All Questions
104
votes
31answers
4k views
How to prevent oneself from lounging around in bed, instead of getting out of it and starting the day?
I find that I often wake up at a decent time, but don't get out of bed immediately. This results in me falling asleep again for another hour. This process might repeat itself once or twice, resulting ...
71
votes
19answers
4k views
Does listening to music help or hurt productivity?
Listening to music while working: does this help productivity, hurt productivity, or depend on [fill in the blank]? What has research concluded if anything?
(Assume the use of a personal headset or ...
66
votes
13answers
2k views
How do I deal with distractions when working on a computer?
I spend most of my working day on a computer and know that when I am "in the zone" I am extremely productive. Getting to "the zone" is very dependent upon the task itself and environmental distraction ...
55
votes
31answers
7k views
Which computer-based Pomodoro timers exist and what are their features?
I'm looking for computer-based The Pomodoro Technique timers with rational that provide cross-platform compatibility, it should not be restricted to a single Windows edition. Currently, I'm using ...
52
votes
10answers
2k views
How can I improve reading speed and comprehension?
How can I improve my reading ability? I want to increase my reading speed and comprehension.
Do you have experience in increasing your reading. What did work for you? Which approaches failed?
51
votes
3answers
2k views
Early birds vs. night owls: what does research have to say?
I know that I personally work a lot better in the evening and at night rather than in the morning. However, I am curious whether it is just a matter of habit or some sort of natural predisposition. ...
45
votes
15answers
3k views
How do I make myself stop doing addictive activity?
Some examples of such activity:
browsing this site without a particular goal
browsing your friends' profiles on social networks
reading news
hugging with you spouse (endlessly)
watching TV
You can ...
44
votes
9answers
3k views
Gamification to improve myself
I'm currently working out a way to gamify my daily work / life.
I want to reward myself via a points system, assigning points to tasks I should do but tend to neglect.
These are things like paying ...
43
votes
17answers
964 views
Best work from home tips ?
What tips can one provide to get the best programming results when working from home?
When kids and spouse are home, is it possible to get any programming done in these circumstances?
Please share ...
39
votes
8answers
1k views
I'm chronically late to work: how do I change this?
Since I started working on May, I'm always late. Not by minutes, but hours. Last month I logged the hour I arrived at my desk every day and calculated I'm on average 1.5 hour late.
I've been trying ...
38
votes
15answers
1k views
Is blogging about what you learn useful?
Well, I have been starting habits of self studying (for the purpose of self improvement) and was making some progress (two months so far). However, one thing I'm not able to do well is blog about my ...
37
votes
21answers
3k views
Always sleepy, tired and not focused
I sleep about 7 hours every night. But I am always sleepy. What can I do in order to stay awake and productive all day long?
Update:
I wake up only with an alarm clock and when I wake up I am still ...
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 & ...
37
votes
11answers
2k views
How effective is the Dvorak keyboard at improving productivity?
How effective is the Dvorak keyboard layout (or other alternative layouts) at improving efficiency/productivity at the computer? Has any research been done on improved typing speed or productivity?
37
votes
6answers
3k views
Does Uberman's Sleep Schedule result in more productivity?
Most people sleep using a Monophasic circadian rhythm sleep schedule, where they go to sleep in the late evening and wake up in the morning, which results in about 8 hours of sleep and 16 hours of ...
36
votes
12answers
4k views
What to do while compiling?
Reading about producitivity lately, it seems that multi-tasking is a bad strategy* (and I certainly feel that it contributes to stress), but I'm not sure how to avoid it when working on legacy ...
35
votes
18answers
6k views
How to turn off your brain so you can have a peaceful night's sleep
I have great difficulty stopping to think of things I'm doing at bedtime. Whenever my night's sleep is bad, my day is much less productive. I try to compensate by drinking coffee, but this only works ...
34
votes
12answers
2k views
Good at writing Todo lists, but awful at doing them
At night, before going to bed, I write a TO-DO list to remember what I want to do tomorrow.
It includes everything I wish to do, like what I wished to do when I was a child!
When I get up in the ...
34
votes
7answers
2k views
Doesn't the Pomodoro Technique break the flow?
I just started using the Pomodoro Technique yesterday.
In my first few trials I've noticed that since this technique requires you to stop working at defined intervals, it can easily break your state ...
33
votes
5answers
1k views
Does good physical condition (e.g. fitness and nutrition) lead to increased personal productivity?
What evidence or studies exist to suggest that people who are physically fit and following good nutrition experience increased personal productivity?
On the one hand, I would expect that when one ...
33
votes
7answers
1k views
What is a good way to begin your work day?
I work for a very small company and most of the time I work alone and manage my own work and don't get much feedback. I'm not completely used to this and though I have projects and to do lists and ...
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 ...
31
votes
17answers
3k views
what do you do when you are stuck at programming and you don't have access to internet?
This is a question most of us have faced while programming. Getting stuck! It might be a programmatic problem or tool problem, most of us eventually face it.
You know something is supposed to work ...
31
votes
13answers
2k views
How can I improve my memory?
How can I improve my memory so that I can remember more, faster... learn faster...?
I know some people are auditory learners, others visual... but once you figure out which one you are, how do you ...
30
votes
8answers
854 views
Is there any way to “save” highly motivated state in the evening and “load” it in the morning?
Sometimes in the evening I am in the flow state or I am just highly motivated to do my work. Unfortunately after some hours of work, I become so tired that I am no longer productive and I just want to ...
30
votes
13answers
2k views
What is the most radical productivity technique that you successfully use?
