface, you can almost smell the whiteboard markers permeating the air.

While I’ve experimented with various digital apps to manage my daily tasks and projects, constantly changing from Wunderlist to Things, from Workflowy to Notion, my big whiteboard remains unchanged. It’s reliable. It’s consistent. And most importantly, it’s always there when I need to plan, organize, and clear my mind.

If you’re struggling with planning, organizing, or getting your thoughts in order, I highly recommend getting yourself a big whiteboard. It’s a simple yet powerful tool that can transform the way you work.

The only downside to having a whiteboard is its limited real estate. However, this limitation can actually be an advantage. It forces you to stay focused and prevents your ideas from sprawling indefinitely. At some point, of course, you’ll need to clear the board. You can either store your thoughts in a digital tool or simply take a picture of your whiteboard before wiping it clean.

Mine measures 150 x 120 cm, and after a quick online search, you can easily find a similar one for less than 100€. That’s a solid investment for something that will stand the test of time. In fact, my own whiteboard is around 35 years old and still looks almost new.

Compare that to the short lifespan of tech gadgets, which tend to grow old after a mere two years. A whiteboard, on the other hand, can last a lifetime.

And here’s a pro tip: when getting a whiteboard, opt for one that is easy to move around. As your thinking space may change from time to time, having the flexibility to relocate your whiteboard can make a world of difference.

So go ahead, invest in yourself with a big whiteboard. It’s a small change that can yield big results.

tags: [“productivity”, “organization”, “planning”, “whiteboard”, “thinking space”]