Category: Notes
Being what most would simply call ‘blog posts’. Quick posts [usually] about a single idea.
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‘Create’ Free Time By Being Early
Here’s a great way to develop a positive trait and steal back some precious free moments all in one move: get comfortable with waiting. Punctuality is never looked upon poorly, no matter what your fashionably late friends may try to tell you. However, being early can leave you in the awkward position of having nothing […]
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Build A Custom ‘Inflow’ To Stay On Top Of Things
The internet is full of interesting things (including this blog!). So many interesting things, in fact, that the line between staying informed and falling into a bottomless pit of distraction is sometimes difficult to distinguish. How can you stay on top of the things that matter most to you and avoid the distraction trap? By […]
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Coping With Ignorance, Better Brainstorming, A Ticking Clock
This weekend: cope with not being the smartest person in the room, execute better (and less painful) group brainstorming sessions and get served constant reminders of your mortality (in the name of wasting less time, naturally). 7 Tips for Working With People Who Are Smarter Than You (via) We’re not always going to be the […]
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You Can’t Create A New World Until You Handle This One
On Monday we discussed the importance of establishing a productivity system that will turn our many inputs into valuable outputs. David Allen, the author of Getting Things Done, recently offered this reminder about just how important these systems are: Not optimally handling the world you’ve created, right now, produces deep resistance to creating a new one. […]
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You Need A System To Convert Inputs Into Outputs
Last week I discussed the value of segmenting your time into ‘input mode’ and ‘output mode’ in order to stay focused on getting things done. If you talk about input and output with an engineer or a manufacturer, they’ll tell you that a system is what bridges the two – that funnelling input through a […]
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Rockin’ Productivity, Self-Compassion, Noble Pursuits
This weekend: rock and roll productivity, the importance (and one method) of practicing self-compassion, and perspective toward our problem-solving efforts. The Best Productivity Tricks You Can Learn From Rock Stars I love personal development ideas that come from non-traditional sources. This is a great piece from Lifehacker featuring tips from Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney and other musicians, […]
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Step Away From Your Desk To Be More Productive
Here’s a notion that I shouldn’t have to sell very hard: taking breaks will actually improve your focus, enhancing your productivity and fueling creativity (via). We now understand the importance of “output mode”, a state of productivity in which we ignore inputs and focus only on creation. What this research suggests is that we must regularly step […]
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Enter ‘Output Mode’ To Realize Your Vision
It can sometimes be difficult to know if you’re making progress on your larger goals. Without checkpoints along the way it’s easy to feel as though your effort isn’t yielding results. This is especially true within creative projects. A painter may scrap a dozen attempts at a piece before finally seeing one through to completion, […]
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ToVa Weekend: Single-Tasking, Grad School, Anxiety
This weekend: ditch multitasking in favor of single-tasking and you might just live longer, a few things to ponder before going to graduate school and tricks to help handle anxiety. Why Single-Tasking Makes You Smarter (via) There has long been an emphasis on being an effective multitasker – go have a look at help wanted […]
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Which Shoe Will You Put On First?
You don’t ask a fussy toddler whether she wants to put her shoes on: you ask which shoe she wants to put on first. This quote was cited by Christina Xu as being the best advice she ever received and it’s easy to see why. Are we all not the fussy toddler from time to […]