Productivity and Time Management

A) Software tools

Trello

TogglDesktop

Evernote

TimeOut

B) From "The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload" by Daniel J. Levitin

Management

1) take "hard copy" to do lists (pen and paper/notebook). Top honchos do it too.

2) a) things to do today, b) things to do this week, c) can wait and junk

3) constantly evaluate list in 2) and reshuffle based on changing priorities

4) coloured index cards

Managing social networks/friends/colleagues

1) Whenever you meet someone new write down the context in which you met them (when, where, what they do, etc)

2) set recurring reminders to email/get in touch with friends etc every 2 months

Organizing our time

1) Break up large job into small manageable chunks

2) Multi-tasking is hard: the constant back and forth is metabolism-consuming. So group similar tasks together; email, chores, pay bills, etc.

3) Set aside time for "unitasking"; no distractions, just one task (writing, creative process, etc)

4) sleep is important for “assimilation”; do not neglect

5) Procrastinating: do it now; do the most unpleasant tasks first thing in the morning to get it out of the way

6) Creative work: flow state: no fear; healthy medium between boredom and anxiety

7) Creative work: when you get an idea/brainstorm drop whatever you are doing and write it down immediately, carry a notebook with you always.

8) “mind clearing exercise”: if there are any things which are bothering you, you thin you may forget, write it down immediately. It lets you focus.

9) “five minute rule”; if there is something I can do in 5 minutes now, do it right now. Else prioritize and do later. Set aside time each day for dealing with these things.

Organizing information for hard decisions

1) decisions you can make right now

2) decisions you can delegate (someone else has more time/expertise)

3) decisions for which you have all information but need time to digest

4) decisions for which you need more information

Miscellaneous

1) One can be creative even while working under constraints. Mozart did not invent the symphony; he worked within the tight constraints of the tonal system.

2) Power of dreams and daydreams in creativity

Terrence Tao's advice on productivity (link)