Great thoughts on how distractions are the real barrier to productive work. Very in line with my own thoughts and journey moving from uber-GTD, then back to simple focus-based productivity. Instead of wrangling lists, now I filter out distractions. The simple method really is to pick a task, then spend time doing it until it’s done.

Lists are helpful to remember what to work on next, but if managing the list becomes the main task - you’ll never get much work done.

When you first turn on Google Tasks, you might not know what to do with the little guy. But I’ve found it’s a great mini notepad for all my email related work.

1. Give it a date. Then turn on Tasks Calendar in Google Calendar Example.  Now, Tasks show up like all-day events that you can check off. You can also hide the Full Column View in Calendar and just see the Events on the day they appear.
2. Load Tasks in your browser Firefox sidebar. If you are straight Gmail, use the url: http://mail.google.com/tasks/ig   If you are a Google Apps user, try: http://mail.google.com/tasks/a/replaceyourdomainhere.com/ig  Drag this to your Bookmarks Toolbar, then click and edit the Properties with the box checked for “Load this bookmark in the sidebar” Example. Your Sidebar will look fancy, like this.
3. Create a Task, Archive the email. In Gmail, click ‘More Actions’ > ‘Add to Tasks’ Example. Now you can archive that email and keep the task linked up. (Nice!)
4. Add Notes, Dates, and Emails! You can go to town with adding extra URLs in the Notes, Give it a Date. Just start with associating it with the email, since you can only achieve that through the Gmail ‘More Actions’ button.

Enjoy!

C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis (via annajoy)

In celebration of 6 years of time wasting (with our dearest friends!) Facebook posted another layout change. This took effect for me today, but luckily the folks of Facebook Fixer have already updated the script to work for the newest layout.

Not sure if you love the new Layout? Check out my example http://grab.by/2i2G. Once you’re ready to take the leap - here are the instructions to take the clutter out of Facebook:

First Download the Firefox add-on “Greasemonkey”: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/748

Then, download the Facebook Fixer script here: http://userscripts.org/scripts/source/8861.user.js

You may need to restart Firefox at some point in the above.

Then, in Facebook you can click Account > Facebook Fixer (see screenshot) http://grab.by/2i2R

Here are the settings that I personally use: http://grab.by/2i2V

“We’ve all lost huge chunks of time during the workday to unproductive activities. The following are three of the biggest time-wasting traps” via Unclutterer.com

Tools are means to an end. Technology, when matched to a complex task or harnessed to speed work along, can be a great tool.

So long as the tools chosen do not disconnect people. When a tool becomes a barrier for relationship, it’s time to pull the plug.

Paper and pen can work wonders during a meeting. Choose your tools well.

A great excerpt from Jared Matthew Kessler:

1. Own less so it won’t own you. I do this only using cash, living on a budget and living 100% debt free.
2. Empty yourself. Go through your closets. Get rid of everything you haven’t used in a year or more (donate it to a local charity or if you need some extra cash, sell it).
3. Don’t commute. Any of the jobs I’ve worked I couldn’t commute more than 30 minutes. For me, the money wasn’t worth the stress or hassle of being away from those I loved more than I needed to.
4. Smile while you talk. I learned this from a friend of a friend – and talk about hard work. It is at first, but you start to become good at it and the rest of the family will love you for it.

Read the full article, Simple Versus Complex Happiness on Zenfamilyhabits.net

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