File 13 and GTD – When All Else Fails, Trash It!
Have you read David’s book on getting things done? I finally got my hands on a copy last week (free from the library!) and I’m starting to dig in. Hopefully my productivity will go through the roof.
The first thing that stands out to me is the importance of the trash can. In quite a few places, David reiterates that we should purge, trash, recycle, and get rid of things we don’t need. Why? How do you know …
Law Firms Should Teach Associates GTD
Law firms offer interesting programs for their incoming associates. They teach the basics of surviving your first few weeks, how to work the copier, and even etiquette courses. What they don’t teach the newbies is how to actually get work done.
What is GTD?
I’ve posted about this a few times in the past. It’s a productivity system that focuses on doing things in the appropriate “context.” It’s a way to be more productive and group things in their logical place of actually doing them. You can learn tons about it …
Use Google Desktop’s Scratch Pad for GTD Inbox
Do you struggle with implementing GTD (“getting things done“)? Do you have a digital “inbox” where you can throw all your notes and thoughts for later processing? Install Google Desktop and you’ll be set.
The Scratch Pad
One of the default “gadgets” that comes pre-installed with Google Desktop is a nifty Scratch Pad. Think of it like a handy post-it note always at the ready on your monitor. You can quickly type anything in …
Using Outlook Tasks for “Getting Things Done” (GTD)
If the phrase “getting things done” (or GTD) is foreign to you, I would strongly suggest that you read up on it. Basically, it is a time management system that focuses on recording things that need to be done, getting them out of your mind, and letting you focus on the tasks at hand. There are tons of online resources on GTD, but I’ll just point you to Wikipedia’s entry.
Out of all the task management programs and systems there are, I am stuck to Microsoft Outlook. Why? Simply put, I …
Law Firm Productivity with Remember the Milk
As lawyers we have tons of tasks and deadlines to keep tabs on. We have to do something today for Client A, be sure we don’t miss Client B’s hearing tomorrow, and remember that Client C still hasn’t returned a call. Fortunately, Remember the Milk can track everything for us.
I’ve developed a pretty solid way of using Remember the Milk (RTM) to track all of my tasks. My system has been working great for several months, and I’m pretty happy with it. Here’s my attempt to illustrate the system I use to be productive.
A list …
Get a DYMO Labeler for Productivity
I don’t know where I’d be without my DYMO labeler. Actually, I know that I’d be buried under piles of papers that weren’t filed away. Simply put, this gadget is awesome!
A labeler can boost your productivity, whether you’re a student, a stay at home mom, or a busy professional. It really is a handy tool. And now DYMO labelers can even print color labels. Isn’t that cool?!
My DYMO labeler was sent to me to review on this very blog, and I still use it at least once a week in …
Zen to Done – Productivity at its Simplest
Are you overwhelmed by projects, tasks, and deadlines? But is GTD too complex and confusing for you? It’s time you went for a simple productivity system: Zen to Done (ZTD).
Written by Leo Babauta of the popular Zen Habits site, Zen to Done focuses on a core set of productive habits. At its simplest, ZTD is only 4 habits that you implement in your daily life. To become a productivity master, advance to 10 habits. You’ll then truly achieve zenful productivity in all areas of …
My Tasks Reside in Toodledo, Where Are Yours?
If you’ve been around this blog a while, you know that I’m a loyal GTD cult member. I also love online productivity tools. In fact, I change tools with the wind.
For a while I used MonkeyGTD. Then I switched to Vitalist. I was pretty happy with Vitalist, until they announced a new, restrictive pricing plan. Even though …
Pay Yourself to Get Things Done
Do you ever have problems getting motivated? I sure do.
Why not reward yourself when you get things done? By “reward,” I mean money. Pay yourself to get things done.
My problem
I’m trying to ride my bike more. But it’s hard to get motivated to ride. The irony is that I like riding.
So when I was on my ride this evening, I came up with this “pay myself” idea. I’ll reward myself for riding my bicycle. I think it will help get me motivated.
The bike payment plan
The …
Record Month – 12000 Visitors, $560
I’ve enjoyed doing these monthly reviews. It gives me an excuse to look through statistics, like I don’t do that enough. Plus, I set goals for the blog and myself.
Traffic and income
This month, we topped two great goals together. First, Legal Andrew saw 12,300 visitors in June. That’s about a 50% increase since April and May! Needless to say, I’m definitely excited. Although now it’s going to be tough to keep growing. But with your great participation, we’ll find a way.
Second, blog earnings reached a new high in June – $560. Here …
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About Andrew Flusche
Lawyer, bicyclist, husband.
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