My Productivity System: My Calendar Setup

My Productivity System: My Calendar Setup

One of the hardest things to do to get to peak productivity is to choose how to set up your tools. Today I will show you my calendar setup, along with instructions on how to add calendars from multiple places.

The main issue with choosing tools is that too many people pick the software before they know how it will be used. Previously I have talked about systems of record, the need for fluidity and the advantages and disadvantages of cloud-based system. Today I will show you how I apply those concepts to my own productivity system.
choosing productivity systems

Choosing My Productivity Systems

Last week I gave some guidelines about how to change up your productivity systems. It’s not just a matter of choosing the tools, but also a matter of determining what the system of record is for each type of information. The system of record is the one that you have determined has the truth, even if you access the information from multiple places.

Today we will talk about some things that I considered with my systems and why I chose cloud-based for most of them. I will follow it with articles on the specifics of my productivity systems.
Morning Tips for Non-Morning People

Morning Tips for Non-Morning People

I am not a morning person. In fact, I have great difficulty in waking up unless there is sufficient light. And since winter is a time of insufficient morning light, coupled with cold mornings, it is very difficult for me to get up and get things done. Yet getting those things done is what sets the tone for the whole day. Here are five ways that I get past the groggies:
Revamping Your Productivity System

Revamping Your Productivity System

Revamping your productivity system can be a daunting task. Digital? Paper? Hybrid? And what tools should be used for each part?

Sometimes the revamp is caused by an outside force, as is the case with one of the readers who emailed me recently. She is being required to use Google, but is used to Outlook and was having issues accessing Gmail through Outlook. Then add in the calendar and tasks, and things were getting confused.

Today we will look at how to revamp a productivity system by looking at systems of record.
How to Access Menus…from the Keyboard

How to Access Menus…from the Keyboard

I spend a lot of time at my computer. It involves a lot of navigation between and within programs, and it really slows me down to have to reach for a mouse to access menus. Here is a tip for accessing Windows menus from the keyboard:
Do Productivity Tools Really Work?

Do Productivity Tools Really Work?

Most of us have a whole lot of techniques for ways to get things done. Roles, goals, next action lists, someday/maybe lists, closed lists, timers, distraction blockers and most-important-tasks are some examples of these. These techniques fill a toolbox, and often times people will bicker about which tool is best.

There are some basics points that should be considered:
The Whys of Productivity: Processing

The Whys of Productivity: Processing

Gathering everything you need to give attention to is crucial to productivity; however, until you actually give it attention, your stuff won't be anything more than a pile crying out to you.

GTD addresses this during the weekly review and the clearing of the inboxes. Seven Habits doesn't address it, but the underlying assumption is that you are aware of what is going on in your life. Do It Tomorrow is all about putting things into your work for tomorrow, and keeping up with the inflow.

In this segment of "The Whys of Productivity", we will look at why productivity systems all want us to process all the things we have gathered.