The second leg: Clutter
Posted by Jered | Filed under Clutter, Featured, Podcast
Image via Wikipedia
When Michael and I started the Simplicity Habit, we were initially focused on task and project management, but in the evolution of the site and lots of thinking, I have found the second leg of the Simplicity Habit.
Clutter.
Merlin Mann, GTD guru and author of 43folders.com, started writing about clutter a year ago, mentioning heavily the book It’s All Too Much
“People hold onto stuff like their kids’ old clothing as a way of holding onto the past. Or they keep things they think they might need someday as a way to control the future.”
The definition of “simple”, root of simplicity: having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved. Also, dim-witted: lacking mental capacity and devoid of subtlety, but don’t mind that.
How many times have piles of stuff stopped us from leading a simple life? How many projects get started, stopped and then sit on the corner of a desk, gathering dust? How much stuff makes your life difficult? How many times have going into your closet felt like a task?
Most of the posts at the Simplicity Habit have focused on tasks, for the second act, welcome discussion about clutter.
“People’s homes are a reflection of their lives. It is no accident that people have a huge weight problem in this country, and clutter is the same thing. Homes are an orgy of consumption.”
Tags: All Too Much, Clean Sweep, Clutter, Getting Things Done, introduction to clutter, It's All Too Much, Merlin Mann, peter walsh, TLC
KISS: Keep It Simple, Stupid or Keyboards In Simplicity Success
Posted by Jered | Filed under Recommended
Michael and I started the Simplicity Habit to break through the “top 10 list” syndrome that permeates the lifehacking ethos. While this post will have numbers and will be a list, it is only because these are programs which have been very helpful in my quest for productivity. Please consider this not a “top 10 list” but a series of personal recommendations.
- Mail Act-On
I am a keyboard shortcut guy. The less mouse work I can do, the better. As a Mail.app user, I want a way to manipulate my messages without having to drag-and-drop them to my Archive folder (yes, just one folder).Mail Act-On, from indev software, allows me to hit the ` (reverse tick, just below the Escape key), followed by a letter or other key and my mail is moved, colored or added to my GTD application.
Setup is simple, just create Mail.app Rules with special prefix and best of all, Mail Act-On is free.
There is a difficult Windows work around using Outlook and some scripting, if you want to try it out, go here: http://justgeeks.blogspot.com/2007/04/outlook-keyboard-shortcuts-or-button-to.html.
- Quicksilver
Being a keyboard shortcut guy, Quicksilver is invaluable. I can get to or do most of the things I need to do on my computer by simply invoking Quicksilver by a two key combination, start typing and abracadabra, I’m getting that though completed.Quicksilver can / is a huge program, it feels like I am continually just scratching the surface. The best way to learn about it is to read some of Merlin Mann’s posts or go to the developers website: http://www.blacktree.com/
Quicksilver is free and now open-source.
Launchy is a Windows alternative: http://launchy.net/
- OmniFocus
Michael and I went back and forth a little bit about the use of a dedicated Getting Things Done application. OmniFocus, from the OmniGroup is my application of choice. I have tried a lot of them. GTD Apps are like breakfast cereals, every person likes a different one. I could write about why I like OmniFocus, but it all depends on how you want your system to work. The ability to invoke a “Quick Add” window with a keyboard shortcut, makes it very convenient.OmniFocus is $79.99 from the OmniGroup: http://omnigroup.com.
The closest windows alternative to OmniFocus would be David Allen’s Getting Things Done Outlook Integration from davidco.com.
- 1Password
I have hundreds thousands of passwords to remember, email, logins, etc. A password manager is really useful and for the Mac 1Password is the best. 1Password allow me to automatically fill and sign into sites with a single keyboard shortcut (sensing a theme?).The added ability to fill forms, sync to multiple computers and putting those same passwords on my iPhone in a simple list and login script makes 1Password in valuable.
1Password costs $34.95 from http://1password.com/.
Roboform is the suggested Windows alternative: http://roboform.com
Tags: 1password, GTD, keyboard, keyboard shortcut, launchy, Mail Act-On, Mail.app, Merlin Mann, omnifocus, omnigroup, quicksilver, shortcut
The Simplicity Habit Podcast Episode 3
Posted by Michael | Filed under Featured, Podcast
Show Notes
For the week of April 27, 2008
We received our first listener email seeking some advice, so we decided to make it the topic of the entire episode. We offer some advice on approaches to productivity, keeping the focus on defining projects, rather than getting lost in the tasks. For the more visual among you, we suggest finding the biggest whiteboard you can, grabbing a few colored pens, and mindmapping your projects to literally get the bigger picture.
We’re going to try a new format, featuring weekly quick bites of productivity from the Simplicity Habit apple; just enough to get you ready for the main show now every other week.
People Mentioned
Gary Vaynerchuk - How to cut through the Noise? Great video on managing all the noise, from email, and Facebook, to Pownce, Twitter, and all the rest.
Merlin Mann - Merlin Mann on Time and Attention (Getting Things Done) Terrific video of a talk Merlin Mann gave at a Google TechTalks event.
Products Mentioned
Mindjet MindManager – Commercial application developed by Mindjet Corporation. Available for Windows and Mac.
FreeMind – Free alternative to MindManager. Java-based and open source. Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Enjoy!
Tags: David Allen, Gary Vaynerchuk, Getting Things Done, Merlin Mann, mindmapping, Podcast
Pzizz – sleeping to productivity?
Posted by Jered | Filed under 3-week tech trial
Image via Wikipedia
While recording the podcast, I mentioned that I had been using Pzizz to fall asleep quicker. Pzizz is a program available from pzizz.com, which uses Neuro Linguistic Programming to help you fall asleep faster and wake feeling more energized. Pzizz creates custom soundtracks to help ease the transition to sleep, by use of two modules, one for sleep and one for naps, both of which I have bought but I have only been using the sleep module. I have had a hard time integrating the nap module into my routine due to my working in a cubicle. I think my coworkers would find it odd to find my napping (Plus, I worry about the middle school pranks).
While the idea of napping / sleeping to productivity may sound odd, there are a good number of people who tinker with their sleep patterns who see an improvement in their productivity. Merlin Mann has written extensively on napping and sleeping at his blog 43folders.com. Tim Ferriss, author of the 4 Hour Work Week
Now, does using Pzizz or taking naps make it easier to get things done? No. Does it take items off of your task list? Definitely not. I can say from personal experience that I (and my wife) have been falling asleep quicker, sleeping better (even through pregnancy) and waking up with a little more energy, all of which can be attributed to Pzizz.
Download a trial nap and sleep from pzizz.com/download, put them on the mp3 player of your choice and I’ll see you in the morning.
Tags: Merlin Mann, nap, napping, Polyphasic Sleep, Pzizz, Sleep, sleeping, Steve Pavlina, Tim Ferriss
