Looking for a lightweight, visual, and easy-to-use way to keep your life organized? Google Keep is a free tool from Google that helps you track ideas, tasks, and reminders — all in one colorful dashboard.

In this episode of Simply Productive Tips, We walk you through how to set up and use Google Keep to get organized in just minutes. This guide follows along with the video, so you can refer to it as you go.

Step 1: Access Google Keep

Google Keep is completely free and works right in your browser.

To get started:

  1. Visit https://keep.google.com
  2. Sign in with your Google account (if you’re not already)
  3. You’ll land on the main dashboard, where your notes will live

Step 2: Create a New Note

You can quickly jot down a note, to-do list, or even a voice memo (on mobile).

To create a note:

  1. Click the “Take a note…” box at the top of the page
  2. Add a title and your note content
  3. Click Close when done — your note will auto-save

Step 3: Make a Checklist

Checklists are great for to-dos, packing lists, and grocery runs.

To make a checklist:

  1. In a new note, click the checkbox icon at the bottom
  2. Type each item in the list and press Enter
  3. Click the checkbox next to an item to mark it complete

Step 4: Add Colors and Labels

Use colors to visually group notes, and labels to filter them easily later.

To color-code a note:

  1. Hover over the note
  2. Click the palette icon
  3. Choose a color

To add a label:

  1. Click the three-dot menu (⁝) on the note
  2. Select Add label
  3. Type a new label name or select from existing ones

Step 5: Pin Important Notes

Pinning keeps your most important notes at the top of your dashboard.

To pin a note:

  1. Hover over the note
  2. Click the pin icon in the top-right corner
  3. The note will move to the “Pinned” section

Step 6: Set Reminders

Keep doesn’t just store your thoughts — it reminds you of them.

To add a reminder:

  1. Click the bell icon at the bottom of the note
  2. Choose a time or location-based reminder
  3. Keep will notify you via Google reminders (web & mobile)

Step 7: Collaborate with Others

You can share a note and collaborate in real time — great for shopping lists, project ideas, or shared reminders.

To share a note:

  1. Open the note
  2. Click the collaborator icon
  3. Enter the email address of your collaborator
  4. Click Save

Google Keep’s search is powerful. You can filter by:

  • Type (e.g. reminders, lists)
  • Color
  • Label
  • Keywords

Just start typing in the search bar at the top.

Step 9: Archive or Delete Notes

Keep your dashboard clean by archiving notes you don’t need to see every day.

To archive a note:

  1. Hover over the note
  2. Click the archive icon

To delete, use the trash can icon — deleted notes go to the Trash for 7 days before being removed permanently.

Try It Out!

That’s it — you’re ready to start using Google Keep to bring a little order to the chaos.

It’s simple, free, and works on every device you own.

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