Time management tricks, tools & tips [closed]

Answer 1

Recently I've started using a great little free windows app called NextAction which you can get from here.

It's greatness comes from it's simplicity and it really helps to refocus and stay on track when dealing with all the days distractions ... email, co-workers, scrums, rss feeds, twitter, lunch, coffee breaks, etc. Having a list of what I'm working on always there on the desktop makes it very easy focus after any context switch.

Much better than pencil and paper, check it out for yourself.

NOTE: There is a more comprehensive web based 'NextAction' at code.google ... not so good for me, but maybe for others.

Answer 2

Also you could think about the kind of things which make you want to browse the net, check your email, etc. For example, if a build I'm working on is taking too long my mind will wander.

So it actually pays off to make the build process as quick and efficient as you can make it, so you can make changes and test quickly.

I also find it helps to get enough sleep (tiredness is bad for concentration) and not to drink too much caffeine (seriously. I feel so much better after cutting down the amount of caffeine I drink. Try naturally caffeine free teas!)

(I seem to have wandered slightly off-topic into concentration there... still, I find the better I can concentrate the better I will use time!)

Answer 3

The lecture of Randy is great, especially since he knows that he does not have much time left in this world.

Meetings are the biggest time wasters. Try to avoid them wherever you can.

I don't believe in those tools popping up every so often asking me what I'm currently doing. That's very distracting as well.

It might be good to make a time-log for for a couple of weeks, but just to understand where you are spending your time so you may be able to improve things.

I like the time management stuff by Steven Covey.

... and by the way I'm lecturer for time management for IEEE for Europe/Middle East and Africa.

Answer 4

You should see this:

Randy Pausch Lecture: Time Management

It's a teacher from Carnegie Mellon who is near dying, giving his final lecture about time management. It's the best tips and tricks you can find.

Answer 5

There are a lot of things to do and I'm not sure you'll find any single technique to get organized and stay focused.

But...

• Do list the things you have to do. Several short lists will be needed (today, later, inbox == to be sorted out, etc...). Review these lists once in the morning, and then in the evening. These related posts are worth a read: The Taste of the Day and The Trickle List
• Timeboxing: allocate time in your calendar to get the tasks done
• As suggested by harriyott, switching off email is kind of essential too!

Answer 6

I find that http://www.rescuetime.com/ lets me know what I was actually doing all day, rather than what I THINK I was doing!

It also lets you put a "productive" level on each process/website you run or do so you can see how productive you are being.