Ideas to use in resolving an issue with regard to personal productivity. Often used to increase effectiveness or efficiency.
37
votes
14answers
2k views
What FUTURE-PROOF software for building & managing a personal BIG knowledge base?
There are some questions similar to this. But i would like to know, what software one should choose, if you go to university for example and are building a knowlegde base of everything you learn & ...
31
votes
22answers
2k views
How do I get more productive from using keyboard shortcuts?
I am constantly stunned by how few people use keyboard shortcuts, because I've always felt that people who have internalized a core set realize a significant productivity boost.
How do I get better ...
16
votes
11answers
757 views
Where should I store good advice?
I sometimes come across good advice like 11 Essential Habits for Success or How To Listen Effectively, and I can't use it immediately but I like it enough to want to keep it around.
However, if I ...
16
votes
8answers
566 views
What features should I look for when choosing task-management software?
There are a seemingly-endless variety of tools available for keeping track of tasks. From feature-clogged behemoths that will do everything (tracking time and generating Gantt charts) to the venerable ...
16
votes
3answers
394 views
Is written stenography still useful?
Are handwritten stenography systems (such as Gregg shorthand and Pitman shorthand) still useful today for personal productivity? If so, how can they be incorporated into daily life in a digital age?
15
votes
5answers
937 views
Paper vs. digital: both have advantages, but which adv. is more important?
I started wondering recently if paper really could be the way to go. That is, in my everyday, non-GTD-obsessive personal issue tracking and task management. Here's why I'm considering this:
A task ...
14
votes
13answers
918 views
Version control for homework?
Background:
I'm a high school student. I've noticed lately that I'm not particularly fond of my current scheme for keeping my files up to date (ferrying around a USB stick, naming files 'essay-1.doc', ...
14
votes
7answers
1k views
What can I use to efficiently track progress on my tasks/goals?
I've been looking forever for a way to manage my tasks and goals efficiently. Most of them were too specific for project managers and had far more options than necessary to manage simpler tasks. None ...
13
votes
5answers
6k views
How to use Remember The Milk (RTM) to implement a GTD system?
How can the Remember The Milk (RTM) task management system be used to implement the Getting Things Done system?
12
votes
3answers
577 views
Do digital wrist watches have productivity advantages over software based features?
My wife recently received a digital wrist watch (Casio Baby GShock) as a gift. She is a teacher and uses the watch for (other than quickly telling the time) timing her lessons, other presentations and ...
10
votes
4answers
622 views
Is there a task manager that incorporates spaced repetition learning?
I'm having students in mind, let's suppose that a student plans to prepare exam for next month.
According to the "forgetting curve", the key for successful study is spaced repetition learning.
Are ...
9
votes
9answers
440 views
Managing information bits
I have had this peculiar problem for years and tried many tools to solve it, but so far none were satisfactory.
I read a lot of blogs, social sites, etc. and regularly encounter very interesting ...
9
votes
3answers
1k views
Is there an automatic time tracking application? [closed]
I'm looking for a time tracking tool to monitor and boost my productivity. What I have in mind is a program that works in the background and keeps track of which application is active at any given ...
8
votes
3answers
378 views
Taking notes on mobile device
I like reading articles on my smartphone with Android. The articles are usually in web browser or pdf or epub reader.
The problem comes when I'd like to extract a few sentences that I like.
I ...
8
votes
9answers
1k views
Time-tracking software to measure when I'm active or idle on my computer (i.e., keystrokes being pressed and mouse moving)?
I want to see how much time I spend on my computer every day and be able to browse past days' activity levels as well.
I've been using http://www.manictime.com/, which tracks nearly everything I do. ...
8
votes
4answers
340 views
Do gaming peripherals (mice & keyboards) increase productivity of general computer tasks?
I've been thinking of upgrading my input devices and I'm not sure whether buying the more expensive "gaming" devices with programmable keys justifies the investment. I'm looking in particular at ...
