Comments on: 44 Ways To Improve Your Productivity http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/01/17/44-ways-to-improve-your-productivity/ Bridging the gap between saving money and investing Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:57:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: » I’m in San Francisco for a Few Days, So Read These Blogs on Consumerism Commentary: A Personal Finance Blog http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/01/17/44-ways-to-improve-your-productivity/#comment-272966 » I’m in San Francisco for a Few Days, So Read These Blogs on Consumerism Commentary: A Personal Finance Blog Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:34:52 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/01/17/44-ways-to-improve-your-productivity/#comment-272966 [...] 44 Ways to Improve Your Productivity. Jeffrey Strain provides examples of a variety of aspects of his life that makes him more productive. For example, he doesn’t watch television, he writes lists, and he doesn’t take breaks from working at the computer. I hate to say it, but in some ways, the “productivity” movement has to be one of the most disappointing aspects of American culture. [...] […] 44 Ways to Improve Your Productivity. Jeffrey Strain provides examples of a variety of aspects of his life that makes him more productive. For example, he doesn’t watch television, he writes lists, and he doesn’t take breaks from working at the computer. I hate to say it, but in some ways, the “productivity” movement has to be one of the most disappointing aspects of American culture. […]

]]> By: Dave http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/01/17/44-ways-to-improve-your-productivity/#comment-225195 Dave Sat, 26 Jan 2008 16:08:27 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/01/17/44-ways-to-improve-your-productivity/#comment-225195 That's a very interesting list. I have followed some of that advice in the past and it has worked for me quite well. I have also stopped following some of it and seen my productivity drop. I had some thoughts that I would like to add: If you use TiVo or something similar, you can still watch TV but avoid the ads. You can roughly halve the amount of time you spend sitting in front of the box without missing any of your favourite shows. Be careful though, because TiVo will record new shows based on what you watch and you may just end up watching more TV. Stumbleupon is a big time waster. That's how I found this site and now that I look back at today, I realise that I've barely achieved anything other than reading a bunch of websites. This is much like your "Limit time reading the news" item. You must consciously make a decision about how much time you will spend doing this and stick to that time. Not everyone likes carrying a notepad around with them but nearly everyone has a mobile phone. Most newer mobile phones have the ability to store notes. You can use this feature to record your good ideas when you are not near your computer. I also rip corners off newspapers to jot notes on with the pen I always carry with me. That’s a very interesting list. I have followed some of that advice in the past and it has worked for me quite well. I have also stopped following some of it and seen my productivity drop.

I had some thoughts that I would like to add:

If you use TiVo or something similar, you can still watch TV but avoid the ads. You can roughly halve the amount of time you spend sitting in front of the box without missing any of your favourite shows. Be careful though, because TiVo will record new shows based on what you watch and you may just end up watching more TV.

Stumbleupon is a big time waster. That’s how I found this site and now that I look back at today, I realise that I’ve barely achieved anything other than reading a bunch of websites. This is much like your “Limit time reading the news” item. You must consciously make a decision about how much time you will spend doing this and stick to that time.

Not everyone likes carrying a notepad around with them but nearly everyone has a mobile phone. Most newer mobile phones have the ability to store notes. You can use this feature to record your good ideas when you are not near your computer. I also rip corners off newspapers to jot notes on with the pen I always carry with me.

]]> By: expression http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/01/17/44-ways-to-improve-your-productivity/#comment-224631 expression Sat, 26 Jan 2008 04:09:37 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/01/17/44-ways-to-improve-your-productivity/#comment-224631 It would have been a lot more productive for me if you had condensed this list down so it wasn’t so long. Lol - seconded. It would have been a lot more productive for me if you had condensed this list down so it wasn’t so long.

Lol - seconded.

