Comments on: Personal Productivity and Personal Finance: Ten Techniques I Use To Juggle This Blog, My Money, My Work, and My Life http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/ Simple, applicable personal finance advice for the modern world Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:08:33 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: bill free http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-177137 bill free Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:44:59 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/#comment-177137 I like the one about vitamins and water. I, notice too, that when I eat healther, drink lots of water that I am much more alert and therefore, more productive. I like the one about vitamins and water. I, notice too, that when I eat healther, drink lots of water that I am much more alert and therefore, more productive.

]]> By: Ciligriessy http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-97661 Ciligriessy Wed, 31 Oct 2007 01:14:17 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/#comment-97661 You don't really need or want that lifestyle, it might hurt y'all slowly more.......Just tell him you don't wanna repeat something your not too proud of z7uas. You don’t really need or want that lifestyle, it might hurt y’all slowly more…….Just tell him you
don’t wanna repeat something your not too proud of z7uas.

]]> By: bills http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-57690 bills Thu, 16 Aug 2007 00:33:29 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/#comment-57690 For me, without a list of things to do, I would get very little done. It's like out of site, out of mind. A list of things to do is a constant reminder. For me, without a list of things to do, I would get very little done. It’s like out of site, out of mind. A list of things to do is a constant reminder.

]]> By: Callum http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-48264 Callum Thu, 19 Jul 2007 14:06:40 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/#comment-48264 A quick search for "sleep life expectancy" reveals a bunch of stuff about how sleeping less shortens your lifespan. As somebody mentioned earlier on this post, it's a bit like compound interest. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2129578.stm" title="BBC Health - Sleep, the key to longer life" rel="nofollow">Here's</a> an article from the BBC about how sleep is the key to longer life. I'd warmly encourage anyone to explore this subject in more depth and then get a bit more sleep. :) A quick search for “sleep life expectancy” reveals a bunch of stuff about how sleeping less shortens your lifespan. As somebody mentioned earlier on this post, it’s a bit like compound interest.

Here’s an article from the BBC about how sleep is the key to longer life. I’d warmly encourage anyone to explore this subject in more depth and then get a bit more sleep. :)

]]> By: Helen http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-47773 Helen Wed, 18 Jul 2007 08:47:33 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/#comment-47773 I have no scientific expertise, but as a sleep-deprived mother, I've researched it a bit and learned that poor sleep is as debilitating as alcohol and related to numerous health issues. Go google it and you'll find news articles and scientific papers. You need good quality sleep. I'd say a good strategy is to avoid sleep disruptors - no caffeine after 4pm, avoid alcohol, and turn off the TV an hour before bed - sleep in a good quality bed, and share the parenting duties. Don't try to squeeze productivity out of time when you should be sleeping - it will shorten your life. I'm also a bit wary of multi-tasking. You end up spending your life feeling that you should be doing something other than what you are doing at that moment. You are always torn between things and never fully attentive on the matter at hand. I liked the reminders about good nutrition and exercise, and minimal timewasters like TV. cheers Helen I have no scientific expertise, but as a sleep-deprived mother, I’ve researched it a bit and learned that poor sleep is as debilitating as alcohol and related to numerous health issues. Go google it and you’ll find news articles and scientific papers.

You need good quality sleep. I’d say a good strategy is to avoid sleep disruptors – no caffeine after 4pm, avoid alcohol, and turn off the TV an hour before bed – sleep in a good quality bed, and share the parenting duties. Don’t try to squeeze productivity out of time when you should be sleeping – it will shorten your life.

I’m also a bit wary of multi-tasking. You end up spending your life feeling that you should be doing something other than what you are doing at that moment. You are always torn between things and never fully attentive on the matter at hand.

I liked the reminders about good nutrition and exercise, and minimal timewasters like TV.

cheers
Helen

]]> By: Amit http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-47525 Amit Tue, 17 Jul 2007 18:12:02 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/#comment-47525 This is an excellent article because it elicit strategies that you employ inside your head and it explains that process so that anyone who wants similar results can model it. It would be helpful if you would take snapshots of ur to do list and show how it related to one of ur major projects. This is an excellent article because it elicit strategies that you employ inside your head and it explains that process so that anyone who wants similar results can model it.

It would be helpful if you would take snapshots of ur to do list and show how it related to one of ur major projects.

