INDUSTRY INSIGHTS YOUR PEERS ARE READING
Adults aren't the only ones who have to think about stress management. Recently, my Girl Scouts shared their favorite techniques with each other during their AP Exam week. The post Stress Management From Teenagers appeared first on Laura Earnest. Stress MORE
Crisis can happen in the blink of an eye. One minute life is normal, and then everything is different. It could be anything that rocks your stability: death, divorce, accident, layoff, shutdown. But crisis comes to us all, and it's important to know what to do. MORE
What do you do when you've done nothing so long that it becomes a habit? Today's episode talks about how I conquered that problem with the power of three: three tasks every day, with a secret weapon. The post Podcast Episode 4: The Power of Three appeared first on Laura Earnest. Podcast MORE
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Calendars form the basis of any productivity system. These are the single item that tell you where you need to be and when. But calendars have evolved massively from 30 years ago, when everything was on paper. Today I'll look at my own calendar evolution and share how I use a calendar today. MORE
I spent a month working through a life reboot. I found that it was useful in many ways.but that at the same time I needed to recover from a hard-drive crash of life rather than the stuffed memory that required a reboot. The post 30 Day Challenge: Life Reboot Wrap-Up appeared first on Laura Earnest. MORE
Have you ever been going over your task list and come to a screeching halt? Did you stumble over the task because your brain didn't know what to do with it? Properly naming tasks is one way to keep that from happening. I am not very good at naming tasks. MORE
My phone app usage was out of control. I was losing entire evenings to pursuing the next word in a puzzle, and reading (koff) brain-candy novels. But there was no app to help me. There were website time controllers, but I needed something at the app level. MORE
Stress, the flight or flight response, is a necessary part of being human. It's what kept us from being eaten by things in the distant past. There are a whole lot of physical changes that occur while stressed, but there are also mental changes as well. MORE
You have a beautiful blank calendar before you. What should you put on it to ensure you get the most use out of it? This article addresses the basics. In spite of my dedication to electronic calendars (because of their portability and shareability), I still maintain a paper calendar in my kitchen. MORE
When I started this journey back in college, I was convinced that all I had to do was use the right planner and write everything down, and I'd never forget to do anything or be late for anything again. In the years since then, I have learned a lot of lessons about productivity. Here are 10 things I wish I knew when I started. The post Podcast Episode 7 – 10 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started My Productivity Journey appeared first on Laura Earnest. Podcast MORE
One of the things from Getting Things Done that doesn’t work for me is the long lists of tasks split into contexts. It encourages me to take on too much for a current day. MORE
I try a lot of different methods and techniques as the result of my search to live a more deliberate and productive life. And while I learn a lot from these exercises, I don't necessarily put the results together for myself or for the blog. MORE
Have you ever been faced with a huge task list, and the sinking feeling that there was no way on earth to get it all done? This happens to me more often than not. MORE
Productivity is hampered by poor tools. This amazing pencil sharpener keeps productivity flowing. The post An Amazing Pencil Sharpener appeared first on Simple Productivity Blog. More great content can be found on the site at Simple Productivity Blog., MORE
Most of us are not experts at everything. You might know someone who claims to be - and aren't they annoying?) The real deal is that we all have to pick the things we're going to work on being good at. As a consequence, we end up having things to stink at. MORE
Few people would say that work and life are the same. Yet we try to apply work task management techniques to the rest of our lives, and are frustrated when it doesn't work. I have very little problem staying on task at work. MORE
I get a lot of email; in fact about 300 emails per day wander through the various work and personal email inboxes. I have had to develop rules or risk getting swamped under the flood. MORE
Doing research into stress is enough to induce stress. Looking at all the damage that chronic or acute stress can cause to our bodies is enough to make people want to crawl into their beds and not come out. MORE
January 1 is when all the calendars recognize the start of the New Year. And as we have just passed that date, I thought I would talk about some things you can do to make your New Year get off to a great start. MORE
Today we take a look at a targeted way to read content from the web. I'll look at RSS readers, and share an even better way to read the content when it's convenient for you. Most bloggers will offer free content in exchange for your email address. MORE
One of the things about living a more deliberate life is that it means I have to take full responsibility for my decisions. It has been brought home to me that what I do is a choice, which requires a decision, and this has led me to consider more of what I am doing - and not doing - at any time. MORE
I recently heard on a podcast that minimalism is a mind game - that it's not about getting rid of stuff as much as it is about getting rid of distractions. I've never heard it phrased that way before, but it clicked. I've dabbled with simplicity for years. MORE
