• Using Excel To Take Apart and Consolidate Text

    In this document, I discuss my fondness for spreadsheets, particularly Excel, and how I use it not for number crunching, but for text manipulation. I share how Excel can be a powerful tool for consolidating or splitting up text. I provide a detailed walkthrough on how to put text together using the ampersand (&) as a concatenation tool. Then, I…

  • Yak Shaving, Or Wooly Distractions

    In this post, I've explored the concept of "yak shaving", a term in programming that refers to the seemingly endless chain of small tasks that need to be completed before getting to the main task at hand. I've shared examples from internet research to household chores, and even my own recent work experiences, to illustrate how easy it is to…

  • Help! My Task List Is Overwhelming!

    In this post, I've shared my strategies for dealing with an overwhelming task list. I've discussed the importance of questioning each task's necessity and the role of task delegation. I've also shared my unique method of sorting tasks into different 'parking lots' based on their urgency and importance, which helps me prioritize tasks effectively and stay productive.

  • What Grandma Esther Could Teach You About Productivity

    In this post, I dive into what my Grandma Esther taught me about productivity. Her old-fashioned wisdom holds valuable lessons in a world where we're constantly striving to do more. Stay tuned for tips on how to streamline your life and work more efficiently, inspired by Grandma Esther's practical approach.

  • How To Resist The Next Shiny Toy…And Why You Should

    In our rapidly advancing world, it's easy to get caught up in the latest gadgets and trends. However, constantly chasing the new can distract us from our goals and drain our resources. I provide strategies and tips on how to resist these distractions and stay focused on what truly matters.

  • Creating Tasks From Gmail Automatically

    In this blog post, I discuss the importance of not using email as a task manager and advocate for the use of dedicated task management tools instead. I provide an example of how I automate Gmail to integrate with my task manager, Remember The Milk.

  • give yourself a break

    How To Give Yourself A Break

    In this document, I share my experience of feeling desperate for a break and how I dealt with it. I noticed my energy levels were down due to stress, lack of exercise, poor sleep, and nutrition. Instead of forcing myself to rectify these issues, I decided to assess my energy on a day-by-day basis. I also cut down on my…

  • Reflections on Tranquility By Tuesday

    In this article, I reflect on my experience following the rules laid out in "Tranquility By Tuesday". I found many of the rules valuable and easy to incorporate into my weekly planning, such as planning on Fridays, creating a backup slot, and taking one night for myself. However, there were a couple of rules, like giving myself a bedtime and…

  • Tranquility By Tuesday #9: Effortful Before Effortless

    In this article, I explore the concept of "Effortful Before Effortless" from the book "Tranquility By Tuesday". I share my personal journey of how I identified my effortless activities, like playing word games on my phone or reading for pure entertainment, which were consuming my time. By using the principle of "Effortful Before Effortless", I've been able to engage more…