GTD Do-It-Yourself Planner v1.0 In need of a last-minute gift? Need something to do between turkey dinners? Or how about a massive attempt at self-organisation for the New Year? Just in time for the holidays, I’m pleased to announce version 1.0 of my Do-It-Yourself Planner system. Version 1.0 of the DIY Planner package includes a dozen pages of information (in HTML) on how to buy a 5.5″x8.5″ planner, save a bundle on templates/forms, find accessories, set up your organiser GTD-style, and more. GTD Diagrams (resized and rotated from originals found at www.davidco.com — see the HTML file for exact links)Next ActionsWaiting ForAgendasProject Outline (new layout)ObjectivesContact LogSomeday/MaybeTo Do ListNotesCovey QuadrantBrainstormStory IdeaTo Buy (new) Be sure to read the instructions, as they give plenty of information on how to print, cut, punch and use the templates. Both the templates and the instruction file are licensed under Creative Commons, and are therefore free for personal and non-commercial use.
20 Free Scrum Project Management Tools | Home of Project Manager Even though the top tools for managing Scrum are note cards, whiteboards and big visible charts, you can find a lot of on the internet tools that lets you manage a project using the Scrum methodology. In the event you are managing a Scrum for the very first time, then we suggest you to remain with note cards, whiteboards and charts as the tools for managing until you’ve become familiar with the entire Scrum framework. When you are familiar with it, its fruitful to attempt your hands on some software program tools that let you manage Scrum efficiently although you deliver. While you will find numerous commercial tools obtainable, here in this post we have a list of free of charge tools which are used for Agile/Scrum project management. 1. Daily-Scrum is a planning and tracking tool for agile projects. more info here 2. AgileTrack is a development tool assisting in managing projects/stories/tasks/defects through out their lifecycle. more info here 3. more info here 4. more info here 5. 6. 7.
zenhabits ScrumDo - Free and Open Source Online Scrum Tool Start Thinking NOW About How You Will Rock 2011! It’s a little scary for me to think that there are a mere 3 weeks left in 2010. One question: Where did the year go? January 1st seems to sneak up on us every year, and every year we madly try to figure out what our resolutions will be and what we’re going to accomplish in the coming year. Wouldn’t it be nice to just hit the ground running? You can! Whatever you decide there are a few things you can do to get ahead of the game and get 2011 off to an organized and speedy start. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. † What are you willing to give up? 7. Those are just some ideas on how you can start thinking now on how you will rock 2011! Have you started thinking about your goals for the new year? Sherri writes at Zen Family Habits, a blog celebrating all things family. Don’t Forget To Follow PickTheBrain on Twitter! Related Articles: 11 Tips To Reignite Your Resolutions Brain Switch: How To Creatively Keep Your Fitness Resolutions
Structured Procrastination Minimal ZTD: The Simplest System Possible | zen habits Post written by Leo Babauta. Follow me on Twitter. Recently I posted my new twist on the excellent GTD system, Zen To Done (ZTD): The Ultimate Simple Productivity System. However, reader Mark Siegal said that the system seems to complex. So I now present the minimalist version of ZTD — a way to be productive without all the fuss. The Four Habits 1 collect. 2 process. 3 plan. 4 do (focus). What the Minimal ZTD system leaves out This version leaves out six habits: keeping a system of simple lists, organizing everything, weekly reviews, simplifying your tasks and projects, setting routines for yourself, and finding your passion. While I think these six habits are valuable, they are not absolutely necessary for a minimalist system. The minimalist implementation So how do you implement this system, and what do you need? So here’s how you implement the system: Use your notebook to write everything down as you think of it.
