Learning. Life.

Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.
- author unknown.

Read Full Post »

Click to view original.  Source: http://xkcd.com/557/
I don’t know about you, but when I have this dream, it’s usually a sign I’m procrastinating on something I know I need to get doing

Read Full Post »

Are your poor, unloved possessions lying around the place, with no home to go to?
Look around: if you have piles of “stuff” and you don’t know where to put it … watch out - the SPCC (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Clutter) might be on your tail! Find homes for all [...]

Read Full Post »

Disclaimer: this is an obvious suggestion. Feel free to stop reading now. Of course, if you’re not organised, you may want to keep reading …
The best way to get more organised is to spend time organising.
It doesn’t have to be lots of time - just more than you do now. And it’s most effective [...]

Read Full Post »

I warn you - this is going to sound silly. But so many people have very reluctantly admitted how well this works that I’m pretty sure I’m on the right track. Here goes:
If you’re procrastinating over something, start the very first, small thing. And only the first thing.

If it’s a report, write the first sentance [...]

Read Full Post »

I have a looming deadline for a conference paper. When you’re working to a deadline, there are 3 options: start early, start as late as possible, or panic. Two of those are approved Project Management practices. Here’s a simple technique from Project Management for planning out your work to avoid panic.
1. Break the work into [...]

Read Full Post »

I have a clutter monster living under my desk. While I’m away he collects books, mail, coffee cups, notes, pens … I come home to find my lovely desk full of clutter. I understand they can live under almost any flat surface. Do you have a clutter monster too?
After getting inspired by Unclutterer’s “Workspace of the Week” I decided [...]

Read Full Post »

If you study, write or spend time on the computer, it’s worth setting up your desk to make that time a joy. That means at home, too. It can be cheap - check out the 2nd hand furniture stores - just make sure it’s write (sorry - right) for you.
1. Get a good chair that supports [...]

Read Full Post »

Forgetting appointments and due dates? Have reminder notes everywhere? Spend your time firefighting? Need to get things sorted, quick? This post will show you how to use a diary to get stuff done on time. There’s more complex methods, but this is an excellent base for all of them - so get started now, and [...]

Read Full Post »

In part one I talked about doing what’s important, not what’s urgent. We’re now going to use the Urgency/Importance matrix to do that, starting with the easiest quadrant.
Here’s the Urgency/Importance matrix again:

Let’s start with Quadrant 4 - Not Urgent and Not Important
Quadrant 4 tasks are timewasters. They are not important to us, and there’s no [...]

Read Full Post »