Many people that I talk with are surprised to know that outside of the blog, I don’t use Facebook or Twitter. Some react with disdain (“How can you possibly know what’s going on?”) or frustration (“How can I reach you if you don’t read Facebook?”). MORE
Our brains simply can't hold everything that goes with modern life. Add in some stress, and it's more like a sieve than a filing cabinet. Today I'll talk about some common external brains and some tips on how to use them. MORE
To get more done, you need to do more things. That's self-evident. But what if I told you the secret to getting more done was limiting your tasks? I am one of those people, who, when faced with a huge list of things to do, will shut down and do none of it. It's not uncommon. MORE
Bullet Journaling is a very simple and straightforward way to capture notes, ideas and events. I love the simplicity of it, but out of the box it doesn't provide a way to do traditional time- and task-based planning. That's probably why it's called a bullet journal and not a bullet planner. MORE
One of the things I get asked - a lot - is how I manage to get things done. People want to see my schedule to see what magic I work to be productive. There is no magic - it is simply regular routines that help me keep on track. MORE
There are productivity lessons everywhere, if you just look. Here are four lessons I learned from a video game my daughter got me into, "We Bare Bears Match 3 Repairs.". MORE
If you are like most people, you have a lot of emails in your inbox, either unread or waiting for action. In fact, one study found that the average worker had 199 unread emails in their inbox. Another study found that workers receive 121 emails per day. MORE
Stress is everywhere in modern life. Some of it is chronic, everyday stress. And some of it can be extreme, brought on by situation and choices. Today I'll look at some advanced stress management techniques that don't get (in my opinion) enough coverage, but can be extremely useful. MORE
Someone asked me recently why I have made this switch to deliberate living. He said it seemed like over-thinking and too much structure; why not just go with the flow? It’s been brought home to me that none of us live forever and we have limited time on this earth. MORE
I recently listened to a podcast on the subject of managing email from a man with whose views I mostly agree. Instead of agreeing, though, I found myself shouting "NO" at the car stereo as I drove to work. MORE
What's a great way to avoid procrastination and clutter? Touching things once. My 30 day habit for August of 2019 will be exactly this: training myself to complete little things so I don't have piles of unfinished tasks everywhere. Read more about this challenge and join me. MORE
It's really interesting to me that people invariably understand that in order to get to a destination, you have to have some idea where it is. Once that is known, a strategy for getting there is decided on. In the old days, it was a map and/or turn by turn directions. MORE
Stress, either chronic or acute, can have major impacts on your productivity and happiness. Today we will look at 5 basic ways to manage your stress. The post 5 Basic Stress Management Techniques appeared first on Laura Earnest. Stress MORE
Simple Productivity Blog
AUGUST 18, 2019
Today we take a look at a targeted way to read content from the web. I'll look at RSS readers, and share an even better way to read the content when it's convenient for you. Most bloggers will offer free content in exchange for your email address.
Simple Productivity Blog
AUGUST 11, 2019
Podcasts are a great way to get information for a busy person. It's like blog articles in audio - you can listen on your commute, while washing dishes, weeding, exercising and more. Today we'll look at what podcasts are and how I listen to them.
Simple Productivity Blog
AUGUST 7, 2019
Calendars form the basis of any productivity system. These are the single item that tell you where you need to be and when. But calendars have evolved massively from 30 years ago, when everything was on paper. Today I'll look at my own calendar evolution and share how I use a calendar today.
Simple Productivity Blog
AUGUST 20, 2019
When I started this journey back in college, I was convinced that all I had to do was use the right planner and write everything down, and I'd never forget to do anything or be late for anything again. In the years since then, I have learned a lot of lessons about productivity. Here are 10 things I wish I knew when I started. The post Podcast Episode 7 – 10 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started My Productivity Journey appeared first on Laura Earnest. Podcast
Simple Productivity Blog
AUGUST 4, 2019
Tablets are a great way to have productivity on the go. With the latest hardware and apps, some people are using them to replace their computers. Today I'll give you an update on how I use my iPad.
Simple Productivity Blog
JULY 31, 2019
What's a great way to avoid procrastination and clutter? Touching things once. My 30 day habit for August of 2019 will be exactly this: training myself to complete little things so I don't have piles of unfinished tasks everywhere. Read more about this challenge and join me.
Simple Productivity Blog
JULY 30, 2019
I spent a month working through a life reboot. I found that it was useful in many ways.but that at the same time I needed to recover from a hard-drive crash of life rather than the stuffed memory that required a reboot. The post 30 Day Challenge: Life Reboot Wrap-Up appeared first on Laura Earnest.
