Featured Posts in Productivity

Pig Toolbox Adds Gesture Controls, YouTube Tools, Mail Checking, and More to Chrome with One Extension

In Chrome Extensions, Productivity, Gestures, Youtube, Gmail, Mouse Gestures, Downloads, / 29 May 2012 / 0 comments

Chrome: Pig Toolbox is a Chrome extension that features a bunch of different functions all rolled into one simple extension. It includes mouse gestures, a collection of YouTube related tools, an automatic Google Mail checker, and more.

As the name implies, Pig Toolbox is a collection of tools that all exist inside of one single extension so you don't have to have a bunch of different extensions filling up your toolbar. On top of the features mentioned above, Pig Toolbox also lets you configure a number of contextual shortcuts, take screenshots, create blocklists, and plenty more. A number of the functions are Windows-only, but if Pig Toolbox happens to have features you use regularly it's worth checking out. Find the full list of everything in the toolbox on the Chrome Web Store.

Pig Toolbox | Chrome Web Store via Techdows
How Do You Stay Productive After Work?

In Ask The Readers, Productivity, Projects, Hobbies, Personal, Motivation, Energy, Personal Projects, Side Jobs, Passions, After Work, Work, Jobs, Free Time, / 29 May 2012 / 0 comments

You've worked a long hard day at the office, and you're finally free. It's tempting to go home, stuff some food in your mouth, and do nothing for the rest of the night, but after work is prime time to get started on your side project, learn a new skill or language, or do something else that you have a passion for. So how do you resist the urge to fall down on the couch after work every day? How do you find the motivation to stay productive after leaving work?

It's difficult enough to leave a long day of work and take care of your household chores and other responsibilities, but how do you stay motivated to be productive at your side projects? Sure, it helps to work on things that you're passionate about, or don't have the opportunity to work on during the day, but how do you commit and make sure you stay committed, even on those days where you feel like you really don't feel like it?

This thread at Hacker News inspired us to ask you the question, and find out what techniques you use to make sure you make headway on your pet projects once you've made the decision to get started. Do you get up early and work on your side gig in the early morning, or do you lock yourself in the basement until you've made progress? Maybe you're like our editor-in-chief, Adam Pash, who promises to give his project 10 minutes each day, no more (unless he wants to), no less. However you do it, share some of your tips for staying personally productive after the workday is over in the comments below.

Photo by StockLite (Shutterstock).
Outline Your "Definition Of Done" to Avoid the Perfection Bug

In Mind Hacks, Productivity, Definition Of Done, Work, Brain, Hacks, Energy, Personal Projects, Side Jobs, Passions, After Work, Work, Jobs, Free Time, / 28 May 2012 / 0 comments

No matter your profession, it can be easy to work yourself into a frenzy by perfecting every single detail. Luckily, defining a specific "definition of done" from the outset of the project can help you move on to the next task.

The term comes from a software development strategy called Scrum, but it can be applied to almost any situation. Stepcase Lifehack describes the technique.

Definition of Done describes clearly and explicitly what needs to be achieved until a task can be declared as done. And when you define your "done", you can get rid of your perfection bug.

For example, if your task is to create a marketing plan, you would create a checklist with items like "determine budget," "identify performance metrics," and "check work for grammar." Once every item on this list has been crossed off, you stop working. No more tweaking, no more double checking. If you trust you definition of done, you won't need to let perfectionist tendencies bog you down and keep you from starting your next project.

Photo via OakleyOriginals

What Can Software Developers Teach us About Crushing the ‘Perfection Bug'? | Stepcase Lifehack
Embrace Your Inner Nagging Voices to Get Things Done

In Mind Hacks, Productivity, Brain Hacks, Work, Brain, Hacks, Energy, Personal Projects, Side Jobs, Passions, After Work, Work, Jobs, Free Time, / 26 May 2012 / 0 comments

You know those little voices that tell you you need to mow the lawn, finish your blog post, take out the trash and other things you need to do? They're normally thought of as a nuisance but financial weblog Mr. Money Mustache argues they can be a helpful tool to achieve our goals.
Instead of using these voices to reinforce how much you suck they are designed to keep us on top of our tasks. You'll notice these voices never occur when we're deep into work, only in times such as playing Modern Warfare 3 for the fourth straight hour. Mr. Money Mustache found he could put these voices to work for him:

While I was actually working hard, the voices were silent. By building up a cushion or buffer of hard work, I could even take a short break without experiencing nagging. But the NVS would always return. Another trick I learned was that by scheduling my time out in advance, to include plenty of work, but also a fair amount of play, I could trick them, since they would focus on the Work entries in my calendar while I snuck away to play. But then I would invariably deviate from my calendar and start freestyling at life again, and guess who I'd find rolling up right next to me on a skateboard, full of helpful hints?

If you use these voices as a motivator and actually work to get stuff done you'll find that you'll get on top of your task list and won't be beating yourself up. You can actually enjoy your Firefly marathon on Netflix in peace without nagging yourself to do something productive because, hey, you're on top of things. Photo by Pascal

Embracing the Nagging Voices of Success | Mr. Money Mustache