7
votes
2answers
1k views
Which one to use - Evernote or One Note [closed]
Since long time I am using evernote and one note. Now the problem is that my notes are distributed among two applications. I want to narrow down to one place where I can keep all my notes.
However, ...
7
votes
3answers
809 views
org-mode and productivity
I've already seen several times the org-mode application between applications for productivity, information processing, planning, note-taking etc.
I wonder what are the advantages of this ...
7
votes
2answers
821 views
Completely electronic GTD setup?
I've read some of the GTD material by David Allan and it's something I'd like to implement. A lot of his material uses hand written notes and lists. This isn’t an option for me since I’m totally ...
7
votes
2answers
513 views
What are recommended workflows when working with Markdown--in Windows, on a Mac?
For those who use Markdown regularly (other than for writing questions and answers on StackExchange), what workflows do you use when working with Markdown-formatted text files, and why? What ...
6
votes
4answers
403 views
Are there any multi-column basic text-editors to use as a todo list?
I would like an application like Notepad except with multiple columns, preferrably adjustable, for the purpose of creating several todo lists that can be opened with a single document, rather than ...
6
votes
7answers
267 views
Recommended notes with tags management software
I'm looking for a software that enables me to manage a large number of notes, short tidbits of information, and to find back later easily the one I'm interested in.
I should be possible to add easily ...
6
votes
3answers
743 views
What's a good pomodoro timer that's both physical and programable?
I have been using focus booster app for pomodoro method. But I think i should invest in a physical timer, that I can set next to me while I work. I do have an IPod touch (with pomodoro apps) and ...
6
votes
4answers
717 views
What are the digital equivalents of index cards?
I have a very deal of trouble filtering visual information and so have problems working with lists, digital or analog. When I realized that the inherent visual nature of lists was the source of most ...
6
votes
3answers
158 views
How to track time spent across individual websites?
I've used Rescue Time, but unfortunately, they don't offer the (free) ability to track time across your browsing, only showing that you were using a browser during that time.
I spend a lot of time ...
5
votes
2answers
483 views
Site with examples of templates for day planner?
I have developed my own template to use each day. It is personalized to account for routine tasks, emergent tasks, a to-do section for ASAP/tomorrow/this week/long term items, along with a section ...
5
votes
8answers
429 views
I want to track pages of book read per day
I am try Beeminder but it is not apprpropriate tool to page tracker. Can we have tool which is free and I can use it to increase my reading speed? Can I track my pages read something like velocity? I ...
5
votes
8answers
823 views
Where can I get a custom designed notebook from?
There are people out there who are just like me. We rarely memorize information just for the purpose of having it. We use Google to know things and we look things up as we need them. We are those ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
All-in-one Getting Things Done (GTD) and Pomodoro tool?
I want a online GTD tool I can use on an Android phone that has the following features:
instant and configurable reminders such as calendar entries
online app with a sync feature
Do any of these ...
5
votes
6answers
346 views
What robots can help with household chores?
What are some inexpensive robots (less than $200) can improve one's productivity for completing household chores?
5
votes
5answers
317 views
What Android applications schedule tasks which appear each day?
I have some tasks to complete everyday (the same task every day) or on a weekly basis (e.g. every Saturday) and during a particular period (e.g. January 10 to April 20). Are there any applications ...
5
votes
7answers
268 views
How do I take quick notes in odd places to maintain mind like water?
My biggest gain productivity (and reduction in stress) came when I embraced the idea of writing everything down. (Thank you, David Allen!) The hard part is managing to always have something handy with ...
5
votes
6answers
151 views
Nudges - to achieve personal change?
I have tried a system of sending myself timed emails daily (using virtual meetings in Google Calendar), each containing a self-message; e.g. at 6am 'stay positive', at 8.30am 'break work down into ...
5
votes
3answers
258 views
Structuring your day/week to be the most productive when you need to do development and non-development tasks?
I have straight development tasks, non-development/business tasks, and some tasks that kind of sit in the middle to do most days, and I was wondering what would be the most efficient way to structure ...