Simple Productivity Blog
JULY 21, 2019
Doing research into stress is enough to induce stress. Looking at all the damage that chronic or acute stress can cause to our bodies is enough to make people want to crawl into their beds and not come out.
Simple Productivity Blog
JULY 16, 2019
Our brains simply can't hold everything that goes with modern life. Add in some stress, and it's more like a sieve than a filing cabinet. Today I'll talk about some common external brains and some tips on how to use them.
Simple Productivity Blog
JULY 14, 2019
Stress is everywhere in modern life. Some of it is chronic, everyday stress. And some of it can be extreme, brought on by situation and choices. Today I'll look at some advanced stress management techniques that don't get (in my opinion) enough coverage, but can be extremely useful.
Simple Productivity Blog
JULY 7, 2019
Stress, either chronic or acute, can have major impacts on your productivity and happiness. Today we will look at 5 basic ways to manage your stress. The post 5 Basic Stress Management Techniques appeared first on Laura Earnest. Stress
Simple Productivity Blog
JULY 2, 2019
What do you do when you've done nothing so long that it becomes a habit? Today's episode talks about how I conquered that problem with the power of three: three tasks every day, with a secret weapon. The post Podcast Episode 4: The Power of Three appeared first on Laura Earnest. Podcast
Simple Productivity Blog
JUNE 30, 2019
For July 2019 I am going to focus on rebooting my life: getting rid of the "programs" that no longer work and deciding what will restart. The post 30 Day Challenge: Life Reboot appeared first on Laura Earnest. 30 Day Challenge
Simple Productivity Blog
JUNE 30, 2019
Stress, the flight or flight response, is a necessary part of being human. It's what kept us from being eaten by things in the distant past. There are a whole lot of physical changes that occur while stressed, but there are also mental changes as well.
Simple Productivity Blog
APRIL 30, 2019
This is an extremely hard post for me to write. Sometimes your life can completely change in the blink of an eye. On Monday April 22, my husband and I were watching the pictures from my daughter's trip to Europe. The next minute, he was having a seizure.
Simple Productivity Blog
FEBRUARY 10, 2019
There are productivity lessons everywhere, if you just look. Here are four lessons I learned from a video game my daughter got me into, "We Bare Bears Match 3 Repairs.".
Simple Productivity Blog
MARCH 10, 2019
I recently heard on a podcast that minimalism is a mind game - that it's not about getting rid of stuff as much as it is about getting rid of distractions. I've never heard it phrased that way before, but it clicked. I've dabbled with simplicity for years.
Simple Productivity Blog
MARCH 3, 2019
Crisis can happen in the blink of an eye. One minute life is normal, and then everything is different. It could be anything that rocks your stability: death, divorce, accident, layoff, shutdown. But crisis comes to us all, and it's important to know what to do.
Simple Productivity Blog
FEBRUARY 28, 2019
I try a lot of different methods and techniques as the result of my search to live a more deliberate and productive life. And while I learn a lot from these exercises, I don't necessarily put the results together for myself or for the blog.
Simple Productivity Blog
FEBRUARY 24, 2019
Have you ever been going over your task list and come to a screeching halt? Did you stumble over the task because your brain didn't know what to do with it? Properly naming tasks is one way to keep that from happening. I am not very good at naming tasks.
Simple Productivity Blog
FEBRUARY 17, 2019
To get more done, you need to do more things. That's self-evident. But what if I told you the secret to getting more done was limiting your tasks? I am one of those people, who, when faced with a huge list of things to do, will shut down and do none of it. It's not uncommon.
Simple Productivity Blog
FEBRUARY 3, 2019
Few people would say that work and life are the same. Yet we try to apply work task management techniques to the rest of our lives, and are frustrated when it doesn't work. I have very little problem staying on task at work.
Simple Productivity Blog
JANUARY 27, 2019
As part of my quest for productivity, I read a lot of articles and books on the various aspects. I get frustrated from time to time, because I think a lot of the authors miss the points. For example, I have been reading a lot about building a better task list.
Simple Productivity Blog
JANUARY 20, 2019
If you are like most people, you have a lot of emails in your inbox, either unread or waiting for action. In fact, one study found that the average worker had 199 unread emails in their inbox. Another study found that workers receive 121 emails per day.
Simple Productivity Blog
AUGUST 19, 2018
Most of us are not experts at everything. You might know someone who claims to be - and aren't they annoying?) The real deal is that we all have to pick the things we're going to work on being good at. As a consequence, we end up having things to stink at.
