Do you read a lot? Do you struggle with keeping up with a list of books to read and books you are currently reading? Setting up a Trello reading list saves so much time.

I’m writing about using Trello.com in ministry this week. Here are all the resources.

Productive Pastor 46 | Organizing Ministry with Trello

Why You Need To Build a Trello Reading List (and how to do it).
Streamlining Church Assimilation with Trello.
Creating a Collaborative Sermon Workflow with Trello

I use Trello for TONS of different pieces of information. I spent ages trying to find a visual based project management software that can be used by a shared team. While I’ve been a hardcore Evernote user for years, Trello has provided an essential link in my digital toolbox. I shared a few beginning points on Trello on episode 46 of The Productive Pastor (you can stream the episode below).

I shared some pictures of my personal Trello boards this past week and a friend asked me to share my reading list board. This is a pretty recent addition to my workflow, so it isn’t that thick yet. I’m expecting my Trello reading list to change my reading in both rhythm and retention.

I did Jon Acuff’s Empty Shelf project a few years ago and I read TONS. Part of the inspiration was the stack of books I had in anticipation of reading. I wanted to emulate that digitally with Trello. The reason I went with Trello over Evernote was the checklist function. It would also allow me to catalog the books I’ve read AND link to the Evernote database I build of reading notes. No matter if it is a Kindle book OR physical, it will work as part of my reading strategy. You can check out my larger reading (and cataloging) strategy in episode 26: How To Read For Maximum Effectiveness

Setting Up Your Trello Reading List

Basic Format

I started out with building different card stacks for the type of reading I typically do. These categories don’t need to be complex. It’s really just about a type of book for my own long-term reference. Each card-stack gets a color and I make sure the books underneath them get the corresponding color. This is for after I finish them and they go into the “Finished” card stack and I can quickly look at what I’ve read via category.

Reading Checklist

Once I enter each book into it’s card, via an individual card, I make sure to attach my reading checklist to the card. This allows me to keep track of how many open books I have. Like many other people I am pretty bad about having 15 different books I’m reading at any given time. I’m trying to minimize the problem.

I created a checklist specifically for my reading list. With Trello, I have the ability to attach the same checklist into every single book. I have it set up like this;

[ ] Purchased

[ ] Started Reading

[ ] Finished Reading

[ ] Notes Entered

This way, I can at a glance see what I’m reading and how far along I am with each book.

 

 

Linking Evernote and Kindle

 

Lastly, when I finish a book, I enter my notes/thoughts into a specific Evernote file. I simply then link to the shared file link exported out of Evernote into a note in the books card in Trello. I then can move the book to the “finished” stack.

If I read the book on my Kindle, I just attach the linked highlights to the Trello card (here’s how to find the link).

I hope this helps you understand a different use case for Trello.