5
votes
2answers
181 views
Measuring Productivity Across Multiple Devices
How can I measure my productivity when using multiple devices? I'm a software developer, and I typically work in several virtual machines during the day. Is there a tool like RescueTime or ...
4
votes
3answers
624 views
How can I finish writing my Thesis as fast as possible, when I don't believe in it anymore?
I am in the situation where i have to write my Diploma Thesis/Documentation for the year and although I've done quite a lot I didn't particularly arrive at where I set out to be at this point. So in a ...
4
votes
2answers
331 views
What is the optimal text width for Speed Reading?
Was reading here about this technique. From my POV it only works good with a distinct min-max text width. Columns in newspapers of a with of a few centimeters (5-6) seem quite good to me. I also like ...
4
votes
5answers
184 views
Easy way to archive web pages
I read lots of web pages articles (magazines, blogs, wikis, forums).
Keeping the interesting ones stored in a single location have become a big problem. Also, looking for important information that I ...
4
votes
2answers
165 views
Todo list manager with progress bar
After doing some fiddling with some Excel sheets, I saw that it worked out nicely for me to have a monthly or trimestrial todo list with checkboxes and a progress bar on top.
The general look and ...
4
votes
1answer
103 views
Long-term planning tool
There are quite a few applications that track and notify time (Google Calendar,... ) but I found that none of them has the ability to help planning over a long period (let's say, 5 years, 10 years ...
3
votes
4answers
343 views
Evernote vs. Google Keep for Personal Productivity: Pros, Cons or Other Suggestions?
I'd like to put all my eggs in one basket. Which have people have found most successful, and why?
3
votes
5answers
287 views
Mind mapping features [closed]
I work with Mindomo, a mind mapping software.
If you ever heard or even used mind mapping, what features should a software like this "must have"?
If you want to play around with it, I can give away ...
3
votes
3answers
302 views
Desktop app/group of apps for todo list/time management
I use Listhings in my browser to make sticky notes and remind myself about stuff.
I am looking for an app/group of desktop apps for the same purposes.
What I want the app to be like:
Desktop ...
3
votes
1answer
156 views
App for storing and managing quiz questions
I need an application for storing and managing information relating to general knowledge, science..etc which can be used in quiz. For an example I collect news such as "Nobel prize in Physiology or ...
3
votes
2answers
118 views
While browsing, how can I quickly capture thoughts/ideas across locations and environments into a centralized, searchable medium?
While actively browsing the internet (via phone/tablet/desktop), how can I quickly file an impromptu thought or idea into a centralized, searchable medium -- but importantly -- through a method that's ...
3
votes
2answers
152 views
How can I organize my daily deals emails?
I get a lot of daily deals emails, from Groupon, to LivingSocial, to Google Deals, to a bunch of very specific ones like Newegg's shell shocker deals, and all of that is on top of regular daily ...
2
votes
5answers
300 views
What device(s) and format should I use for my to-do lists, including plans, schedules, timetables.
My problem is I am always making todo lists, timetables, and schedules. Though the problem is not procrastination(Not 100%), it goes like this :
I want a perfect todo list, because of which I ...
2
votes
5answers
142 views
Will my workplace benefit from a stack exchange clone on the intranet?
I am thinking of proposing to setup a stack exchange clone at our company intranet. The idea is to have a place where anybody can ask a question about anything work related, especially about our IT ...
2
votes
3answers
296 views
Are daily keystrokes a good proxy metric for overall productivity? How can I measure them?
Lately I've been getting interested in "quantified self" metrics. I've been tracking basic health metrics like weight, sleep, caffeine/alcohol consumption, and several other subjective health and ...
2
votes
3answers
562 views
Does anyone produce a truly heavy duty, long arm stapler?
One of the things I do which makes handling paper documents much easier, is to print out in booklet format. With a duplex A3 printer, I can print out a document of 60 A4 pages onto 15 sheets of A3 (in ...