Simple Productivity Blog
JANUARY 13, 2019
You have a beautiful blank calendar before you. What should you put on it to ensure you get the most use out of it? This article addresses the basics. In spite of my dedication to electronic calendars (because of their portability and shareability), I still maintain a paper calendar in my kitchen.
Simple Productivity Blog
JANUARY 6, 2019
January 1 is when all the calendars recognize the start of the New Year. And as we have just passed that date, I thought I would talk about some things you can do to make your New Year get off to a great start.
Simple Productivity Blog
OCTOBER 14, 2018
Productivity isn't about cute tricks nor flashy tools. Insert Link] It's a matter of buckling down and getting your work done. But that doesn't mean that there aren't things that help.
Simple Productivity Blog
OCTOBER 7, 2018
True productivity isn't about shaving off time. It's not about the notebooks, the software, the pens or the stickers. But people, including myself, are always looking for a better way. The problem is that productivity hacks are distractions.
Simple Productivity Blog
DECEMBER 23, 2018
Someone asked me recently why I have made this switch to deliberate living. He said it seemed like over-thinking and too much structure; why not just go with the flow? It’s been brought home to me that none of us live forever and we have limited time on this earth.
Simple Productivity Blog
SEPTEMBER 30, 2018
It's really interesting to me that people invariably understand that in order to get to a destination, you have to have some idea where it is. Once that is known, a strategy for getting there is decided on. In the old days, it was a map and/or turn by turn directions.
Simple Productivity Blog
DECEMBER 16, 2018
One of the things about living a more deliberate life is that it means I have to take full responsibility for my decisions. It has been brought home to me that what I do is a choice, which requires a decision, and this has led me to consider more of what I am doing - and not doing - at any time.
Simple Productivity Blog
SEPTEMBER 16, 2018
Bullet Journaling is a very simple and straightforward way to capture notes, ideas and events. I love the simplicity of it, but out of the box it doesn't provide a way to do traditional time- and task-based planning. That's probably why it's called a bullet journal and not a bullet planner.
Simple Productivity Blog
DECEMBER 9, 2018
Many people that I talk with are surprised to know that outside of the blog, I don’t use Facebook or Twitter. Some react with disdain (“How can you possibly know what’s going on?”) or frustration (“How can I reach you if you don’t read Facebook?”).
Simple Productivity Blog
DECEMBER 2, 2018
One of the things from Getting Things Done that doesn’t work for me is the long lists of tasks split into contexts. It encourages me to take on too much for a current day.
Simple Productivity Blog
NOVEMBER 25, 2018
Have you ever been frustrated with not knowing how to fit your tasks into your schedule? A new iOS app does just that. The post A Task List That Helps You Schedule: Sorted(3) appeared first on Laura Earnest. Reviews Software
Simple Productivity Blog
NOVEMBER 18, 2018
I get a lot of email; in fact about 300 emails per day wander through the various work and personal email inboxes. I have had to develop rules or risk getting swamped under the flood.
Simple Productivity Blog
NOVEMBER 11, 2018
My phone app usage was out of control. I was losing entire evenings to pursuing the next word in a puzzle, and reading (koff) brain-candy novels. But there was no app to help me. There were website time controllers, but I needed something at the app level.
Simple Productivity Blog
NOVEMBER 4, 2018
I recently listened to a podcast on the subject of managing email from a man with whose views I mostly agree. Instead of agreeing, though, I found myself shouting "NO" at the car stereo as I drove to work.
Simple Productivity Blog
JUNE 18, 2015
Productivity is hampered by poor tools. This amazing pencil sharpener keeps productivity flowing. The post An Amazing Pencil Sharpener appeared first on Simple Productivity Blog. More great content can be found on the site at Simple Productivity Blog.,
Simple Productivity Blog
OCTOBER 21, 2018
Finally, an approachable version of Getting Things Done - written for teens, but applicable to the rest of us. Here's my review of the book. The post Finally, An Approachable Version of GTD appeared first on Laura Earnest. Books Getting Things Done Productivity Reviews aff
Simple Productivity Blog
SEPTEMBER 23, 2018
Have you ever been faced with a huge task list, and the sinking feeling that there was no way on earth to get it all done? This happens to me more often than not.
Simple Productivity Blog
SEPTEMBER 9, 2018
One of the things I get asked - a lot - is how I manage to get things done. People want to see my schedule to see what magic I work to be productive. There is no magic - it is simply regular routines that help me keep on track.
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