I think, most people understand the importance of such productivity techniques and principles as focusing, setting goals, avoiding distractions, checking email twice a day, rising early, doing ...
29
votes
7answers
1k views
Does more display space make you more productive?
Would more display space result in better productivity when performing computer tasks?
Does it matter by size or by resolution? How about multiple monitors?
Please restrict your answer to facts and ...
29
votes
3answers
553 views
How to avoid night-productivity when it's a must to wake up earlier?
Like many of us, I'm very productive at night. Often I'm reading or working when I should be sleeping, and as a consequence I wake up later in the morning next day. This is a real problem when you ...
28
votes
15answers
686 views
How to spend less time cooking?
What are some good tips to streamline the process of preparing food?
While i enjoy cooking and eating fresh, the whole thing takes up a lot of time.
What do you do to speed that up? Do you prepare ...
27
votes
13answers
1k views
How can I improve my handwriting?
My productivity is hampered by the poor quality of my handwriting. Nobody else can read it, and even I struggle at times. I usually compensate by typing things, but sometimes handwriting is ...
26
votes
8answers
1k views
How to be more productive at my own side project while having a family and a full-time job?
I have a 9-6 full time job and trying to develop a project on my own. I can only work on it during my off hours, meaning after 7pm.
It looks like I have full 5 hours till midnight, but after dinner ...
25
votes
16answers
2k views
What to do when tired instead of surfing the internet?
After a full day, I am tired, and often end up mindlessly surfing the internet in the evening. It is the easiest thing to do when I've already made a lot of decisions during the day. Unfortunately, ...
25
votes
13answers
943 views
How can I succeed in remembering people's names?
Even after I have asked a person's name a number of times, I still have trouble remembering it. How can I improve my ability with recalling names?
24
votes
7answers
7k views
How to think faster?
There are people who respond immediately to a question. It seems they don't think about it at all and still give a great answer.
You all know those guys who are able to counter a joke in no time. If ...
24
votes
9answers
2k views
What is the linkage between “next actions” and “projects” in GTD?
Getting Things Done (GTD) defines a "project" as anything that will take more than one action to be considered complete. "Next action" items, with a specific context, are kept handy so that when an ...
24
votes
6answers
456 views
How do I teach productivity techniques to kids?
I would like to get my kids to learn some productivity techniques so that their future lives can be as productive as possible. I am going to start with two of the most basic ones, but it is difficult ...
23
votes
11answers
989 views
Often-heard advice for success: “Wake up earlier.” But how much sleep is enough?
A recurring tip I've seen in autobiographies or books on succeeding in business is "wake up earlier."
I don't particularly remember which millionaires suggested that advice, but I'm sure it's more ...
23
votes
7answers
3k views
How to be more talkative
I consider myself an introvert and never spoke much. For example, when I'm in class and I know and answer to a question my professor asks, I usually don't say anything. And when I'm eating with ...
23
votes
6answers
2k views
How to improve Self-Discipline?
What are some specific set of behaviors that lead to self-discipline. Preferably backed by studies/research or confident experience.
What I am trying to achieve is be able to work a specific number ...
22
votes
8answers
1k views
What is the best way to approach large tasks, such as reading scientific papers, that require intense focus?
I'm in graduate school, and part of my job is to read widely in my field. Scientific papers are very dense and I tend to read slow, so I average around 2-3 pages/hour. Consequently, long papers can ...
22
votes
7answers
1k views
How to stop being a perfectionist?
For example, until I know each and everything about a topic, I just don't feel like moving ahead, I get stuck. And I find myself getting involved in very minute details of the topic, which usually ...
22
votes
9answers
2k views
Nootropics (“learning” drugs)
So I noticed that there are no questions here about nootropics so I will ask a general question first. Where is the best resource to date to educate myself about the effects, benefits, and dangers of ...
21
votes
7answers
570 views
Do game-based methods exist?
Games have this fascinating power to invite players to become better at... beating the game. I like how after repeatedly smashing a damn Orc a few times I am magically more efficient at well smashing ...
21
votes
6answers
870 views
I have burned out, what is best way to fix it?
I have burned out at my current job. I feel that my productivity is falling.
What is the best way to fix it?
In the past I have always quit a job then searched for another one. I think this is not ...
21
votes
12answers
714 views
How to concentrate without external stimulants?
I'm a programmer and my work requires intense mental focus.
My goal is to get 8 clean, productive hours of programming per day.
I tried this yesterday, and I managed to get only 2:35 hours of clean ...
21
votes
5answers
1k views
Can drinking coffee increase productivity?
Can drinking coffee especially in office hours increse your productivity? It is normal practice in many offices to drink coffee. Can caffeine increse your productivity? Some people suggest drink water ...
20
votes
7answers
791 views
Would improving my penmanship improve my productivity?
I'm not... good with a pen. Years of hastily-scribbled notes and quality time spent with my trusty Model-M have left my penmanship in a sorry state; it's not completely illegible when I take the time ...
20
votes
8answers
799 views
What tools/techniques are useful in managing notes in different physical/digital locations?
When keeping numerous notes on any number of subjects, whether personal, work, school, etc, it's easy to let the notes grow out of control, and start missing things. I run into this a lot. I have ...
20
votes
8answers
2k views
Do's and Don'ts in 5 min Break
I just started using the Pomodoro Technique but am faced with a problem:
I seem to like the 30 mins break and they actually work as stress busters and I stay more focused longer. However, I am ...
20
votes
14answers
793 views
How to capture thoughts in inconvenient moments?
I use a GTD system, which places a lot of focus on capturing thoughts for processing into next actions or projects. I've personally found this to be very helpful in getting myself more organized, but ...
