HOWTO: Be more productive (2005)

I remember reading this essay years ago; it was interesting to revisit. I guess the two main problems for one who wants to be productive are: 1) Procrastinating, which usually comes from: a) fear of failure, b) disinterest, or c) not knowing where to start (or some combination) 2) Life getting in the way. Some of this can be helped with time management, sleep/diet/exercise to maximize energy, but some of it there's unfortunately not much you can do about. (Though…

great thoughts. loved this part: But if you’re trying to do something worthwhile and creative, then shutting down your brain is entirely the wrong way to go. The real secret to productivity is the reverse: to listen to your body. To eat when you’re hungry, to sleep when you’re tired, to take a break when you’re bored, to work on projects that seem fun and interesting.

I can really relate to a lot of this. I'm a graduate student with ~10 distinct projects/ideas on my todo list and at any point in time I feel more or less inclined to work on each of them. And strangely, the most important ones are rarely on top, maybe because they are both assigned and daunting. My work life comes down to a mental battle and trying to induce motivation in myself because I know that when I am…

> "Life is short (or so I’m told)" Oh man, this hit me in the feels. The actual text is good so far, but those words stayed with me.