This list is more about getting to know me than it is advice for increasing your own productivity. That said, I still think you could learn from it…
All work and no play is boring. Plain. Old. Boring. And, boredom equals burnout. I think it’s important to keep a little fun in our work to help avoid the burnout we all experience from time to time.
So, without further adieu, my three favorite productivity “tools”…
1. iTunes
If you’ve been on this site for more than three minutes and you haven’t guessed I like music, check your eyes. When I was growing up, homeschooled, my mother was constantly telling me to turn off the music during school. She said it would make me less productive and that I would concentrate better without it. I love you, Mom, but you’re wrong. Music is my driving force. It is the oil in my gears and without it, I don’t function properly.
2. Text Messages
Ok. I know you’re doing a double-take. How in the world could texting increase your productivity? you ask. Let me show you:
Phone rings: Friend starts with Hey, how are ya? What do you think of this lovely fall weather? We talk 5 minutes before I have any clue what she called about.
Text comes in: Sent you an email yesterday and it’s kind of important. Did you get it?
For me, texting is about saving time. It’s like a visual voicemail that allows me to read the message, make a decision about it’s urgency, and respond accordingly. When the phone rings with a call, I feel like I have to take it right then. When I get a text, I can respond on my time. Same with email.
3. Pleasant Surroundings
I’m pretty sure if you stuck me in a plain gray cubicle, I’d wither up and die… or at least my creativity would. I own a desk. In a corner. In my bedroom. I sit there to pay bills. The rest of my work time is spent in my livingroom, or on the front patio. In these places, I am surrounded by the things I love, either seasonal decor I’ve chosen or the beauty of nature in my front yard. I have a two year-old, so these areas aren’t always neat, but they are always pleasant. And, oftentimes, inspiring.
Sure, I have lots of software, websites, lists (I love lists) and actual tools that increase my productivity and allow me to multi-task, but without the above three things, the others would be of little use.
Share!
What are your productivity helpers? Chocolate? (my honorary #4!) daily coffee run or walk in the park?
Ohhh I love this. Love your new handy stuff at the bottom too. Very neat. My top three productivity tools: Blackberry, Gmail (for all my emails pulled in at one place) and hmmmm….a To do list is a must!
Ohhh I love this. Love your new handy stuff at the bottom too. Very neat. My top three productivity tools: Blackberry, Gmail (for all my emails pulled in at one place) and hmmmm….a To do list is a must!
Well, it was not the first time I was wrong.
BTW, your siblings listen to music while they do their school work. It is kind of hard to tap your pencil to the beat and write at the same time, but they manage to get enough done.
MOM
I can tap my foot, and write with my pencil. That’s like rubbing your tummy while patting your head, right? See! I am talented!! hehe
Well, it was not the first time I was wrong.
BTW, your siblings listen to music while they do their school work. It is kind of hard to tap your pencil to the beat and write at the same time, but they manage to get enough done.
MOM
I can tap my foot, and write with my pencil. That’s like rubbing your tummy while patting your head, right? See! I am talented!! hehe
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Itunes used to be my #1 productivity tool but unfortunately it has become so bloated and such a memory hound that if you do anything else while Itunes is playing the songs stutter.
Definitely music and surroundings are a huge impact for me to be productive.
Itunes used to be my #1 productivity tool but unfortunately it has become so bloated and such a memory hound that if you do anything else while Itunes is playing the songs stutter.
Definitely music and surroundings are a huge impact for me to be productive.
I never thought of these 3 as productivity tools. Wow, what a great way to think. I’ll never look at iTunes as a time suck now
I never thought of these 3 as productivity tools. Wow, what a great way to think. I’ll never look at iTunes as a time suck now
Excellent points! Something we don’t often think of, but definitely contributes to productivity! For music, I love Pandora.com and my favorite surroundings for getting web work done is a coffee shop. My home office offers too many distractions. Great post…found you via ProBlogger.
Excellent points! Something we don’t often think of, but definitely contributes to productivity! For music, I love Pandora.com and my favorite surroundings for getting web work done is a coffee shop. My home office offers too many distractions. Great post…found you via ProBlogger.
Rick, Pandora is another one I love! Also quite fond of plain old radio.
I’d love to work at the local coffee shop. Wait. I did. for a year. I should say, I’d love to return there as a customer and work in their sitting area.
The smell of coffee and the great atmosphere is great for the creative mind. But, alas, they have no childcare for my 2 yr old! haha
Rick, Pandora is another one I love! Also quite fond of plain old radio.
I’d love to work at the local coffee shop. Wait. I did. for a year. I should say, I’d love to return there as a customer and work in their sitting area.
The smell of coffee and the great atmosphere is great for the creative mind. But, alas, they have no childcare for my 2 yr old! haha
Dipankar,
LOL @ iTunes as a time-suck. As my mother pointed out, tapping one’s pencil to the beat of the music would be unproductive. Music can either me wonderful, or distracting. Depends on how you funnel the energy it provides.
Dipankar,
LOL @ iTunes as a time-suck. As my mother pointed out, tapping one’s pencil to the beat of the music would be unproductive. Music can either me wonderful, or distracting. Depends on how you funnel the energy it provides.
Talen,
I have never had problems with iTunes slowing down my computer and I hope I never do!!! I love it too much!
Talen,
I have never had problems with iTunes slowing down my computer and I hope I never do!!! I love it too much!
Couple of things.
I can honestly say that I don’t like iTunes. I have had many problems with it in the past and in the present, not to mention completely losing my library of music on more than a couple of occasions.
Text messages are amazing though. I SMS all of the time, it saves me a lot of time in the long run.
Also, damn does your Pre look in good shape! The plastic that surrounds the keyboard on mine is toasted; there are scratches and nicks everywhere on it. Did you shine it for the photo-shoot? Or is it just two hours old?
Couple of things.
I can honestly say that I don’t like iTunes. I have had many problems with it in the past and in the present, not to mention completely losing my library of music on more than a couple of occasions.
Text messages are amazing though. I SMS all of the time, it saves me a lot of time in the long run.
Also, damn does your Pre look in good shape! The plastic that surrounds the keyboard on mine is toasted; there are scratches and nicks everywhere on it. Did you shine it for the photo-shoot? Or is it just two hours old?
Chris,
Yes, that pic of my Palm Pre was taken just after I pulled it out of the box. However, it still looks like that 3 months later. Sorry to hear yours is looking bad.
I love my Pre!
Hmmn. Another person with iTunes problems?!?!? Now I’m scared. I really don’t have a lot in mine right now, so maybe that’s why I’m still ok?