The Pomodoro Technique™ What is The Pomodoro Technique? EASY for anyone to use! Improves productivity IMMEDIATELY! FUN to do! Why Pomodoro? The Pomodoro Technique isn’t like any other time-management method on the market today. For many people, time is an enemy. Essential to the Pomodoro Technique is the notion that taking short, scheduled breaks while working eliminates the “running on fumes” feeling you get when you’ve pushed yourself too hard. Whether it’s a call, a Facebook message, or suddenly realizing you need to change the oil in your car, many distracting thoughts and events come up when you’re at work. Most of us are intimately acquainted with the guilt that comes from procrastinating. Who does the technique work for? These are all ways real folks use the Pomodoro Technique: Motivate yourself to write.Limit distractions.Keep track of how long you’re spending brainstorming / writing / revising.Reduce back and neck pain by walking around during Pomodoro breaks.Draft a book in three weeks. How It works
15 Ways to Improve Freelance Creativity 15 Ways to Improve Freelance Creativity Posted by Tom Walker on January 29th in Freelancer. We’re all creative, there’s no doubt about that. Nobody is born without creative tendencies and abilities; it’s just that some people are better at putting their ideas on paper and relaying them to other people. Freelancers in the creative industries frequently find that staying in a creative mindset, day in day out, can be a real challenge, especially if they’re tired or working on multiple projects simultaneously. 1. Without doubt, the best way to stay creative is to keep a notebook with you at all times. 2. Reading, visiting art galleries, watching movies, going to the theatre and other cultural pursuits are great fun. 3. Constantly seek new experiences in your daily life to broaden your creative horizon. 4. Having a routine is great, but it’s important not to have one that’s so rigid and repetitive that you rarely get a chance to experience new things. 5. 6. 7. 8. No freelancer is an island.
7 Secrets of the Super Organized A few years ago, my life was a mess. So was my house, my desk, my mind. Then I learned, one by one, a few habits that got me completely organized. Am I perfect? Of course not, and I don’t aim to be. So what’s the secret? Are these obvious principles? If your life is a mess, like mine was, I don’t recommend trying to get organized all in one shot. So here are the 7 habits: Reduce before organizing. If you take your closet full of 100 things and throw out all but the 10 things you love and use, now you don’t need a fancy closet organizer. How to reduce: take everything out of a closet or drawer or other container (including your schedule), clean it out, and only put back those items you truly love and really use on a regular basis. Write it down now, always.
D*I*Y Planner | the best thing in printing since Gutenberg 10 simple ways to save yourself from messing up your life - Step Stop taking so much notice of how you feel. How you feel is how you feel. It’ll pass soon. Adrian Savage is a writer, an Englishman, and a retired business executive, in that order. Read full content Lean a Foreign Language Quickly Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Benny the Irish polyglot who writes at Fluent in 3 Months. Imagine being able to blend in undetected in another country. Imagine exchanging inside jokes at a foreign restaurant in another language. Imagine being invited to a festival in the countryside on the other side of the planet, eating with a local family and having no need for an interpreter. Sounds like something out of a Jason Bourne novel, doesn’t it? Your education starts now. Why is that when we think of languages and language learning, we tend to think more of women? If you think back to school, you may remember the girls having a better knack for languages than the boys. Hogwash! Many Famous Language Learners Were Men The majority of the world’s most famous polyglots (someone who speaks multiple languages) throughout history were actually men. If there is a language gene reserved exclusively for ladies, someone forgot to tell these guys! “Language-Talent” Is Used as an Excuse, Let It Go
How to Make a Manly Bar of Soap “A paste of lye and water can burn through an aluminum pan. A solution of lye and water will dissolve a wooden spoon. Combined with water, lye heats to over two hundred degrees, and as it heats it burns into the back of my hand…on the lap of my bloodstained pants…”-Passage from Fight Club, by Chuck Palahniuk If you’ve ever seen the movie or read the book Fight Club, then you know what a potentially volatile endeavor the making of soap can be. Today we’ll discuss how to make your own manly bar of soap. Coffee Grounds: Interestingly enough, the inclusion of coffee grounds makes for a powerfully deodorizing soap. Walnuts: The walnut is a relatively soft nut and acts as a nice counter exfoliate to the slightly sharper, harder grounds of the coffee. What You Need Aside from going around collecting your ingredients and equipment, you will need about two hours to make a batch of soap. The equipment necessary for making your own soap includes: Pre-Gaming Preparation is crucial. The Process