I do have one filing cabinet but I put it all the way across the room. That way I am more tempted to throw things away than I am to file them. I don’t even remember the last time I fetched something from a file. Most of the stuff is digital anyway and if you use Google Desktop you can track down just about everything.

On the calendar–you are totally right. I like to alternate colors each day so I know when something isn’t being erased immediately.

Thanks for the comment, appreciate the read.

Notes on pads: I’ve seen many clients who do this, but get very behind. The problem is they don’t process the new notes after the meeting/class/session. This then leaves them with a backlog of untracked actions and delegation…

Whiteboards: I like them for this purpose – a temporary daily todo list, but I’ve seen them get clogged with action or important notes, then you get the “DON’T ERASE” meta-note at the top I teach clients to use them as capture devices, which therefore need regular emptying. They can also get in the way of keeping a running “master” todo list, which is what I recommend.

Email drafts for action reminders: This is fine as long as you check the drafts folder regularly. Also, it’s one more place to keep action reminders, in addition to your other (non-email) system (paper, on-line todos, whiteboard, etc.)

Desk calendar: I *love* the Seinfeld tip – very nice for motivating creating new habits. Thanks! Regarding the desktop format, I suggest something portable. If I don’t have my calendar with me, I risk missing appointments, or creating them when I’m out that I later realize conflict with an existing one.

Post-It notes: I strongly suggest reading “Twenty-Five Years of Post-it Notes” (http://www.rakemag.com/stories/printable.aspx?itemID=5383&catID=146&SelectCatID=146) A fascinating and fun read!

Question: How do you use the post-it notes?

Thanks again!

Cancel your cable service. All the greatest shows can be downloaded: Entourage, West Wing, The Wire, Dog whisperer. The rest are just crap, not worth your time. Important Sporting events can be seen at bars. TV is a waste of life.

- We like to drink…a lot.

- If we are never given a deadline it WILL NOT happen.

- Most of our best work is done in the thirty minutes before deadline.

- We spend hours upon hours on the net and can find just about anything.

Your post struck a cord with me this morning as I was struggling to be productive. I find that most times I have too many ideas and trying to write about just one thing seems impossible.

As I find links for my posts I tend to get sidetracked and next thing I know, I’m watching a Youtube video of some kid and the five-second rule. Funny? Yes. Productive? No.

One of my favorite tricks is to write when I want to write and play when I want to play. Obviously you can’t do that all the time, but finding a balance is key. Writers who are forced to write tend to write poorly I find. And when you want to play, you usually can end up with something to write about.

Nice Post.

Everytime I write a blog post or complete some unspecified task, I reward myself by playing frisbee with my friends, or go to the basketball court and practice layup drills, or starting up that new book I’ve been meaning to read. Then after you’ve exhausted yourself in that, get back to the next task at hand. It’s crazy how your productivity goes up when you feel as if you have something to look forward to.

Separate what you need to do from what you want to do and balance out these activities. It becomes more fun than just identifying task after task. Hell, you can even mix it up and make “Talk to cute girl in my class and ask her to lunch” a need task, and reward yourself afterward whether you succeed or fail at it. Because what do people need more from in life than forging new relationships?

Never watch the football game and do homework at the same time. Thinking I could fit work into the commercial break was fantasy.

I use two separate bookmark toolbars in firefox for school and non-school. I think you said somewhere you would get into a hours long cycle of wiki or email?

Noise cancelling headphones when you can’t avoid background noise.

If you want something done (right), chances are you have to do it yourself unless you work in a magical world where people do their jobs promptly and efficiently.

I also do as much as I can the night before to prepare for anything. Lay out my clothes, get everything organized, find cell phone, keys, wallet. That way you won’t be surprised an hour before the interview that you can’t find your keys.

I put my keys, wallet, cell phone in the same place every time because I know I will lose them if I don’t.

I slightly overestimate when I can be somewhere or when I can do tasks for other people so that if I hit a snag I can still be fine. And if I don’t, I finished early.