]]> By: Tony http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-47488 Tony Tue, 17 Jul 2007 16:38:13 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/#comment-47488 I enjoyed reading your comments and can relate. I am in the midst of completing an MBA program and have to utilize time management to get anything done. Your final note on meditation; I listen to a free meditation download (20 minutes) to help rejuvenate myself. Whenever I feel I need it. e.g.-home, lunch, break The link if anyone is interested: http://www.meditainment.com/free-meditation/ I enjoyed reading your comments and can relate. I am in the midst of completing an MBA program and have to utilize time management to get anything done. Your final note on meditation; I listen to a free meditation download (20 minutes) to help rejuvenate myself. Whenever I feel I need it. e.g.-home, lunch, break

The link if anyone is interested:
http://www.meditainment.com/free-meditation/

]]> By: Andrew http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-47142 Andrew Mon, 16 Jul 2007 20:41:30 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/#comment-47142 "Everybody seems to be focusing in on the sleep element here, as I did. I’d love to be able to only sleep 5-6 hours a night and still feel fully funcational. Does anyone else have any info on that, in line with what the person above said? Maybe some scientific expertise?" While I have no scientific expertise, I remember reading an article about the guy (steve something?) that set all kinds of records traveling in a hot air balloon. For sleep he would take short power naps that ranged from 20 seconds to a minute or two. That's all he did to sustain himself and apparently science seems to back him up that power naps are the most useful kind. Nice post. “Everybody seems to be focusing in on the sleep element here, as I did. I’d love to be able to only sleep 5-6 hours a night and still feel fully funcational. Does anyone else have any info on that, in line with what the person above said? Maybe some scientific expertise?”

While I have no scientific expertise, I remember reading an article about the guy (steve something?) that set all kinds of records traveling in a hot air balloon.

For sleep he would take short power naps that ranged from 20 seconds to a minute or two. That’s all he did to sustain himself and apparently science seems to back him up that power naps are the most useful kind.

Nice post.

]]> By: Vinit http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-8483 Vinit Thu, 01 Mar 2007 20:38:18 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/#comment-8483 Excellent post, Trent !! I like what you mentioned about taking the tasks that you can complete within the time frame. I've lost so much time leaving tasks halfway and putting them off for later. Regarding sleep, I noticed that I used to need about 8 hours of sleep and when I made exercise a part of my daily routine, I had more satisfying sleep even though it was less than 7 hours. Also used to feel energetic after work and my day was more productive overall, which was not the case before I started working out. Excellent post, Trent !!

I like what you mentioned about taking the tasks that you can complete within the time frame. I’ve lost so much time leaving tasks halfway and putting them off for later.

Regarding sleep, I noticed that I used to need about 8 hours of sleep and when I made exercise a part of my daily routine, I had more satisfying sleep even though it was less than 7 hours. Also used to feel energetic after work and my day was more productive overall, which was not the case before I started working out.

]]> By: mike http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-8470 mike Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:20:13 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/#comment-8470 Everybody seems to be focusing in on the sleep element here, as I did. I'd love to be able to only sleep 5-6 hours a night and still feel fully funcational. Does anyone else have any info on that, in line with what the person above said? Maybe some scientific expertise? Everybody seems to be focusing in on the sleep element here, as I did. I’d love to be able to only sleep 5-6 hours a night and still feel fully funcational. Does anyone else have any info on that, in line with what the person above said? Maybe some scientific expertise?

