INDUSTRY INSIGHTS YOUR PEERS ARE READING
Return on investment is not just about manufacturing. If we are going to be at a good productivity level, we have to be aware of our time ROI. The post Always Be Aware of ROI appeared first on Laura Earnest. Time Management 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
Aesop's fables have infiltrated our culture to a remarkable degree. The story of the Tortoise and the Hare is an example of one of these fables. I was always taught that the moral of the Tortoise and the Hare is "slow and steady wins the race." But I've recently had cause to look at this fable again, and I find that really isn't the moral at all. Here's what it's really about. The post Why The Tortoise and Hare Isn’t About Pace appeared first on Laura Earnest. Deliberate Living MORE
109 
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
I have been extremely busy over the last few months, and it is about to get worse. Everything will ease up in June) Several friends and acquaintances are amazed at what I have going on, and asked me how I manage it. So here are my 7 secrets of managing extreme busyness. 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
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
Many time management systems say that you should block out time on your calendar for everything you need to do. This means that if you need to take out the garbage, you should schedule time on your calendar to do so. However, this sort of planning can be counterproductive, stifling and rigid. MORE
I deal with a lot of information, for my job, for my classes, and for Girl Scouts. When I get information in a form that is readable, but not quite usable, I have the option to re-type it.or I can put Excel on the task and let it do the work. MORE
What are the simple things you do or use every day that make a huge impact on your productivity? In July we are going to be looking at some of my favorites. Today we begin with my morning routine and mini-habits. MORE
Robert Fulghum wrote "Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some." Today we will look at the component of creating in context of a balanced life. 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
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
I learned quite a bit about memory and how we remember things during my teacher training. I saw enough in the classroom to see that these things were actually true. But most people aren't aware of what it takes to remember things. 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
This month on Mondays we are going to be looking at how a suite of tools - namely Microsoft Office - can make you more productive. Our first post in the series comes from one of my readers, who is organizing everything using OneNote, Microsoft''s notebook tool. MORE
When Getting Things Done (GTD) was introduced in 2002, it quickly became the go-to productivity system. It had the advantage of being one of the first formal methodologies combining not only time management, but project and goal management as well. MORE
One of the first ways to go about reaching a goal is to crystallize it in our minds so that we are clear about what we are trying to have/do/be. Then the next is to break it down into manageable steps. 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
How much time do you spend on social media? Is it something you choose to do consciously, or are your prompted to do it by notification? Or has it become a default behavior? Today we look at how to get social media under control. 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
One of my readers askend me to address the question of what to do when you have information in too many places. She said she had notebooks everywhere, plus all her email accounts, plus sticky notes scribbled on and stuck all over her house and office. MORE
I wandered over to my client manager's desk. I had a changes to go into a release, and she hadn't responded to the system emails asking for her approval. It was the first week of January, and the fix needed to be in the next week. "Oh, Oh, I deleted all my emails on January 2nd. MORE
One look at an email can rob you of 15 minutes of focus. One call on your cell phone, one tweet, one instant message can destroy your schedule, forcing you to move meetings, or blow off really important things, like love, and friendship. Jacqueline Leo. Email Shareable MORE
As I've been dealing with the topic of email this month, I have had plenty of time to consider the topic of spam. You know, that stuff that flows into your email that adds nothing of value to your life while taking up space and attention. But spam doesn't exist just in email. 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
It's almost reflexive. You pick up your phone and you immediately check your email. The question I want to look at today is about checking email too much.and a better way. I've had a terrible email habit. I think it stemmed from FOMO, but I would check my email around 20 times a day. Waiting in line? MORE
It''s really odd how sometimes you wish for something, and then it falls into your lap. MORE
You probably know that you have to hang onto certain paper documents for a given number of years. These documents are required by law, and only after a certain number of years of retention can you get rid of them. The same applies to email, though, which has been used in court cases. 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
You might need to get email off of your server. The first is space. If your company has quotas on how big your email boxes can be (and they all do), you might find yourself in a situation where you have no more room, but you need to hang onto emails for legal or documentation reasons. MORE
For email, the old postcard rule applies. Nobody else is supposed to read your postcards, but you'd be a fool if you wrote anything private on one. Judith Martin. Email Shareable MORE
Last week I talked about my problems with Getting Things Done in the article "When Getting Things Done Gets In the Way". Readers were quick to email and comment that they wanted to know what I would use. (In In hind sight, I should have indicated this article was coming!) 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
Productivity tools don't have to be complicated. They simply have to work. A solution isn't a solution if it's too complicated, unusable, or a black hole. If it's too hard to use, you won't use it. Today we'll look at rules for good tools, and what to do when a tool becomes a black hole. The post When A Tool Becomes A Black Hole appeared first on Laura Earnest. Productivity Tools MORE
109 I recently listened to the TED Radio Hour on Attention. And then I listened again, paying much closer attention. What I heard has given me a lot of food for thought. The post Some Thoughts On Attention appeared first on Laura Earnest. Deliberate Living Media Diet Time Management MORE
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Simple Productivity Blog
SEPTEMBER 2, 2018
How much time do you spend on social media? Is it something you choose to do consciously, or are your prompted to do it by notification? Or has it become a default behavior? Today we look at how to get social media under control.
Simple Productivity Blog
AUGUST 5, 2018
Return on investment is not just about manufacturing. If we are going to be at a good productivity level, we have to be aware of our time ROI. The post Always Be Aware of ROI appeared first on Laura Earnest. Time Management
Simple Productivity Blog
JULY 22, 2018
I see Sunday evenings as the jumping board to a successful week. While some people bemoaned that their free time is coming to an end, I use Sunday evenings to make sure that I will have a good start and continued success throughout the week.
