I totally agree – short term/long term goals list (I use OS X’s Stickies application for this), shutting off email/twitter (that’s critical, otherwise I allow myself to become distracted easily), and mini-breaks (gotta exercise the dog:) ).

Then a “long term” list of todos that I work on over time, hoping to finish them off eventually (like book keeping, or just maintenance related work).

I try to shut off email/twitter/etc… during the blocks of time when I’m working on the short list, but frequent mini breaks are required to check email/fill the coffee mug/etc…

Thanks for the tip!

My first product was a site called SendAlong.com. You can see what is left of it at http://www.sendalong.com. I actually just shut this site down. I’m planning on writing a series of posts about what it was, why I did it, and why it ultimately was shut down. Stay tuned.

My latest tweaking of my work habits is to limit multi-tasking. I’ve read a few things about the false efficiencies of multi-tasking. I guess true multi-tasking (performing multiple tasks at the same time) isn’t possible, you can’t do two things simultaneously, you’re just time slicing your focus. I don’t do multi-tasking very well, but at the same time, it is difficult to give 100% focus. There might be a little ADD involved too.

I think your blog said the app your creating now is your second. What was the first? If it’s explained in your blog history – which one would I read.

ed

I read GTD a year or two back and enjoyed it. I liked the idea that you mentioned – getting tasks down on paper or some system so they’re not cluttering up your thoughts while you’re trying to concentrate. The book lost me a bit when it described the really complex filing system (a folder for every day of the month if I recall correctly). But I really like the core ideas behind the system.

I actually use Stickies, and application that comes with OS X, as my main organizer. It works surprisingly well. I do need to get couple temporary collectors though. I find that if I come up with an idea and I’m not in front of my computer that I’ll typically forget about it.

The author says that most of the time we aren’t working efficiently because a part of our brain isn’t focused on the task at hand. To be totally in the “flow” requires freeing the brain from its to-do list, (also called open loops, or clutter, or hooks.)

Clutter: is the mental to-do list that is at the conscious and unconscious level. It keeps us from focusing on the task at hand and getting in the “flow”.

Most of us store our to-do list in a scattered manner: in our brain, post-it notes, calendars, organizers, etc.

Solution: Log all tasks into a single organizer of your choice. This could be a pad of paper or any PC or mobile device task organizer. We need temporary collecters as well, becuase we don’t always have access to our main organizer. Have a limited number of temporary collectors and move the tasks to the main organizer as soon as possible. These are my tools:
- Outlook Tasks: my main organizer.
- Temporary collectors: note pad in the bathroom, voice notes on my phone.

To be most effective, the task entry into your organizer needs enough clarity to free your memory. If you don’t have a little detail associated to the task, your brain will keep working on it unconsciously: Example:
- Poorly Defined Task: Work on the Marketing Video
- Well Defined Task: Create draft story board for the video
and call videographer to review it before Friday.

I just checked out the Pomodoro Technique. It looks pretty interesting, and I think I’ll give part of it a try. It looks like there is a lot of recording and evaluation aimed at improving productivity. I’m not a big fan of all that note taking, but I am going to give the 25 minute work – 5 minute break a try. I like the reasoning behind it: the 5 minute break gives your mind time to assimilate the 25 minutes of work you’ve just done.

I installed http://www.rescuetime.com/ yesterday. It looks interesting, though I haven’t viewed any of the reports yet. I’m giving it a few days to marinate.

Thanks for the tip on Pomodoro.