All Questions
12
votes
3answers
304 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
865 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
367 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 ...
12
votes
3answers
612 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 ...
11
votes
10answers
694 views
What is the simplest (yet surprisingly) effective productiviy increasing technique? [closed]
Many productivity systems are complex and hard to keep going. The benefit of these systems often comes from not the overall systems but from the specific tactics or techniques they encourage.
What ...
11
votes
7answers
1k views
Does the “30/30 Minute Work Cycle” really work?
I'm about to embark on a pretty time consuming software project, so I'm looking for ways to improve my productivity over long periods of time. While searching for solutions, I found this article:
...
11
votes
4answers
670 views
What can I do to fight procrastination? [closed]
What can I do to fight procrastination? I'm looking for general advice, professional research and useful tips.
11
votes
9answers
440 views
How to keep free from thoughs while meditating?
When I sit for meditation, there are a lot of thoughts come to my mind. How can I be a free from thoughts while meditating?
11
votes
4answers
282 views
Forgetting of concepts
I have a problem which I am unable to tackle to the best of my efforts. Whenever I learn a concept (maths, computers physics), if I am required to solve a question on it immediately, I do it without ...
11
votes
5answers
390 views
What do I do with abandoned pomodoros?
This morning I decide to try applying the Pomodoro time boxing technique in my coding, but using it for software development raises some questions I would like to try and resolve before continuing.
...
11
votes
6answers
949 views
How to improve self discipline when starting from nothing
It seems that I have no ability to be productive. Outside of the occasional week where feeling accountable to somebody else has kept me on task, I have never had the self discipline to accomplish ...
11
votes
6answers
722 views
How do you manage information/resources?
I've tried many different approaches to task management, but I always fail at one specific thing.
Being a programmer, I have loads of information that needs to be somehow stored. To be more ...
11
votes
6answers
384 views
how to get over something stupid done in past?
I have a tendency to act out wierdly and angrily, (usually throwing stuff here and there) when I suddenly remember something stupid that I had done in past, and then bang my head over how stupid I was ...
11
votes
10answers
3k views
Best headphones/earplugs to drown out loud nearby conversations [closed]
I'm a programmer in an environment where people talk loudly. Nearby passionate conversations can be distracting when i need to concentrate.
I'm sure I'm not alone. What headphones/earplugs would ...
11
votes
4answers
404 views
How to implement a behaviour of discipline
Discipline is -at least in my opinion- the key to changing behaviours and increasing productivity. Pomodoro, GTD as well as other techniques are methods that need discipline in order to consistently ...
11
votes
7answers
559 views
How can I manage several hours of intellectual work (web dev/coding) a day without getting mentally exhausted?
I'm a coder. It's what I do. It's what I like doing. It's also what pays the bills. I do this at home and I set my own hours.
However, I have a problem. I have a very, very hard time getting in ...
11
votes
2answers
340 views
meditation and productivity
I heart a lot about power of meditation, however I never tried by myself. I tried to find any useful information regarding connection between meditation and productivity, and found nothing ...
11
votes
4answers
599 views
fasting and low-calory diet good for the brain?
I recently watched a BBC Horizon documentary that seems to argue that fasting is good for your general health and your mental acuity.
What scientific evidence is there for and against it?
The ...
11
votes
3answers
618 views
Effect of treadmill desk on productivity
Some people have started using treadmill desks to allow themselves to exercise while they are working. Apparently, it allows them to burn "100 to 130 calories an hour at speeds slower than two miles ...
11
votes
3answers
250 views
Getting productive without logging and tracking?
My question looks rhetorical but it isn't. I am forcing myself to write to-do lists and tracking what I've done, but I found it difficult. I get bored to write lists longer than 10 tasks, so I set ...
11
votes
8answers
368 views
When I'm going back to an old complex project, how can I restore my focus and motivation?
I've had a few weeks break from a large and difficult project that I've been working on for two years. The project could be a few weeks from shipping, if I can manage to focus on it.
I've noticed a ...
11
votes
2answers
478 views
How to use the Pomodoro Technique while finishing a task and the Pomodoro rings?
I was using the pomodoro technique while programming. The Pomodoro timer finished and I was just in the middle of adding a new parameter to a function and was refactoring my code to make sure that the ...
11
votes
1answer
170 views
Organizing research-oriented tasks
I am an engineering graduate student and I have always been a 'todo list' person. However, I'm having a difficult time keeping myself organized now, because most of my tasks are research-related. With ...
11
votes
2answers
114 views
How can I bring productivity techniques that work for me to a new employer?
As a consultant, I am frustrated at the lack of motivation incumbent teams often show. It would definitely come across badly if I tried to indicate to them that I do things more efficiently, but how ...
11
votes
5answers
2k views
What does a digital tickler file look like?
I'm in the process of implementing my GTD process, and I'm starting to run in to items that I want to put in a tickler file. The implementation of a physical tickler file makes tons of sense, but its ...
11
votes
3answers
171 views
Good way to organise product documentation?
