Stop Doing These Things For Better Productivity
As I think about what I have learned about productivity, I came up with a list of things I had to stop doing to be more productive.
Cut Your Typing with Breevy
I dislike wasted effort. Typing the same thing over and over again is wasted effort. Breevy saves me that effort.
How Software Abuse Affects Productivity
Software abuse is when you take a program and make it do things it was never intended to do. This often results in slow computers, incomplete data, and bad analysis. It also means poor productivity.
Review: (10+2)*5 Timer – Instant Boss
When I really need to blast through a lot of work, but really don't want to, I use the (10+2) * 5 method invented by Merlin Mann.
It's a modified Pomodoro method, but instead of 20 minute work sessions followed by a 5 minute break, it shortens both work and break times. I prefer (10+2)*5 to Pomodoro because the 10 minute start seems do-able, whereas the 20 minute block often seems insurmountable.
It's a modified Pomodoro method, but instead of 20 minute work sessions followed by a 5 minute break, it shortens both work and break times. I prefer (10+2)*5 to Pomodoro because the 10 minute start seems do-able, whereas the 20 minute block often seems insurmountable.
How I Organize Project Notes
One of the most useful things I have learned to do over the course of my professional career is to organize project notes. Not only does this allow me to tell you where the status of any piece of my work is at a given point, but it also allows me to revisit the items when questions arise after the work is completed.
These days I use a Bullet Journal. I also have used OneNote, Evernote, and a personal wiki to do the same thing. I believe that this general system can be used no matter how you track it.
These days I use a Bullet Journal. I also have used OneNote, Evernote, and a personal wiki to do the same thing. I believe that this general system can be used no matter how you track it.
When To Let A Project Go Dormant
I'm going through a rough patch in my life right now, and I know that I can't keep up with everything. Unlike the past when this has happened, I am asking for help, offloading what I can, and letting some projects go dormant.
So how do you know what to let go of, even temporarily?
So how do you know what to let go of, even temporarily?
Open Loops as Clutter
Our brains, the Ziegarnik effect reminds us, focus on the open loops that have yet to be completed. Physical clutter can often hide open loops. Today we look at how to figure out if your clutter is hiding open loops and what to do about it.
What is Your Minimum Viable Result?
Have you ever finished a project and realized that much of what you did didn’t need to be done? You can avoid this situation by learning to find your minimum viable result. Today we will look at this software development concept and how it can save you time and energy on all of your projects.
The Power Of Plus: Microsoft Gets On Board
One of the most powerful things about Gmail is that you can add a “+tag” to your email address, turning your single email address into an infinite amount of addresses. These modified plus addresses can then be used to filter email with great precision.
Microsoft finally is getting on board with this, setting the Plus addressing as a default as of April 22, 2022. It can still be overridden by system administrators, but hopefully most people will take the default.
Microsoft finally is getting on board with this, setting the Plus addressing as a default as of April 22, 2022. It can still be overridden by system administrators, but hopefully most people will take the default.
Reviewing Your Someday List: 5 Essential Questions
When you have too many things in a backlog and keep adding to it, something will eventually give. We don’t have infinite time and attention, and we can’t keep expecting that we can add to a backlog infinitely. Today we look at 5 essential questions for reviewing your someday list.