How do I tell my boss, whom I share a small office with, that her constant use of speaker phone is extremely distracting? [more inside]
posted on Aug 20, 2008 - 27 answers

Is there a good way to quantify productivity gains on Apple computers? [more inside]
posted on Aug 20, 2008 - 19 answers

I am looking for a way to sync an ibook with an imac. I'd like to make sure all my working documents, ical, adresses, firefox bookmarks and zotero files are updated when I come home. [more inside]
posted on Aug 13, 2008 - 7 answers

How to balance work and play when there is so much that I want to accomplish? [more inside]
posted on Jul 27, 2008 - 23 answers

What to do with a spare laptop hard drive...please help [more inside]
posted on Jul 24, 2008 - 13 answers

I have spent years reading self-help books, productivity blogs, self-help productivity blogs. I’ve found some treasured information and they have probably helped me in more ways than I’m conscious of, but… [more inside]
posted on Jul 14, 2008 - 10 answers

I've discovered one of the mechanisms of my laziness. When it comes time to do something, I start thinking about how boring or tedious it will be to do it. Thinking this very effectively zaps all my energy and will to do this thing. The interesting thing is, if my mind is occupied with something else, say a book or conversation I've recently had, then those negative thoughts don't pop into my head, and I can work away like a happy little smurf. How do I avoid these negative thoughts, so I can "Just Do It"?
posted on Jul 14, 2008 - 11 answers

How do you get back in the swing of things - catch up on work, personal goals and commitments after getting lost/overwhelmed/giving up etc..? [more inside]
posted on Jun 17, 2008 - 16 answers

Can anyone recommend some brainstorming software? [more inside]
posted on Jun 6, 2008 - 12 answers

How can I better organize my different bits of programming code for reference and reuse? [more inside]
posted on Jun 4, 2008 - 7 answers

What limits do you set for yourself with regard to the time you spend in front of your computer? Does it work--any advice for enforcement? [more inside]
posted on Jun 4, 2008 - 17 answers

How much time does a project manager spend on the "red tape" of project management, rather than on the work of the project itself? [more inside]
posted on May 16, 2008 - 9 answers

I'm looking for an application that tracks my software and website usage that is not RescueTime. I'm extremely uncomfortable with the data being transmitted to a website and want something that stores it on my computer, not anywhere else. I've also used MeeTimer, and found it too buggy. Does anyone have any suggestions?
posted on May 11, 2008 - 5 answers

How do you develop focus, drive, and personal discipline? [more inside]
posted on May 11, 2008 - 28 answers

What are my options for granular goal tracking websites? [more inside]
posted on May 8, 2008 - 4 answers

I would like randomly selected items from a To-Do list to "float to the top" on a regular basis. Ideas? [more inside]
posted on May 6, 2008 - 9 answers

Greasemonkey Script Request: A script which displays "Get Back To Work" in big letters when I visit procrastination websites (like ask.metafilter). [more inside]
posted on May 4, 2008 - 10 answers

Scheduling and work-request software for an IT team. [more inside]
posted on May 2, 2008 - 14 answers

Yet another jobfilter question: any advice for a 22 year old with a graduate degree looking for one year of 'productive' employment? [more inside]
posted on Apr 26, 2008 - 10 answers

Asking for a friend: What different kinds of software can I suggest to my Visually Impaired (but can see) to use to make his computing sessions more pleasant/productive? [more inside]
posted on Mar 2, 2008 - 6 answers

There seems to be a million different online and software based To Do List and Project Management applications, and my brain is tired of trying to figure out the difference between them. It's the bells and whistles that get to me. Help me find the one that fits! [more inside]
posted on Feb 25, 2008 - 10 answers

How do I stop spending energy on being sad and be productive instead? [more inside]
posted on Feb 7, 2008 - 18 answers

So if I'm going to use the GTD method, what am I going to use? [more inside]
posted on Feb 6, 2008 - 18 answers

DEVONthink: how can i learn to love it? [more inside]
posted on Jan 31, 2008 - 2 answers

Can you help me decide between PDA's, Smartphones, Pocket PCs and the year 2008? I am looking most specifically for info on the Sony Clie PEG NX70V ... IPAQ 4350 ... and IPAQ 2215. But advice on any of this would be immensely helpful! I did search AskMeFi, but found only info for new equipment or old posts. I'm talking used equipment instead, older but able to keep up with current software stuff. (More inside) [more inside]
posted on Jan 24, 2008 - 20 answers

It's time for yet another round of "What is the best project management software!" Come meet the final contestants. Particularly if you have used Microsoft Project or Open Workbench. [more inside]
posted on Jan 8, 2008 - 2 answers

As part of my new-year-self-improvement kick, I'd like to track the amount of time I spend browsing the web. Is there an app that will track how long a single application (in this case, Opera) is open each day, and show the total time somewhere on the desktop? [more inside]
posted on Dec 26, 2007 - 11 answers