When I buy a new item (think computer, fridge, phone) it often comes with a whole stack of paperwork:
Receipt
Warranty
Manuals
Service schedule
Special offers on something else
Other things
...
11
votes
1answer
861 views
Typing versus Handwriting for recall
It is common for self-teaching courses to insist of writing something down, rather than just thinking about it. But how about typing it?
Is it just the extra time it takes to write something down ...
11
votes
4answers
420 views
How do I register deadlines in a GTD system?
In a GTD system, I have (among other things) a list of "next actions" organized by context, which are things that I have decided I should act on at my discretion, and a calendar, which shows things ...
11
votes
6answers
438 views
motivation strategies for GTD weekly review
David Allen has described the weekly review as key to GTD, but it's been the hardest part for me to adopt. When things get really busy, I am usually able to keep up with a minimum amount of ...
11
votes
3answers
602 views
How can I track my personal projects?
Are there any freeware tools that I can use to track time for personal projects.
I would like to create and split the project in tasks and assign time against it.
I am looking for a tool that helps ...
11
votes
3answers
831 views
How to keep focused without losing interest?
I am not sure how common is this, but I experience loss of interest pretty often. Unlike many people, my problem is not in starting things but in sustaining the interest.
One day, I decide that I am ...
11
votes
2answers
575 views
Is it possible to handle perpetually ongoing tasks in Personal Kanban?
I'm exploring organization systems like Personal Kanban and one thing I'm still not clear on is how to represent ongoing activities that are always there and always have to be done. For example, say ...
11
votes
4answers
634 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 ...
11
votes
2answers
461 views
How does sleep debt decay?
Sleep debt is the concept that if you skip half an hour of sleep now, you'll need to catch it up later. I would expect though, that if you skip some sleep, but then start having a normal amount sleep, ...
10
votes
16answers
729 views
What are famous quotes about productivity?
What is your favorite productivity quote? This is community wiki, so please one quote per answer.
10
votes
8answers
902 views
How to wake up if even alarm clock doesnt wake me up?
I have deep-sleep problem. When I go sleep, i set up at least 3 alarm clocks on my notebook ("alarm-clock" applet on linux), and set volume to maximum. They are very loudly. But I never hear them, and ...
10
votes
4answers
771 views
How to work through technical books for long hours to completion
I cannot sit in one place reading for more than a hour, no matter what book it is (except maybe Harry Potter).
Can anybody please advise me how I can learn to sit and read for long hours. My main ...
10
votes
11answers
413 views
How to cancel out caffeine's effects on sleep?
I'm a programmer and I need caffeine in order to do my job.
But, the paradox is - the same caffeine that enables me to do my job degrades the quality of my sleep, which in return degrades my ability ...
10
votes
7answers
1k views
Tradeoffs of using standing desks
I'm considering a standing desk. Are there any generally accepted trade-off that might occur when working at a standing desk?
10
votes
9answers
683 views
How do you read programming books?
I'm wondering, how do you read programming books? I always don't do the exercises, I just read the book.. Do you read while sleeping or you really take the book and study like you do in high school ...
10
votes
5answers
379 views
Well organized, still overloaded?
After following GTD principles for several years, I now have the system well oiled. Unfortunately, I'm still overloaded--not at the inbox level, but at the project level. Too many things are flowing ...
10
votes
7answers
276 views
What approach is good? First getting job done then improve or the other?
I have a question for a long time. I am very much bothered by this one. The question is "What approach is good in doing job? Is it first getting the job works, then improve it over time, or You should ...
10
votes
5answers
256 views
How to stop misplacing things?
I have a big problem of forgetting where I have put things. I always seem to forget where, for example I left my papers, keys, etc.
Is there a way I can remember all the objects and where I have ...
10
votes
5answers
973 views
Tickler file for email
Getting Things Done (GTD) recommends using a tickler file for things that aren't immediately actionable but should be dealt with at some point in the future.
How can the equivalent be done with ...
10
votes
6answers
397 views
How to calculate my personal efficiency in programming?
I want to improve my personal efficiency. How better can I calculate my personal efficiency?
I am a programmer. I want to calculate my personal efficiency in programming.
10
votes
5answers
293 views
how to avoid temptations
well I usually do prepare a very good plan, but due to lot of temptations and their consuming nature and few of their execution I find discipline bit very hard in day to day life...
plans are ...
10
votes
5answers
648 views
Scanning documents, going paperless: what to keep, what not to keep
I have years of clutter that I keep around for that mythical "just-in-case" scenario that never happens. Even when I physically put the papers out of sight, I can FEEL them through the closet door, ...
10
votes
7answers
417 views
Is there a master “catch-all” system for keeping track of things?
I hope this isn't too broad a question, but basically, I find myself constantly trying to keep track of many different things. I'm wondering how other people do this. For example, I have:
a list ...
10
votes
6answers
405 views
How to keep oneself from feeling dejected?? — Student's point of view
I am a student who is introverted and I believe in making my own success
I set goals, plan my time well and work towards the goal. However, of late, I feel that I am moving towards my goals at a ...