]]> By: Nuno Castro http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-8468 Nuno Castro Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:01:53 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/#comment-8468 Until recently, I thought I couldn't sleep less than 7-8 hours a day, mainly because about everybody says that you need to sleep 8 hours a day, but also because when I slept less than that, i felt drowsy and sleepy during the day. The thing is you can sleep about 5-6 hours a day and feel more energic than you do with 8 hours. Of course you can't change that suddently. The reason is that your sleep has several cycles, and each of these has a different depth. If you wake up in the middle of a cycle, you will be sleepy during the day. If you wake up at the end of a cycle, you will be ok. That's why sometimes you wake up in the middle of the night, and feel like ready to go, nonetheless it's still 5 am. The deeper sleep period is the first 4-5 hours. So my advice is that you reduce your sleep by 10 minutes each day until about 6 hours a day. Every person has different sleep cycles so then you can adjust the time by decreasing or increasing it by 10 or 20 minutes, and see how you feel. In the beginning it may cost a little, and i recommend you take a short nap (no more than one hour, otherwise you will enter a deeper sleep level) during the day, and you will feel ready to kick off ! Until recently, I thought I couldn’t sleep less than 7-8 hours a day, mainly because about everybody says that you need to sleep 8 hours a day, but also because when I slept less than that, i felt drowsy and sleepy during the day.
The thing is you can sleep about 5-6 hours a day and feel more energic than you do with 8 hours. Of course you can’t change that suddently. The reason is that your sleep has several cycles, and each of these has a different depth. If you wake up in the middle of a cycle, you will be sleepy during the day. If you wake up at the end of a cycle, you will be ok. That’s why sometimes you wake up in the middle of the night, and feel like ready to go, nonetheless it’s still 5 am. The deeper sleep period is the first 4-5 hours.
So my advice is that you reduce your sleep by 10 minutes each day until about 6 hours a day. Every person has different sleep cycles so then you can adjust the time by decreasing or increasing it by 10 or 20 minutes, and see how you feel.
In the beginning it may cost a little, and i recommend you take a short nap (no more than one hour, otherwise you will enter a deeper sleep level) during the day, and you will feel ready to kick off !

]]> By: TMac http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-8448 TMac Thu, 01 Mar 2007 15:19:16 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/#comment-8448 Trent, Great post. I have found that I am incredibly more productive when I work out in the morning. About 40 minutes of cardio in the morning usually gives me an incredible feeling or alertness and recptiveness when I get to work. Cheers, Tmac Trent, Great post.

I have found that I am incredibly more productive when I work out in the morning. About 40 minutes of cardio in the morning usually gives me an incredible feeling or alertness and recptiveness when I get to work.

Cheers,
Tmac

]]> By: Moe http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-8446 Moe Thu, 01 Mar 2007 15:15:35 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/#comment-8446 You must live in NY, because here in the "city that never sleeps" life is way too fast. I get around 6 hours of sleep and still feel tired. I never took vitamins, so I will consider that route. Also, I hate paper organizers. Having to carry a notebook, or organizer annoys me. I do however have a smartphone and it does keep me organized. I just have to be more "religious" in getting things done. I'm also a Husband, Father, full-time employee for a big company, Co-Pastor of a small church with teaching and preaching responsibilities 2 times a week and you can tell how much time I have for myself. Having some "alone" time definately helps. We need to make days "26 hours" rather than 24. You must live in NY, because here in the “city that never sleeps” life is way too fast. I get around 6 hours of sleep and still feel tired. I never took vitamins, so I will consider that route.

Also, I hate paper organizers. Having to carry a notebook, or organizer annoys me. I do however have a smartphone and it does keep me organized. I just have to be more “religious” in getting things done.

I’m also a Husband, Father, full-time employee for a big company, Co-Pastor of a small church with teaching and preaching responsibilities 2 times a week and you can tell how much time I have for myself.

Having some “alone” time definately helps. We need to make days “26 hours” rather than 24.

]]> By: Trent http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-8442 Trent Thu, 01 Mar 2007 14:05:45 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/#comment-8442 Almost every day, the period from 5 PM to about 8:30 PM is untouchable. That is family time, and I spend it preparing dinner for my wife and child, eating with them, playing with my son for a while, putting him to bed (alternating with my wife every other night), cleaning a bit, and just talking with my wife. Before this period is usually when I meditate, and after this period is usually when I crank through my "to-do" list. Almost every day, the period from 5 PM to about 8:30 PM is untouchable. That is family time, and I spend it preparing dinner for my wife and child, eating with them, playing with my son for a while, putting him to bed (alternating with my wife every other night), cleaning a bit, and just talking with my wife. Before this period is usually when I meditate, and after this period is usually when I crank through my “to-do” list.

]]> By: plonkee http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-8435 plonkee Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:20:41 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/#comment-8435 Another one that needs more than 5 hours sleep. I function well on about 7 hours. I find that procrastination is my major problem. I have a bunch of things to do (think housekeeping) that I just don't want to do so I put them off. I guess I just need to work on it. Another one that needs more than 5 hours sleep. I function well on about 7 hours.

I find that procrastination is my major problem.
I have a bunch of things to do (think housekeeping) that I just don’t want to do so I put them off. I guess I just need to work on it.