Simple Productivity Blog
AUGUST 26, 2018
I recently listened to the TED Radio Hour on Attention. And then I listened again, paying much closer attention. What I heard has given me a lot of food for thought. The post Some Thoughts On Attention appeared first on Laura Earnest. Deliberate Living Media Diet Time Management
Simple Productivity Blog
JULY 8, 2018
I learned quite a bit about memory and how we remember things during my teacher training. I saw enough in the classroom to see that these things were actually true. But most people aren't aware of what it takes to remember things.
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
MAY 4, 2015
When Getting Things Done (GTD) was introduced in 2002, it quickly became the go-to productivity system. It had the advantage of being one of the first formal methodologies combining not only time management, but project and goal management as well.
Simple Productivity Blog
APRIL 8, 2015
I deal with a lot of information, for my job, for my classes, and for Girl Scouts. When I get information in a form that is readable, but not quite usable, I have the option to re-type it.or I can put Excel on the task and let it do the work.
Simple Productivity Blog
APRIL 6, 2015
This month on Mondays we are going to be looking at how a suite of tools - namely Microsoft Office - can make you more productive. Our first post in the series comes from one of my readers, who is organizing everything using OneNote, Microsoft''s notebook tool.
Simple Productivity Blog
NOVEMBER 12, 2014
One of my readers askend me to address the question of what to do when you have information in too many places. She said she had notebooks everywhere, plus all her email accounts, plus sticky notes scribbled on and stuck all over her house and office.
Simple Productivity Blog
AUGUST 12, 2018
Productivity tools don't have to be complicated. They simply have to work. A solution isn't a solution if it's too complicated, unusable, or a black hole. If it's too hard to use, you won't use it. Today we'll look at rules for good tools, and what to do when a tool becomes a black hole. The post When A Tool Becomes A Black Hole appeared first on Laura Earnest. Productivity Tools
Simple Productivity Blog
MARCH 21, 2018
You might need to get email off of your server. The first is space. If your company has quotas on how big your email boxes can be (and they all do), you might find yourself in a situation where you have no more room, but you need to hang onto emails for legal or documentation reasons.
Simple Productivity Blog
JULY 1, 2015
What are the simple things you do or use every day that make a huge impact on your productivity? In July we are going to be looking at some of my favorites. Today we begin with my morning routine and mini-habits.
Simple Productivity Blog
MARCH 19, 2018
For email, the old postcard rule applies. Nobody else is supposed to read your postcards, but you'd be a fool if you wrote anything private on one. Judith Martin. Email Shareable
Simple Productivity Blog
MARCH 14, 2018
As I've been dealing with the topic of email this month, I have had plenty of time to consider the topic of spam. You know, that stuff that flows into your email that adds nothing of value to your life while taking up space and attention. But spam doesn't exist just in email.
Simple Productivity Blog
MARCH 12, 2018
You probably know that you have to hang onto certain paper documents for a given number of years. These documents are required by law, and only after a certain number of years of retention can you get rid of them. The same applies to email, though, which has been used in court cases.
Simple Productivity Blog
MAY 11, 2015
Last week I talked about my problems with Getting Things Done in the article "When Getting Things Done Gets In the Way". Readers were quick to email and comment that they wanted to know what I would use. (In In hind sight, I should have indicated this article was coming!)
Simple Productivity Blog
MARCH 7, 2018
It's almost reflexive. You pick up your phone and you immediately check your email. The question I want to look at today is about checking email too much.and a better way. I've had a terrible email habit. I think it stemmed from FOMO, but I would check my email around 20 times a day. Waiting in line?
Simple Productivity Blog
MARCH 5, 2018
One look at an email can rob you of 15 minutes of focus. One call on your cell phone, one tweet, one instant message can destroy your schedule, forcing you to move meetings, or blow off really important things, like love, and friendship. Jacqueline Leo. Email Shareable
Simple Productivity Blog
MARCH 5, 2018
I wandered over to my client manager's desk. I had a changes to go into a release, and she hadn't responded to the system emails asking for her approval. It was the first week of January, and the fix needed to be in the next week. "Oh, Oh, I deleted all my emails on January 2nd.
Simple Productivity Blog
MARCH 4, 2015
It''s really odd how sometimes you wish for something, and then it falls into your lap.
Simple Productivity Blog
NOVEMBER 16, 2015
Many time management systems say that you should block out time on your calendar for everything you need to do. This means that if you need to take out the garbage, you should schedule time on your calendar to do so. However, this sort of planning can be counterproductive, stifling and rigid.
Simple Productivity Blog
MARCH 16, 2015
Robert Fulghum wrote "Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some." Today we will look at the component of creating in context of a balanced life.
Simple Productivity Blog
JULY 15, 2018
Aesop's fables have infiltrated our culture to a remarkable degree. The story of the Tortoise and the Hare is an example of one of these fables. I was always taught that the moral of the Tortoise and the Hare is "slow and steady wins the race." But I've recently had cause to look at this fable again, and I find that really isn't the moral at all. Here's what it's really about. The post Why The Tortoise and Hare Isn’t About Pace appeared first on Laura Earnest. Deliberate Living
Simple Productivity Blog
MARCH 18, 2015
I have been extremely busy over the last few months, and it is about to get worse. Everything will ease up in June) Several friends and acquaintances are amazed at what I have going on, and asked me how I manage it. So here are my 7 secrets of managing extreme busyness.
Simple Productivity Blog
JANUARY 5, 2015
One of the first ways to go about reaching a goal is to crystallize it in our minds so that we are clear about what we are trying to have/do/be. Then the next is to break it down into manageable steps.
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