Comments on: Why Do Today What You Can Put Off Until Tomorrow?

By: Tom@fat burner supplement

Tom@fat burner supplement — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 23:01:31 +0000

My mother used to say the same thing to me. Maybe it’s all mothers. Anyway, it’s great advice. I use just a sheet of reminders that I use to make sure that I include everything that I need in my blogs. The Trac system makes great sense.
Tom@fat burner supplement´s last blog ..Do Follow Blog, Comment Luv Keyword Luv

By: Jeremy H

Jeremy H — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:41:16 +0000

I am a passerby, but I liked this article and wanted to make a few additional tips/suggestions.

I agree with your use of an issue tracker. My method is to put anything I can’t do right now, or anything that requires more than 1 step into a tracker, or at the very least a digital ToDo list.

I am a software engineer, and have used a lot of bug tracking and project management software. I never liked Trac, and I strongly suggest that you check out JIRA from Atlassian. You can get it for $10 (goes to charity), and it is one of the best ones I have used.

It has an interface that invokes a more positive feel about your work, which has always been important for me. Most trackers look horrible and it feels like you are reading the obituaries when you read it. Mantis is bad that way too. Primes your emotions with negativity before you even start.

If you don’t like JIRA, check out FogBugz. I am not sure if they are still doing it, but you used to be able to sign up for the free hosted trial, then in the options change your account to the free “Start-up” package. It’s not obvious, but it is in there. That way you get a free, managed, hosted copy of FogBugz that you can access anywhere at your-chosen-name.fogbugz.com.

FogBugz has a more simple interface, but I have personally found that the more robust features of JIRA actually speed up your work, even for very basic tasks. Depends on how you work, so be sure to try both.

This is getting long now (sorry), but here is one more tip.

Use a personal Wiki. It sounds kind of silly to speed up your productivity by adding another thing to manage, but you’d be surprised. A wiki allows you to organize and cross-link your thoughts and ideas, without having several notebooks filled with random bits and pieces of thoughts.

Doing this with a notebook results in far too many scribbled notes that lose their temporal connection over time. With a wiki, when you come back to it months later, it is structured enough that you can actually figure out what you were thinking and why.

It’s also easier to refine your ideas over time with a wiki than with a notebook or a Word/OpenOffice document.

Software engineers use wikis for software functional design and requirements planning for these very reasons. Since I like Atlassian’s stuff, I highly recommend Confluence, but any Wiki will do as long as you know how to use it, and don’t have to jump through a lot of hoops just to add content.

I hope this helps someone, take care!

By: jeggigns

jeggigns — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:16:22 +0000

I was always a little bit lazy and I think that small dozes of laziness is really good for the whole attitude to specific topic. I always say that everything that you have to do today can be done the day after tomorrow. Thanks to that you will have two days of free time.

By: Brad @ CNA Training

Brad @ CNA Training — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 02:09:59 +0000

Before today I had never actually heard of Trac but I just went and checked it out and I must say it looks great.

I waste so much time so for 2010 my goal is to become more productive.
Brad @ CNA Training´s last blog ..Red Cross CNA Training

By: Andrew Keir

Andrew Keir — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 01:55:44 +0000

When I was a kid my parents used to call me “the master of passive resistance” because I could totally disregard anything i didnt want to do forever.

By: WPExplorer

WPExplorer — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 02:19:21 +0000

As a college student, full time employee and internet entrepreneur, time is of crucial value to me. There is some very useful advice on this post. thank you
WPExplorer´s last blog ..WPExplorer.com � We Dofollow Your Comments

By: Lindsey Schocke

Lindsey Schocke — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 07:25:45 +0000

Great post! I have been known to procrastinate on household tasks and find that spending 15 minutes on something I’m putting off will get me started. Even if I don’t work past the 15 minutes, I’ll usually make some progress that will help the next time I spend another 15 minutes on the task. Decluttering projects work really well this way.. I’m sure that blogging for 15 minutes a day would create some great content!
Lindsey Schocke´s last blog ..Virtual Assistant Spotlight: Coming soon, get your interview here!

