Life Hacks

• NoteTaking {nid LLF}
• Google SMS {nid MY9}

Task Management {nid LP2}

I use todo.txt, and I sync the data files between my home server and my laptop. It consists of a single to do list, and each item can be mapped to projects and contexts (as prescribed by GettingThingsDone). {nid LP3}

I don't use that many contexts. Things like "@computer" aren't useful for me, because I'm almost always near my computer. My main contexts are: {nid LP4}

• @call {nid LP5}
• @email {nid LP6}
• @write {nid LP7}
• @errand {nid LP8}

I use aliases for each of these contexts, so that when I'm near my phone, I can quickly type {{{tocall}}} to see a list of people I need to call across all my projects. {nid LP9}

When I'm not near my computer, I keep lists on good old paper, which I eventually transfer to my computer. I like index cards, but not for managing tasks, as the stack would quickly become unmanageable. {nid LPA}

Time Management {nid LLG}

Spend the first hour of your workday email-free. Finish a high-priority task first thing in the morning, then check your email. {nid LLH}

Schedule a post-work appointment to prevent post-work lingering. {nid LLI}

I have rudimentary calendaring software -- no meeting maker or anything of the like. When I propose a meeting (both business and personal), I'll enter it in my calendar delimited by parentheses so I don't accidentally overbook. {nid LP1}

New People {nid KSJ}

When I meet someone new in a biz context, I add them to my CiviCRM database. If I'm curious enough, I'll find their blog and add them to my aggregator under "Recently Met." {nid KSK}

Blog Reading {nid KSL}

Organized by: {nid KSM}

• Frequently (check at least once a day) {nid KSN}
• Daily {nid KSO}
• Weekly {nid KSP}
• Monthly {nid KSQ}

• Wikis {nid KSR}
• Software Development (Subversion commit feeds) {nid KSS}
• Recently Met {nid KST}
• Old Blogs (inactive blogs with bookmarked entries) {nid KSU}

See my Blogline feeds. {nid KSV}

I got the idea for this organization from BillDeHora's post. It's worked very well for me; my blog reading is much more efficient. It's important to prune regularly. {nid KSW}

Email {nid KV5}

Thunderbird. Extensions: {nid KV6}

• mailredirect {nid KV7}
• Enigmail {nid KV8}
• dispMUA {nid KV9}
• Quicktext {nid LLE}

GettingThingsDone: {nid KVA}

• http://www.katywhitton.com/flipping/index.asp?view=display&ID=579 {nid KVB}
• http://entropicprincipal.blogspot.com/2005/09/using-thunderbird-to-get-things-done.html {nid KVC}
• http://www.metagrrrl.com/metagrrrl/2005/10/getting_things__1.html {nid KVD}
• http://www.summersault.com/community/weblog/2006/07/20/five-power-tips-for-thunderbird.html {nid KVE}

Firefox {nid KVG}

Extensions: {nid KVH}

• Colorful Tabs {nid KVI}
• Web Developer {nid KVJ}
• del.icio.us {nid KVK}

Filing {nid LLJ}

One file per hanging folder. {nid LLK}

Two-thirds rule. This applies to all containers, not just file cabinets. For example, your refrigerator (for those inclined to fill those up). {nid LLL}

Use a label maker. It really does make a difference. {nid LLM}

Cell Phone {nid LZS}

I just purchased a Motorola KRZR K1m. Thinking about hacking it: {nid LZT}

• KRZR K1m mods {nid LZU}
• Bell KRZR mods {nid LZV}
• KRZR Alltel {nid LZW}
• Mark Ventures Verizon Mobile Help Pages {nid LZX}
• Motorola V3c Tutorial {nid LZY}

Synchronization: {nid ML0}

• iSync phone plugins {nid ML1}
• Spanning Sync -- synchronize Google Calendar with iCal. {nid ML2}

Snail Mail {nid MPH}

Catalog Choice lets you easily unsubscribe to unwanted catalogs. {nid MPI}

Managing Paper {nid MXK}

I own a Fujitsu ScanSnap, which works with Linux. I'm also going to try Scan Cafe for preserving my film photographs. {nid MXL}

"How to digitally encode home movies." {nid MY8}

Other {nid MXM}

battery charger {nid MXN}