There Is NO Box » productivity

Log your work: Using Trac to untangle unclear tasks

David M. Doolin, PhD — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:40:57 +0000

There’s an interesting hole in the task management and productivity literature. The situation is when you know more or less what needs to be done, but not exactly how to do it, and from where you’re starting, it’s not clear in what order and how long each particular task will be. And the whole thing [...]

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Log your work: Using Trac to untangle unclear tasks

Tasking into hour long chunks

David M. Doolin, PhD — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 21:39:51 +0000

Hanging out on Twitter this morning, @jesseblayne made a remark about getting started. I replied with a more or less a blog post’s worth of info packed into 140 characters. This is that blog post. First, some benefits: Writing makes you think, thinking helps you learn. Having a list of tasks you know took one [...]

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Tasking into hour long chunks

Creating versus performing a process

David M. Doolin, PhD — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 16:55:05 +0000

I’ve had several screencast tasks hanging around in my todo list. So I just spent an hour and scripted 3 of them. They will be much easier to make now that I know what I want to say. Each are written “out by the numbers.” Sam Carpenter of CentraTel pounds repeatedly on the notion of [...]

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Creating versus performing a process

Morning Due Diligence — Making that first cup of coffee count!

David M. Doolin, PhD — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 20:21:06 +0000

What do you do in the morning? Surf the World Wide Web? Me too! Such a waste of time… or is it? Since you’re surfing it anyway, surf it with a purpose instead of wasting time looking for Paris Hilton’s latest antics (we miss you Paris!). Use that time to check up on your personal [...]

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Morning Due Diligence — Making that first cup of coffee count!

OpenOffice vs MS Word: Which is better?

David M. Doolin, PhD — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:37:50 +0000

I’ve purchased every edition of MS Office from before Office 95 through Office 2003. I’ve rarely used any of them. They have always been “required” purchases because everyone else uses them. This isn’t “peer pressure” because I don’t really care how other people format documents. Well, maybe it is peer pressure… of the most intense [...]

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OpenOffice vs MS Word: Which is better?

What To Do When You Have Too Much To Do

David M. Doolin, PhD — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:24:35 +0000

I have too much to do. My usual recourse (another cup of coffee) isn’t working. One thing I could do is write out a list of everything on your mind, the sort it out using Covey’s or Blanchard’s methods. Eben Pagan recommends this technique as part of his Wake Up Productive info course on productivity. [...]

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What To Do When You Have Too Much To Do

How Yoga Improves Productivity While Using Computers

David M. Doolin, PhD — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:31:02 +0000

I noticed something this morning as I was waiting for OpenOffice to stop “Not Responding.” Instead of checking email, RSS, or whatever else I do for distraction when some program on my computer (or the network) chokes, I simply waited. Yep. Just waited quietly for OpenOffice to do whatever it needed to do. Then got [...]

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How Yoga Improves Productivity While Using Computers

Practical Productivity Tip #3: Read RSS With Task List

David M. Doolin, PhD — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:44:45 +0000

Benefit: Save time copying and saving information for executing important tasks. Problem: The Web has a vast amount of information anyone can use to create successful businesses and products… if only you can remember the information when you need it! Research on the web is difficult because of tooo much information! Practical Productivity Tip: Read [...]

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Practical Productivity Tip #3: Read RSS With Task List

Practical Productivity Tip #2: Work on one thing until it’s done

David M. Doolin, PhD — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:03:08 +0000

Work on one project until it’s done. Another one of those great ideas which are easier said than done! Projects come in different sizes and shapes. Some projects may take an hour, some a lifetime. Don’t tackle more than one same-scale project at a time. Example: if you’re building your own home, don’t start another [...]

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Practical Productivity Tip #2: Work on one thing until it’s done

Practical Productivity Tip #1: Set an internal deadline and keep it

David M. Doolin, PhD — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:46:17 +0000

Here’s one point of view: When is a work of art finished? When it’s time for dinner. — Alexander Calder If getting stuff finished is like pulling teeth to you, all bloody and painful and messy, consider Calder’s method: Work on it until you’re finished working, then it’s done. Set yourself a time limit: “I’m [...]

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Practical Productivity Tip #1: Set an internal deadline and keep it

The Digital Tsunami: Dealing with ebook overload

David M. Doolin, PhD — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 18:32:38 +0000

At least a few of you are suffering from “ebook overload.” I know this to be true because you have told me so. I have a solution for you. A way to help you reduce the clutter. A way to know when you have enough. Because you won’t ever get around to reading – in [...]

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The Digital Tsunami: Dealing with ebook overload

Log Your Work: Tracking Your Time For Fun And Profit!

David M. Doolin, PhD — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:10:51 +0000

We need to back up a little here… we’re in the middle of an informal series of articles on time tracking, but I never told you why tracking your time might be a good idea… Keeping track of your time provides you with many benefits: You can periodically compare your actual progress with your anticipated, [...]

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Log Your Work: Tracking Your Time For Fun And Profit!