All Questions
14
votes
4answers
572 views
What is “Getting Things Done” (GTD)? [closed]
Rookie question that a lot of people who are using this site may want to know the answer for (including me). I have read a couple of things referring to GTD but nothing definitive. It'd be good to see ...
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 ...
14
votes
2answers
359 views
How do I prevent being overwhelmed by my GTD inbox?
The first thing I learned about GTD was to get things "out of my head" into an inbox.
This results in an overly long Inbox list which tasks that I still need to rewrite into (multiple) "do-able" ...
14
votes
5answers
340 views
Loud conversations in workplace
I work in a small room with 9 people, and the area is completely open (think school classroom). People are frequently having loud conversations and I am unable to concentrate when writing code (I am ...
14
votes
6answers
433 views
How to setup linux as a pure working environment
I am a freelance programmer and I suffer from procrastination - a lot. When I manage to dive into work I really enjoy it, but then after a while something crosses my mind, and I have strong urge to ...
14
votes
2answers
400 views
How to present my work overload to others
I'm getting overstretched with urgent tasks (writing reports, fixing bugs, etc) that are sapping my time away from non-urgent tasks (visioning, system integration, etc). From my perspective all the ...
14
votes
6answers
407 views
How do you get yourself to do “assigned tasks”?
Aaron Swartz (co-author of the RSS specification, founder of reddit.com, Demand Progress, and generally a very cool guy) wrote an (you may want to not click on the link yet) article on productivity ...
14
votes
7answers
1k views
What could I do to convince myself to finish my projects?
Here: you can read : "Often, tasks are delayed till a reasonable time before the deadline. Just because you feel like you can do it later; [blabla] ..."
This is not the real problem I've been facing ...
14
votes
9answers
947 views
How to organize and analyze structured data without building entire database applications?
UPDATE: 2012-06-01 Added Non-Ideal Solution #2.5.
The Puzzle I'm Looking to Solve
As an organization and analysis nerd with professional database experience, I frequently encounter situations in my ...
13
votes
11answers
902 views
Dealing with “waiting for reply” emails
When dealing with emails, there are many that I have sent (and so the "action item" is done), but I am waiting for a reply (and want to follow-up if I don't get a reply in a reasonable amount of ...
13
votes
8answers
572 views
Relaxing at work
What is a good way to get instant relaxation at work? At home, I can just sleep or play video games. At work, that looks like slacking off, even though I can't concentrate productively while stressed ...
13
votes
8answers
670 views
Struggling in coding
I have a problem that whenever I struggle with a programming problem, for example in computer vision or game programming, I try to look for an existing demo or some code that does that job. I always ...
13
votes
8answers
4k views
How often should you take breaks for maximum productivity?
When working on a project, how often should you take breaks and for how long for maximum productivity? Are there any studies or research on optimal use of breaks (universally), or is it more of a ...
13
votes
6answers
487 views
How to work while depressed?
A depressed person must stop working while in depression treatment. But if that person needs to keep working, what can be done?
EDIT: Some reasons why I prefer stopping to work:
FOCUS:near ...
13
votes
6answers
643 views
Can reading electronic displays be made more comfortable?
We all have to handle large amounts of information on a daily basis, but some of us find it hard to focus on the information displayed on electronic devices. It's easy to read through tens of pages in ...
13
votes
4answers
4k views
How to set up a GTD workflow in gmail
I want to set up a GTD workflow based around my gmail account.
Although I have some other possible sources of tasks and projects coming "in", most things I need to do come "in" through my gmail ...
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?
13
votes
5answers
995 views
How to improve my observation?
I have noticed that I do NOT notice the details which others seem to notice without any efforts.
My mind is too occupied in its own thoughts to notice the fine details.
Are there any ways to improve ...
13
votes
8answers
631 views
How to prevent oneself from feeling overwhelmed?
Sometimes, there are a lot of things that you are expected to do and you just don't know where to begin.
You feel like you are being overwhelmed with a lot of tasks and deadlines.
How should one ...
13
votes
6answers
2k views
How to concentrate (read a book or work) when other people are talking instead of listening to their conversation?
I find it very difficult to concentrate on a task, if people are talking in the "neighborhood", e.g.
reading a book in the tram or train or in a doctor's waiting room where other people are ...
13
votes
4answers
428 views
Has research been done between messiness on a desk and productivity?
Is there any correlation / linkages between productivity (whether it is digital or paper-based) and the tidiness or messiness of the desk?
I love looking at other people's work spaces and I generally ...
13
votes
4answers
437 views
How do I apply 'CRM' in personal life?
I see the sales guys at work using CRM techniques where they have a massive database which reminds them when to call people, make notes about when and where they are going on holiday, etc. So, now I'm ...
13
votes
4answers
406 views
How do I gauge the effectiveness of my time management system?
I'm guessing a lot of people here have some sort of time management system. I'm curious what techniques people use to improve that system over time.
For me at work:
Weekly look at where I spent ...
13
votes
4answers
450 views
Do programmers combine GTD and issue trackers?
I wonder how programmers here handle their GTD and issue trackers.
Do you take the time to add your tickets to your personal GTD systems?
13
votes
3answers
230 views
Isolation as a productivity 'drive'
This is my attempt to re-frame a recently-closed question in a more positive and productivity-focused way.
Various cultural artifacts make mention of writers that escaped to isolated cottages far ...