]]> By: db http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-8391 db Thu, 01 Mar 2007 06:19:08 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/#comment-8391 My trick for productivity is to keep a running list of things that need doing -- sort of a mini project plan for the project that is my life. When I do this and just stay focused on getting things done on the list, it's amazing what I can do. I keep separate lists for work projects and home projects. "Load dishwasher" is an ok list item! Of course, when I don't work my list I'm a terrible slacker. My trick for productivity is to keep a running list of things that need doing — sort of a mini project plan for the project that is my life. When I do this and just stay focused on getting things done on the list, it’s amazing what I can do. I keep separate lists for work projects and home projects. “Load dishwasher” is an ok list item!

Of course, when I don’t work my list I’m a terrible slacker.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-8388 Kevin Thu, 01 Mar 2007 06:11:48 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/#comment-8388 I just started taking my blog more seriously. It certainly does take some time out of the day. I also recently started working on a small clothing company. So along with all the usual living stuff that a Dad has to do, I've been super busy. I have to work on the notepad thing! I've been meaning to give it a try. I do the meditation thing in the morning. I sit, close my eyes, and visualize what I want my day and life to be like (and I just dift a bit too). This is a great post. Thank-you! I just started taking my blog more seriously. It certainly does take some time out of the day. I also recently started working on a small clothing company. So along with all the usual living stuff that a Dad has to do, I’ve been super busy.

I have to work on the notepad thing! I’ve been meaning to give it a try. I do the meditation thing in the morning. I sit, close my eyes, and visualize what I want my day and life to be like (and I just dift a bit too).

This is a great post. Thank-you!

]]> By: John http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-8380 John Thu, 01 Mar 2007 04:59:33 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/#comment-8380 The best method of long-term productivity is to treat yourself and your family well and live to a ripe old age of 100 or so. Personally, I wouldn't be able to manage this, living a life sleeping 5-6 hrs/night and trying to make every second count. I'd probably find myself 45 yrs old either in the intensive care unit following coronary bypass or the psychiatric ward of the closest hospital. Think of it in terms of compounding interest and a long-term investment: let's say you can stay productive until you're 75 or 80 (being conservative) vs the alternative - sacrificing health and slowing in productivity by 45 or 50. Those 30 or so yrs would provide a darn good amount of interest and return. The best method of long-term productivity is to treat yourself and your family well and live to a ripe old age of 100 or so. Personally, I wouldn’t be able to manage this, living a life sleeping 5-6 hrs/night and trying to make every second count. I’d probably find myself 45 yrs old either in the intensive care unit following coronary bypass or the psychiatric ward of the closest hospital. Think of it in terms of compounding interest and a long-term investment: let’s say you can stay productive until you’re 75 or 80 (being conservative) vs the alternative – sacrificing health and slowing in productivity by 45 or 50. Those 30 or so yrs would provide a darn good amount of interest and return.

]]> By: Chris http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-8377 Chris Thu, 01 Mar 2007 04:35:45 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/#comment-8377 It'd be interesting if you'd review the book: "In Praise of Slowness: Challenging the Cult of Speed" by Carl Honore and see what you think. Squeezing every minute out of every day and continually multitasking are unhealthy (for most people). Also, you rarely mention your family in the list of things that make you most productive. So many of us gain motivation for productive work from our friends and family. I hope that part of your productivity strategy isn't sacrificing valuable time with them. Why do we measure ourselves so much by our personal output and what our jobs are? It’d be interesting if you’d review the book:
“In Praise of Slowness: Challenging the Cult of Speed” by Carl Honore and see what you think. Squeezing every minute out of every day and continually multitasking are unhealthy (for most people).

Also, you rarely mention your family in the list of things that make you most productive. So many of us gain motivation for productive work from our friends and family. I hope that part of your productivity strategy isn’t sacrificing valuable time with them. Why do we measure ourselves so much by our personal output and what our jobs are?

]]> By: Vinaya http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/comment-page-1/#comment-8371 Vinaya Thu, 01 Mar 2007 03:55:52 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/02/28/personal-productivity-and-personal-finance-ten-techniques-i-use-to-juggle-this-blog-my-money-my-work-and-my-life/#comment-8371 Great article. I maintain all my tasks in a simple portable notebook with tear-off sheets. Works like a charm. Great article. I maintain all my tasks in a simple portable notebook with tear-off sheets. Works like a charm.

]]>