• Productivity

    Do Productivity Tools Really Work?

    Most of us have a whole lot of techniques for ways to get things done. Roles, goals, next action lists, someday/maybe lists, closed lists, timers, distraction blockers and most-important-tasks are some examples of these. These techniques fill a toolbox, and often times people will bicker about which tool is best. There are some basics points that should be considered:

  • Productivity

    The Whys of Productivity: Processing

    Gathering everything you need to give attention to is crucial to productivity; however, until you actually give it attention, your stuff won't be anything more than a pile crying out to you. GTD addresses this during the weekly review and the clearing of the inboxes. Seven Habits doesn't address it, but the underlying assumption is that you are aware of what is going on in your life. Do It Tomorrow is all about putting things into your work for tomorrow, and keeping up with the inflow. In this segment of "The Whys of Productivity", we will look at why productivity systems all want us to process all the things we have gathered.

  • Productivity,  Simplify

    The Whys of Productivity: Minimizing Capture Locations

    Every system out there, particularly those that are dependent on a specific format and/or planner, advocate putting everything in one place. Some systems insist that the only place to put things is in their product; GTD advocates a more realistic approach: minimizing how many places you put stuff. Looking at this from a practical standpoint, it makes sense that the fewer places you put things, the fewer places you have to keep track of.