ARoundTuit Organizing & Productivity

No, That’s not a typo.  StayFocusd is an app available through the Chrome Web Store.  I.Love.It.

An important part of my job is staying on the cutting edge of productivity products and research.  You wouldn’t believe how much there is to learn about attention, perception, learning and communication styles.  I dedicate several hours a week to reading up on these topics.   My job is also to try out productivity apps and software, so I can make appropriate recommendations to my clients.

Tell me you know someone who … Continue Reading

Over the past 4 years, I’ve been waging a passive war against all things Microsoft.  Maybe I’m just bitter to still be working mainly off a 5-lb laptop “equipped” with Windows Vista (much like a donkey is equipped with a full load that will eventually break its back).  Each update brings at least one noticeable new glitch.  With an average of one update per month, over several years.. you get the picture.  This did nothing for my productivity.  In fact, the psychological stress of it all was bringing me down.

First, … Continue Reading

It’s in the most critical situations when the Elements of Productivity are the most apparent.   Mood, wellness and motivation are the first to jump ship.  Worse, negativity we let in during these hard times spreads to other projects and people, sucking in everything in its path.  And its all downhill from there.

When you can no longer control what happens, you can still control how you react to it.  In the very worst of situations, your attitude may well be the only thing you … Continue Reading

I first learned about the TimeTimer while researching time-awareness and attention aids for children with developmental disabilities.  Difficulty sustaining attention (with or without a diagnosis) is a hallmark of modern life.  With so many competing priorities, and (way!) too much information coming our way at all times, many people find it difficult to simply hanker down and get done what matters most.

The TimeTimer is simple and effective.  Unlike a standard alarm, the TimeTimer allows you to visually track your time without having to read it. … Continue Reading

What’s Your Worst Workplace Distraction?
(polls)

According to a 2005 study published by the University of London Institute of Psychiatry, “ Workers distracted by email and phone calls suffer a fall in IQ more than twice that found in marijuana smokers”.

The most benign interruptions have a similar effect on productivity as arriving at a 4-way-stop intersection. It is just not possible to make frequent stops and maintain speed at the same time.  So, even if you don’t get lost, you’re still not making very good time.

Frequently, repeat interruptions create a sort of panic effect, causing a … Continue Reading

What comes to mind when you hear “productivity”?

My best information comes from my clients, and people I speak to casually about my work.  The words “multitasking”, “information overload”,  ”time management”, and “clutter” are all parts of a recurring theme.  Too much coming in, need to increase what goes out.  This, is true.  However, the elements of productivity work together in a way you may not have imagined.

What does all this have to do with cellular biology?

Productivity is like a cell, with complex inter-dependent workings inside.  Both are influenced by a broad … Continue Reading

If you aren’t yet familiar with Randy Pausch’s lecture on Time Managmenet, you are in for an amazing treat.  As Randy said, “what counts is not to getting more done, it’s to get the right things done”.

This is potentially the most impactful 1 hour and 16 minutes you will experience today, or even this week or month.  Hopefully, it will mold the way you consider the value of your time, and of time management.

Just click on this blog entry’s title to view the video.  Or, download the MP3 and listen to it … Continue Reading

There is no shortage of information available on procrastination.  Amazon.com lists 50 titles of self-help books addressing different aspects of procrastination.  Now, if I’m late on a project deadline, the last thing I need is to snuggle in with a book.

I’d like to empower you by telling you that not procrastinating is entirely a matter of decision.  That is to say, procrastination is a result of indecision, more than anything else. Fear, fatigue, perfectionism, disorganization, poor time management, discomfort, and distractions make decision making even harder, but the … Continue Reading

Will Google Voice be the end of voice mail as we know it?  No more waiting to be in a quiet place, or to have a pen that works to write down messages?  No more struggling to catch just the key information?

Google Voice is the planned upgrade from www.grandcentral.com – Google’s one-stop-shop for Google technology on your mobile phone.  According to the Google Voice website, the app will be available shortly.  If you want to be notified of it’s arrival, just enter your e-mail address on the … Continue Reading