Articles tagged "Personal productivity"

The Power of Silence: Why You Need Less Noise for Work and Your Health

Shhh. Hear that? No? That's surprising. Odds are, you can hear something right now: A siren, the hum of a fan, the blur of background conversations, the ticking of a watch.

How to Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking: 5 Tips from the Pros

Like most people, at one time in my life I was terrified of public speaking. I remember one moment particularly clearly. My classmates were waiting for me to read a paper I’d written—an experience, I’m sure, many remember from high school and college.

How Your Mood in the Morning Affects Your Productivity All Day

Ever get up on the wrong side of the bed and feel like your whole day was ruined? It's not just you. Mood can definitely affect productivity.

The Mnemonic Imagery Game: How to Memorize Difficult Words in a New Language

Many languages are tricky for native English speakers to learn because of a thing called _grammatical gender. In English, you can swap most nouns for a different noun and the grammar stays intact.

Keystone Habits: Improve All Areas of Your Life with One Small Habit

Not all habits are created equal. Some will have a much bigger effect on your life. These "high return" habits are often called keystone habits, and if you're going to adopt only one new habit, it should be one of these.

Easy GTD®: How to Get Things Done or Get Back on the GTD Wagon

Getting Things Done® (GTD®) is a popular productivity philosophy and system, but it can be intimidating for new users because of its complexity. Even for those who start using GTD, it's all too easy to fall off the bandwagon.

How to Master the Art of Listening

Listening is the unsung hero of communication. We love to praise great orators and recite lines from famous speeches, and rightly so. Words are powerful. But listening can be equally so.

How to Manage Your Productivity on Someone Else’s Schedule

There's a reason why movies like Office Space and shows like The Office are so popular.

5 Steps to Tweak Your Software for More Productive Work

Computers help us be more productive. But they're also perhaps the most distracting devices ever invented. The first personal computers were little more than a blank screen with a terminal where you'd type in text commands.

The Science of Background Noise and the Best Sound Apps for Work, Sleep, and Relaxation

In our increasingly buzzing, dinging, horn-honking world, it can be really difficult to find a quiet space.