Hello MeFi peoples, I am trying to find the tool or tools to run my sustainable business consulting practice, which I started in August, and I've been going a bit nuts with too many choices. I've been looking all over, and am getting near hits, but all "not quite there"s. Highrise sort of works, but has some quirks that that it doesn't hit the mark, and it's missing some of what I want to do. Daylite looks interesting, but no...well I'll explain below. Basecamp, same thing. Copper, ditto. Help me find the needle(s) in the haystack! [more inside]
posted on Dec 19, 2007 - 14 answers

I've heard of studies that having a day of rest in the week (like Sunday) actually increases productivity than had they worked all seven days. Does anybody know of any studies or statistics to support this claim?
posted on Dec 13, 2007 - 11 answers

What is (or how can I find) the maximum/average food value of x acres of farmland? [more inside]
posted on Nov 27, 2007 - 12 answers

How do you use OneNote? [more inside]
posted on Nov 18, 2007 - 17 answers

What tools exist to track ideas in a project? [more inside]
posted on Oct 29, 2007 - 16 answers

How can I increase my evening productivity (i.e. not be such a lazybones when I get home from work) ? [more inside]
posted on Oct 24, 2007 - 22 answers

How do you maintain sight of your long-term goals? I chronically sacrifice long-term success for short-term gains and it's not working out for me. [more inside]
posted on Oct 16, 2007 - 20 answers

What widescreen monitor will work well for me? [more inside]
posted on Oct 3, 2007 - 17 answers

My company just instituted a “no headphones” policy…how can I deal? [more inside]
posted on Oct 2, 2007 - 43 answers

What's the deal with Quicksilver? [more inside]
posted on Sep 30, 2007 - 40 answers

Why won't OSX let me block MeFi via the /etc/hosts file? [more inside]
posted on Sep 12, 2007 - 7 answers

Are there any wikis that offer mind-map visualization (somewhat like Wiki Mindmap)? How about concept mapping software which also has wiki-like functionality? [more inside]
posted on Sep 11, 2007 - 5 answers

What can you suggest for long term life planning? I would like to set up something like a time line for my life and goals. I want to manage what I will do in 5 years, 10 years, 50 years, etc. Does anyone know of any useful software or other things I could do manually? I want to be able to adjust things as needed and see where I've been. I appreciate your help.
posted on Aug 22, 2007 - 6 answers

What do I do when insomnia pays a call? I know how to avoid insomnia but when I don't succeed, what the hell do I do? I mean, aside from TV and books, is it an insane time to start a project? Do my taxes? How does the hive mind cope with the hours between 3:30 and 6:00 when not asleep?
posted on Aug 20, 2007 - 19 answers

How do I harness ideas into productive implementations? [more inside]
posted on Aug 13, 2007 - 4 answers

Looking for a Firefox extension or alternative browser that allows for web pages to be grayed out (specifically images) a la Ghostzilla. [more inside]
posted on Aug 10, 2007 - 4 answers

How do you manage a lot of open browser tabs? [more inside]
posted on Aug 7, 2007 - 19 answers

Dear Hive Mind: Please help me find the best "must have" Mobile Windows 5.0 apps for my AT&T 8525, specifically software focused on Productivity / Organization. [more inside]
posted on Aug 5, 2007 - 4 answers

GTD-filter: I'm trying to organize my (academic) work life using GTD. I've read through the book, and it sounds like it can help me a lot. I am thinking of using my Macbook as my folder system, but I can't seem to find an app that works the way I want. [more inside]
posted on Aug 3, 2007 - 9 answers

I've just bought a new Motorola Q because I am keep on organisation; however, the tasks and calendar seems horrible and there doesn't seem to be any note function. Am I just stupid or is this thing totally lacking in functionality? [more inside]
posted on Jul 18, 2007 - 11 answers

Photoshop Keyboard Shortcut: Anyone know the keyboard shortcut for "Fill path with foreground color"? I can't find it anywhere and usually you can google and find something, so I'm thinking maybe there isn't one, and you just gotta click it in the paths tab. Thanks..
posted on Jun 4, 2007 - 7 answers

I've tried a lot of personal organization systems, and have had varying degrees of success with each. I've yet to stick with any, however, so I'm trying to find a system that works for ME so that I can be productive more often than not. [more inside]
posted on May 13, 2007 - 9 answers

What free, open-source projects can I run in a privately accessible portion of my webspace that would be useful to me in terms of making things more practical in my own life (think Lifehacker-43 Folders kind of stuff)? I'd prefer Mefites' personal experiences with their own installs over linkage that you've seen but never tried — although I'll take either one. [more inside]
posted on May 7, 2007 - 4 answers