13
votes
4answers
674 views
Dealing with Existential Crisis
I was reading a comic on PhDComics and although it is funny, sadly, it is also true. Grad students I know (including me) usually fall into one of these existential crisis at least once a semester. And ...
12
votes
14answers
724 views
How can I speed up my coding?
I am currently studying Informatics and Computer Science. Cause I know there are quite a lot of programmers here on SE, I would like to ask for advice on speeding up my coding.
First, a brief ...
12
votes
9answers
1k views
How to plan my weekend so I do more useful work?
My whole weekend goes in playing computer games and watching movies. However, I would like to plan my weekend for better productivity so that I can for example work on hobby projects and improve their ...
12
votes
11answers
624 views
How do you start working?
I am a student, so doing my homework has to be the most horrid part of my day. Although I know I can do it, and it really won't take that long, I hate it. Something in my mind makes me repel against ...
12
votes
8answers
513 views
I end up doing something else even when I know what should I be doing
I have a strange problem. Maybe some of you might also have it.
I know what is right and what is wrong, how my time can be used effectively, what I should be doing at this time.
But sadly, I end up ...
12
votes
10answers
652 views
How can I list down website passwords for better productivity?
I am an avid web surfer and I surf a lot of websites. I also have my accounts on numerous sites. The problem is when I need to sign in to some websites, I have to search my two mailboxes for username. ...
12
votes
5answers
427 views
Mind keeps wandering during conversations
I have trouble remembering instant things in mind. It really feels weird when I am talking about something and then I ask the person talking to me as, "Excuse me! Where were we?." I have been told by ...
12
votes
4answers
476 views
How do other parents find the time?
I've been a father for several years and I find that my most productive personal hours outside of typical work day are between the hours of 9:30-11pm. Everything before that is consumed by work, ...
12
votes
7answers
12k views
At what time do “early risers” go to sleep at night? [closed]
There is so much information out there about people who wake up early - for example, Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, wakes up at 4:30, as does General Motors' CEO and Disney's CEO.
What I never hear about is ...
12
votes
10answers
1k views
Windows Freeware/Shareware programs for tracking daily tasks?
I once had a cool little Java program that allowed me to name each task, and toggle back and forth between tasks to track the time spent on each. At the end of the day I could export the data and ...
12
votes
3answers
303 views
How can I turn productive actions into routine?
Every now and then I start doing something which helps my productivity: devise a better todo list, wake up earlier etc. However, I find that I only engage in this activity for a short period of time ...
12
votes
9answers
626 views
How to get more experiences out of life?
The older I get the harder it seems to experience something novel. At 38 I feel as though I've eaten most of the low lying fruit. I have some ideas such as skydiving, or bungee, or taking a ...
12
votes
3answers
746 views
How to stop mind from drifting off while reading?
Lets say I'm reading a text on programming language which has some example on poker. As soon as I read it, my mind drifts off about some related things around poker, like probability, last time I won, ...
12
votes
5answers
567 views
How to master a large variety of technical literature
I've an Engineering background I like to read technical literature (college level onwards) quite omnivorously - especially mathematics, computer science, engineering, and medicine. This is part of my ...
12
votes
6answers
3k views
How can I use Outlook folders to implement GTD?
I want to use Outlook folders to implement GTD so that I don't have to use a separate program.
How can I set up Outlook folders to be GTD lists?
12
votes
6answers
315 views
How do I encourage people to automate frequent tasks?
We often find in our consulting practice that automation can have a huge impact on personal productivity when using computers. These could be as simple as text replacement or as complicated as a ...
12
votes
6answers
2k views
How to prevent/control daydreaming?
Daydreaming is becoming a serious issue for me as I miss valuable information in places such as classes, meetings and presentations. It doesn't depend on any specific element. In fact, it may be ...
12
votes
6answers
343 views
How to fall asleep
I think many people can relate with this problem, eventhough I'm giving a personal description
Ever since I was young I had extreme trouble with sleeping. I think I can best attribute it to ...
12
votes
5answers
510 views
Getting things done in an environment with constant, unavoidable interruptions
There are many situations where you're working on something that requires concentration, but where you can't avoid interruptions. Some classic examples are working next to a sleeping infant, or in a ...
12
votes
8answers
210 views
How do you remember to sit up straight?
I spent some time thinking about this recently. It's kind of frustrating. It seems that most of the advice out there on posture is about why sitting up straight is good for you. There are also all ...
12
votes
4answers
483 views
Where should I file my Next Actions from Projects in Freemind?
I use Freemind Mind Mapping software to store all of my GTD lists. I have a separate mindmap for each list (i.e. In Tray, Next Actions, Projects, Project Support Material, Someday, Tickler Calendar, ...
12
votes
3answers
302 views
How do I get out of overcommitment?
I tend to procrastinate more when I am overwhelmed by overcommitment. Sometimes, writing down a priority list and future plan helps, but sooner or later, the plan breaks down and I find myself once ...
12
votes
4answers
818 views
What are the weaknesses of the GTD system?
For those who use the GTD (Getting Things Done) system or have used it in the past, what are some areas where GTD is weak and might need improvement?
12
votes
6answers
344 views
how to keep focus in long term?
My problem: I can't keep focus on a few selected areas. Part of the problem is that I want to learn too many things simultaneously. But another, more serious problem is that I can't keep the same ...
12
votes
3answers
3k views
Has anyone tried using Trello to track GTD projects?
For me, tracking projects has always been the hardest and most intractable part of GTD. In particular, how to manage future actions and keep track of sub-projects I've delegated to others.
Future ...
