Getting Things Done
Mid-April GTD Links
After having my head down with the Engadget / AOL Tech launch for the last month, I’ve been neglecting organization and pretty much… everything else except for my family. It’s been refreshing to get back into the groove. The inbox is cleaned out, my desktop (computer and physical) is clean again, and I’m starting to communicate with the outside world :)
There were some very good articles backlogged in my feed reader from that time. (most via Lifehacker, Unclutterer, Diethack, and Zen Habits)
- How To Cope With A Stressful Life - very helpful read to me :)
- 8 Little-known techniques to help you burn more fat and calories - going to try and start incorporating these into my diet
- From 10000 to 0 e-mails in an inbox in 24 hours - It is possible. Do it.
- Bringing your bookshelves back to order - constant point of difference between the wife and I :)
Big News Coming Soon (And I’m Still Getting Things Done)
(In case you missed the other big news going on right now: we’re expecting again :) This will be #2 for us. Due in October. We’re very excited and incredibly blessed. We’d appreciate prayers, if you’re the praying type.)
I’ve been pretty quite on the Internets recently. Been “heads-down” on a huge project ever since SXSW. I’ll get to talk about it towards the end of the week :) I can vouch for the absolute productivity boost of remaining off twitter, out of Facebook/other soc.net sites, and staying invisible or offline of your IM. I wonder how people used to work in the days before these things…
I’m still continuing to study and practice “getting things done” methodology. Focusing mostly on staying de-cluttered. This has had the effect of vastly freeing up a part of my brain I didn’t know was occupied. Here are some recent good links along that line.
GTD: Discardia, Controlling Cravings, Insomnia, and more
So I’m on my way to becoming a full out Lifehack link blog. Sweet. Maybe someday I’ll get back to writing about Web design. There is much to be said. Until then:
12 Essential Rules to Live More Like a Zen Monk
Living like a Zen Monk is not a big deal for me, however, some of these rules would definitely seem to make for a nicer, more productive life, I think.
Turn your insomnia into ultra-productive time. It is easier to get into a state of “flow” (or: hack mode) when no one and nothing is bothering you late at night. I did this for quite awhile about a year ago, out of necessity, not insomnia. Use carefully, however, as it lead to burnout for me.
Some good Q&A with the founder of lifehacker.com.
10 ways to control your cravings
Tips for overcoming your hunger cravings (and thusly, losing weight, or sticking to diets).
A holiday season for getting rid of stuff. Awesome. I think I will start celebrating it. Some of the more philosophical aspects of it however: guilt, etc, can only be gotten rid of by what we are celebrating in this current season: Easter, and Jesus’ resurrection and victory over death.
Happy Easter, everyone :)
GTD Update and Links
It’s Spring cleaning time. This weekend I was busy uncluttering my life and minimalising my surroundings (starting with my desk). I tightened down my schedule, started a good To Do list system with Things (and pen and paper), reconciled my bank accounts for the last year (I use Mvelopes to keep track of my finances. Great program), and my wife and I have started a crusade against junk/clutter/hoarding.
I’m feeling great. My mind is already freer, I’m feeling less stress, and more ability to focus. I heartily recommend a GTD system and minimalist life style. I have a ways to go yet, but we’re making progress.
Some great links from the last couple days on various GTD-related sites I’m starting to visit after the jump.
GTD Links of the day
Download Sample Excerpts of “Upgrade Your Life”
I got to meet Gina Trapani at SXSW, very cool. Oddly, motivating to get GTD working for me. I’m going to pick up her book, here are some links to some free excerpts.
speaking of…
The Best of Lifehacker in Upgrade Your Life
From the post:
I’ve pulled together links to all the past posts that informed each book chapter to give you a one-stop preview of what’s inside that cover. Consider this post the unedited web version of the book.
Patterns for e-mail as work conversation
One of the downfalls of the “inbox zero” method is if you work in a company that relies on E-mail for consistent communication, conversation, and avoiding meetings (such as the company I work for). Here are some tips for implementing Inbox Zero in this type of environment.
How To Make Time For Your Personal Goals
I came back from SXSW with a few new personal goals to add to my pile of current personal goals. This list of 11 tips is going to be extremely useful to me.
How My Net Worth Went from $-40,000 to $285,000 in Five Years
Not a GTD tip specifically, but I think I will be posting financial tips here as well. Great article on 6 things this person implemented to grow their net worth dramatically without a get-rich-quick scheme or hitting it rich on the stock market or lottery. Very Dave Ramsey-ish
Bigger Monitors = More Productivity
What a found:
People using the 24-inch screen completed the tasks 52% faster than people who used the 18-inch monitor; people who used the two 20-inch monitors were 44% faster than those with the 18-inch ones. There is an upper limit, however: Productivity dropped off again when people used a 26-inch screen.
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