]]> By: counterpoint http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/01/17/44-ways-to-improve-your-productivity/#comment-218850 counterpoint Sun, 20 Jan 2008 08:21:58 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/01/17/44-ways-to-improve-your-productivity/#comment-218850 It would have been a lot more productive for me if you had condensed this list down so it wasn't so long. It would have been a lot more productive for me if you had condensed this list down so it wasn’t so long.

]]> By: ben http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/01/17/44-ways-to-improve-your-productivity/#comment-218831 ben Sun, 20 Jan 2008 07:49:36 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/01/17/44-ways-to-improve-your-productivity/#comment-218831 It's not bad being lazy as long as you aren't lazy too much. I love being lazy and If I could, I'd spend a lot more time being lazy :) It’s not bad being lazy as long as you aren’t lazy too much. I love being lazy and If I could, I’d spend a lot more time being lazy :)

]]> By: fathersez http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/01/17/44-ways-to-improve-your-productivity/#comment-217821 fathersez Sat, 19 Jan 2008 10:05:19 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/01/17/44-ways-to-improve-your-productivity/#comment-217821 I follow a number of items on your list. Stopping TV has been a real time generator. I fail on caffeine though. Drinking too much coffee. Must make an effort to cut down. I follow a number of items on your list. Stopping TV has been a real time generator.

I fail on caffeine though. Drinking too much coffee. Must make an effort to cut down.

]]> By: greenday http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/01/17/44-ways-to-improve-your-productivity/#comment-217124 greenday Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:38:37 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/01/17/44-ways-to-improve-your-productivity/#comment-217124 Great list with a number of things that I need to add to my routine. I need to especially work on getting to bed at a decent hour. I am always waking up tired and I know this ruins the work for the day... Great list with a number of things that I need to add to my routine. I need to especially work on getting to bed at a decent hour. I am always waking up tired and I know this ruins the work for the day…

]]> By: livingplanet http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/01/17/44-ways-to-improve-your-productivity/#comment-217116 livingplanet Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:26:17 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/01/17/44-ways-to-improve-your-productivity/#comment-217116 good one. disagree though with the coffee habit; since i make my own and don't buy it from cafes except when i meet with someone... one thing i do to start my day right is either a short prayer or for the non-religous, some form of meditation. it sets the mood right and/or generates positive energy somehow for me...read that some of the most productive people do some form of contemplation at dawn or after waking up... good one. disagree though with the coffee habit; since i make my own and don’t buy it from cafes except when i meet with someone…

one thing i do to start my day right is either a short prayer or for the non-religous, some form of meditation. it sets the mood right and/or generates positive energy somehow for me…read that some of the most productive people do some form of contemplation at dawn or after waking up…

]]> By: baselle http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/01/17/44-ways-to-improve-your-productivity/#comment-216792 baselle Fri, 18 Jan 2008 05:48:50 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/01/17/44-ways-to-improve-your-productivity/#comment-216792 I follow a number of these the walk limit caffeine - one cup before 10am baths lunch away from the computer limit multi-tasking no cell phone turning off Outlook completely (turns off the instant messaging "feature") being punctual However, I still have a bad TV habit and I need to figure out how to work around un-productive friends who aren't punctual, have cell phones and multitask. I follow a number of these
the walk
limit caffeine - one cup before 10am
baths
lunch away from the computer
limit multi-tasking
no cell phone
turning off Outlook completely (turns off the instant messaging “feature”)
being punctual

However, I still have a bad TV habit and I need to figure out how to work around un-productive friends who aren’t punctual, have cell phones and multitask.

]]> By: zenith http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/01/17/44-ways-to-improve-your-productivity/#comment-216505 zenith Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:58:28 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/01/17/44-ways-to-improve-your-productivity/#comment-216505 I really agree with you about taking a walk to work out problems. I don't know why, but that really works to clear my mind and I always come up with ways to solve my problems. Great list! I really agree with you about taking a walk to work out problems. I don’t know why, but that really works to clear my mind and I always come up with ways to solve my problems.
Great list!

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