Articles tagged "Personal productivity"

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.

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.

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.

Deep Work vs. Messy: How to Balance Productivity and Creativity

If only your office were quieter, if your colleagues would quit asking questions, if the phone would stop ringing. If only your desk were neater, your notebooks cleaner, your files a bit more organized.

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.

The Craftsman Approach: Master Your Work Through Deliberate Practice

In a PBS documentary on Viking swordsmithing, the world got a glimpse into deeply focused, masterful craftsmanship.

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.

The Best Free Books from O'Reilly Press

It's not every day that you'll find a good new book to read and discover that it's free. The internet's filled with more text than anyone could possibly read in their lifetimes.

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.