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
130 
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 30 Day Challenge for the month of September is a spending freeze involving no spending outside of the necessities. I will confess that I have a shopping habit. It's not for clothes or decoration or even anything big, but I still shop for a lot of stuff. 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
I spent a month putting things away immediately - and found that not only were things neater, but my procrastination and stress went down too! The post 30 Day Challenge: Touch It Once Wrapup appeared first on Laura Earnest. 30 Day Challenge 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
What happens when a goal doesn't fit who you are? Many of us are doggedly pursuing goals - and struggling - against them because they simply don't fit us. In today's episode I will talk about why a goal might not fit, how to spot them, and what to do about goals that just aren't right. The post Podcast Episode 8: What To Do When A Goal Doesn’t Fit appeared first on Laura Earnest. Podcast 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
For my 30 Day Challenge this month, I did a spending freeze. As I talked about when I started it, I wanted to reduce the stuff I was bringing in to the house, and see if could manage to break my spending habit. It wasn't easy, but I got some great results. Read on for more details. 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
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
Life can get caught up in the day to day task list items. So much so that we forget about everything except crossing off the next item. In today's show I will talk about an every day list. We'll look at what they are, how to make one, and how to make sure you do them. 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
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
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
I had thought to tackle something major this month, but honestly, I need something that is going to help me stay on track rather than something that is going to shake the foundations. And for that reason, I have decided that this month's 30 day challenge is going to be to plan the night before. MORE
Back about 10 years ago, multi-tasking was touted as the way to get more done. Doing two things at once is better than one, after all, right? Not so fast.(literally literally and figuratively!). When I first heard about multi-tasking, I really thought it was a good idea. 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
Not all tools can be used optimally by all people. This applies whether it is a physical tool like a hammer or a productivity system. Today we will look at an approach to allow you to get as much out of a tool as you can. I've always maintained that there is no magic bullet in productivity. MORE
130 For my monthly patron Q&A I was asked the question: "Do you put tasks on your calendar?" It's such a big question that I wanted to unpack that in a single episode, but I think it's also very important for people to hear. The post Podcast Episode 11 – Why You Shouldn’t Put Tasks on Your Calendar appeared first on Laura Earnest. Podcast 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
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
Teachers have an immensely difficult job. Faced with a classroom of children, they have to plan the lessons, produce the materials, manage the classroom and deal with the politics of the front office and parents. If a teacher is not productive, they end up working hours beyond their contract hours and adding to their stress burden. It has been four years since I entered the classroom to teach high school math. MORE
How many emails are in your inbox? How much time do you spend scanning over emails that are already seen, thinking about what you have to do to each one? Inbox zero, which is not the number of emails in your inbox, minimizes the time you spend in your inbox. 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
It has now been four years since my very short excursion into the world of education. The wounds have skinned over enough for me to talk about it, and so I wanted to take today to talk about why I am grateful for the worst boss I ever had. I'm going to call it a mid-life crisis. MORE
Over the summer, making deliberate choices about my life and activities have fallen by the side of the road. Not deliberately (no pun intended). It just has happened due to a lack of intention. MORE
Simple Productivity Blog
OCTOBER 13, 2019
It has now been four years since my very short excursion into the world of education. The wounds have skinned over enough for me to talk about it, and so I wanted to take today to talk about why I am grateful for the worst boss I ever had. I'm going to call it a mid-life crisis.
Simple Productivity Blog
OCTOBER 6, 2019
Not all tools can be used optimally by all people. This applies whether it is a physical tool like a hammer or a productivity system. Today we will look at an approach to allow you to get as much out of a tool as you can. I've always maintained that there is no magic bullet in productivity.
Simple Productivity Blog
OCTOBER 1, 2019
Life can get caught up in the day to day task list items. So much so that we forget about everything except crossing off the next item. In today's show I will talk about an every day list. We'll look at what they are, how to make one, and how to make sure you do them.
Simple Productivity Blog
OCTOBER 16, 2019
For my monthly patron Q&A I was asked the question: "Do you put tasks on your calendar?" It's such a big question that I wanted to unpack that in a single episode, but I think it's also very important for people to hear. The post Podcast Episode 11 – Why You Shouldn’t Put Tasks on Your Calendar appeared first on Laura Earnest. Podcast
Simple Productivity Blog
SEPTEMBER 30, 2019
I had thought to tackle something major this month, but honestly, I need something that is going to help me stay on track rather than something that is going to shake the foundations. And for that reason, I have decided that this month's 30 day challenge is going to be to plan the night before.
Simple Productivity Blog
SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
For my 30 Day Challenge this month, I did a spending freeze. As I talked about when I started it, I wanted to reduce the stuff I was bringing in to the house, and see if could manage to break my spending habit. It wasn't easy, but I got some great results. Read on for more details.
Simple Productivity Blog
SEPTEMBER 22, 2019
Back about 10 years ago, multi-tasking was touted as the way to get more done. Doing two things at once is better than one, after all, right? Not so fast.(literally literally and figuratively!). When I first heard about multi-tasking, I really thought it was a good idea.
Simple Productivity Blog
SEPTEMBER 15, 2019
Productivity advice can be found pretty much wherever you look. I was watching the Princess Bride a few days ago and realized how much of the movie can be applied to make my life more productive. I work on a team of men that constantly quotes movies.
Simple Productivity Blog
SEPTEMBER 10, 2019
Once a year I take a survey of my readers. I use this information to direct content over the next year. Please help me to help you by filling out the survey. The post 2019 Annual Reader Survey appeared first on Laura Earnest. Announcements
Simple Productivity Blog
SEPTEMBER 8, 2019
Over the summer, making deliberate choices about my life and activities have fallen by the side of the road. Not deliberately (no pun intended). It just has happened due to a lack of intention.
Simple Productivity Blog
AUGUST 31, 2019
My 30 Day Challenge for the month of September is a spending freeze involving no spending outside of the necessities. I will confess that I have a shopping habit. It's not for clothes or decoration or even anything big, but I still shop for a lot of stuff.
Simple Productivity Blog
AUGUST 30, 2019
I spent a month putting things away immediately - and found that not only were things neater, but my procrastination and stress went down too! The post 30 Day Challenge: Touch It Once Wrapup appeared first on Laura Earnest. 30 Day Challenge
Simple Productivity Blog
SEPTEMBER 1, 2019
Teachers have an immensely difficult job. Faced with a classroom of children, they have to plan the lessons, produce the materials, manage the classroom and deal with the politics of the front office and parents. If a teacher is not productive, they end up working hours beyond their contract hours and adding to their stress burden. It has been four years since I entered the classroom to teach high school math.
Simple Productivity Blog
AUGUST 25, 2019
How many emails are in your inbox? How much time do you spend scanning over emails that are already seen, thinking about what you have to do to each one? Inbox zero, which is not the number of emails in your inbox, minimizes the time you spend in your inbox.
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 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 28, 2019
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
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
SEPTEMBER 3, 2019
What happens when a goal doesn't fit who you are? Many of us are doggedly pursuing goals - and struggling - against them because they simply don't fit us. In today's episode I will talk about why a goal might not fit, how to spot them, and what to do about goals that just aren't right. The post Podcast Episode 8: What To Do When A Goal Doesn’t Fit appeared first on Laura Earnest. Podcast
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
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
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
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 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
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
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.
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