Stuff that helps you be productive

[Azure]

This could go in the tech forum, considering most of the stuff I do is computer/phone related.

Either way, figured it would be interesting to see what people here do to be as productive as possible. Surfing CP doesn't count either.

Most important thing I do is set goals at the start of every day for what I want to accomplish. I find that by doing this, and if I'm actually being realistic about it, I tend to get stuff done more quickly and efficiently. To help with that, I do two other things. I ALWAYS prioritize based on what has to be done first, and I try not to multi-task. Combining those 3 things seems to really help.

From there I use Dropbox to sync up documents so I have access to all my important stuff on all my devices, and my co-workers have access too.

Started using Evernote as well. Amazing program. We had issues with getting all our information on certain projects together into one place, especially with small things that still needed to be done. Now I just created notes for each project, put in what needs to be finished as I get the information, and all our guys have access to it instantly. Especially when they're on the jobsite.

We also run multiple Outlook Calenders to keep on top of all our projects. Job status on factory floor, installation date, etc, etc. Seems to work rather well if it is actually accessed and used at all points throughout the process by all the guys.

[Nage Waza]

I am way more productive if I can put my headphones on, if I am interrupted while they are on it should be a pretty serious issue.

[tenyardrambo]

Multi tasking...at work I work for a few hours, study in between jobs.. doing more things at once and balancing it, instead of focusing on one thing for many hours

[MrMastodonFarm]

Not CalgaryPuck.

[DuffMan]

cocaine.

[Locke]

Whisky.

[Lt.Spears]

Adderall.

[Lt.Spears]

On a serious note, a good nights sleep i find is the best way to keep my mind fresh.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Lt.Spears

On a serious note, a good nights sleep i find is the best way to keep my mind fresh.

No way! Me too!

[tjinaz]

Different folders for different projects and then link them in a "stuff to do" daily folder

Crossing off the daily tasks helps show progress on projects and helps me keep my time straight for billing. Plus it allows you to re prioritize quickly.

Similar to evernote but part of Office Pro.

[SHOGUN]

Good strong coffee and fresh banana bread.... fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

[To Be Quite Honest]

I have a rule. During business hours and I have nothing to do I still have to make something. So, I throw on a show or movie and I make stuff. A lot of my wallpapers are made from this rule. Dual monitors help this rule out.

The unfortunate thing is when I'm on a role I stay up waaaaay past business hours and finish.

[worth]

Pants.

[freedogger]

Autohotkey, Getting Things Done, Overclocked with raided ssd's (company hardware never is fast enough). Face to face communication, requirements docs or requirements by email never works. Speed Reading - take a course, it is worth the effort. Turn email and messaging off, only look at email twice a day. Bose noise reduction headphones. Get up early, 5am every weekday. Ride a bike to work, its usually faster than every other way.

Most important - work with good people. Nothing sux more than being an A teamer working with a bunch of B teamers.

Triple monitors!!

Timesnapper if you bill by the hour and mostly work off a PC

[Street Pharmacist]

My biggest issue is procrastinating. One day i will stop. Seriously though, its a big problem. I'm working hard at forcing myself to do things. I rhino lack of proper sleep leads me to feel "too tired" for things, which i then put off and never finish

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

My biggest issue is procrastinating. One day i will stop. Seriously though, its a big problem. I'm working hard at forcing myself to do things. I rhino lack of proper sleep leads me to feel "too tired" for things, which i then put off and never finish

I know the feeling. I'm a hardcore procrastinator and figured that 'one day I'll stop.' I figured out the answer; Hard Deadlines.

If I dont get it done by April 30th the Government is going to penalize my clients who will subsequently come into my office and bitch (rightly so) because they were fined for late filing.

Peter Gibbons has nothing on me. 5 bosses? Try thousands of them.

Thats why I get stuff done, in good time and on time, without fail.

[iggy_oi]

Ritalin or if I can really fool my doctor, dexadrin

[Azure]

Originally Posted by freedogger

Autohotkey, Getting Things Done, Overclocked with raided ssd's (company hardware never is fast enough). Face to face communication, requirements docs or requirements by email never works. Speed Reading - take a course, it is worth the effort. Turn email and messaging off, only look at email twice a day. Bose noise reduction headphones. Get up early, 5am every weekday. Ride a bike to work, its usually faster than every other way.

Most important - work with good people. Nothing sux more than being an A teamer working with a bunch of B teamers.

Triple monitors!!

Timesnapper if you bill by the hour and mostly work off a PC

I do some of those things as well.

Face to face communication does work better for the most part, and for more important stuff its better to actually TALK to the person, but it doesn't necessarily help with productivity if you're taking 10-15 min out of every hour to go talk to someone if you could just send them a quick email. If you work with older people who aren't that familiar with computers, its tough to make this work though.

Getting Things Done is interesting. Anyone with any amount of common sense could tell you that writing down tasks externally is a lot easier on your mind, but some people simply don't get this. Using something like Evernote is foreign to them. Mostly because they would actually HAVE to take time to write down stuff they need to remember, as opposed to just mentally trying to process it which actually takes no time.

Of course they tend to forget a lot of stuff though, so you would think they would understand the logic behind writing stuff down.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Locke

I know the feeling. I'm a hardcore procrastinator and figured that 'one day I'll stop.' I figured out the answer; Hard Deadlines.

If I dont get it done by April 30th the Government is going to penalize my clients who will subsequently come into my office and bitch (rightly so) because they were fined for late filing.

Peter Gibbons has nothing on me. 5 bosses? Try thousands of them.

Thats why I get stuff done, in good time and on time, without fail.

This.

I used to have a responsibility at work where I had to meet deadlines on a daily basis. Basically I did the final work on every 'project'....and had to meet deadlines on a daily basis. I came to work every single day knowing that a specific task had to get done regardless of whether or not it was actually possible.

I learned very quickly how to prioritize and I learned how to simply ignore people/stuff that wasn't important. Now, after having moved on to other responsibilities, I just create my own deadlines. Its pretty easy to keep them.

[DownhillGoat]

Prod-what now?