By: Jp Manching @ Beginners Blogging Guide

Jp Manching @ Beginners Blogging Guide — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:31:42 +0000

Hi Caroline,

It’s just a matter of time management and organization. Yes I agree with you, why not do the thing today rather than doing it tomorrow…there’s no difference anyways, right?

I really like this rule :) Thanks for the amazing article Caroline.

Jp / blogmatters.net
Jp Manching @ Beginners Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Eric Schmidt on Google�s Privacy Issue Interview

By: Megg

Megg — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:14:14 +0000

Hello, Very nice article thanks.

By: Jorgen Sundberg

Jorgen Sundberg — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 11:22:38 +0000

Why put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow? – Mark Twain :-)

My last post: http://www.theundercoverrecruiter.com/content/how-search-and-find-jobs-twitter

By: Kris Aquino

Kris Aquino — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 02:24:26 +0000

Doing this does not mean you are lazy. If you just know “time management”, then everything will be in order.

By: oes tsetnoc

oes tsetnoc — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:15:54 +0000

is that what is called procrastination? it;s bad but if used with a tool like that, it;s maybe another story..
oes tsetnoc´s last blog ..Oes Tsetnoc SEO Strategies updated Tue Oct 20 2009 9:08 am CDT

By: oes tsetnoc

oes tsetnoc — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:02:21 +0000

Being lazy always gives us a bad effect in any field. That’s why we better do anything as soon as possible than waiting for unknown day comes!

By: Claudia @ how many calories should I eat

Claudia @ how many calories should I eat — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:15:21 +0000

Yes, when being a perfectionist one may end up never really finishing some projects. I agree it is the better way to finish something off somehow and make it work but not (yet) perfect as one can always come back to turn it into a better version.
PS: I remember my mum also used to say that to me, but it wasn’t so much to get me past perfectionism, but rather to get me to do my homework for school before bedtime ;-)
Claudia @ how many calories should I eat´s last blog ..Why you got fat

By: Haba

Haba — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:01:37 +0000

Thanks for the tip Caroline. Time management hasn’t been one of my stronger features but I picked up some good tips from Paul Lemberg here: http://www.paullemberg.com/blog/time-management-secrets-to-getting-more-done-every-day-%E2%80%93-part-1-of-4/

Perfectionism is one of my big problems…I’ve now learned to just get it done…and move on.

By: Darvin @ Organic Food Coupns

Darvin @ Organic Food Coupns — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:56:12 +0000

Good points, but I go back and forth on the issue of putting things of or “procrastinating”. I often do it, but the concern is will that thing of lesser importance EVER get done? Will there EVER be a time when it becomes your top priority? Potentially not, as we always seem to have some “fire to put out” that takes priority.

Therefore, if you don’t take care of some of the mundane or lower priority items today, they might not ever get done…EVER!

:-)
Darvin @ Organic Food Coupns´s last blog ..Do Follow Blog, Comment, Keyword Luv and Top Commenter

By: Luis Lopez

Luis Lopez — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:03:25 +0000

Your title is really catchi I couldn’t resist to read your post, an now I agree that you can let some things for a while and the go back and finish.
if you have the time obviously
Luis Lopez´s last blog ..30 Most Popular Wordpress Plugins

By: Jon@ Student Loans

Jon@ Student Loans — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:13:22 +0000

Hi, thank you, good advice… it seems obvious that it is better to face problems immediately but so many people forget such a basic and simple principle – myself for starters…!
Jon@ Student Loans´s last blog ..4 Reasons to Consolidate your Student Loans On or Before July 1st 2006

By: Cayleigh

Cayleigh — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:57:12 +0000

The eighty-twenty system makes so much sense to me – once you’re able to figure out which of the things that you need to get done are the ones that’ll make the big changes in your business (or life) it becomes so much easier to get your priorities straight and manage your time really affectively. It’s never truer than in the case of blogging though – nothing says “disorganised” like a badly neglected blog! This is something for all the perfectionists out there to think about…

By: PSP Go

PSP Go — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:32:29 +0000

It is all about prioritising the things that must be done today and the things that you can get away with not doing immediately. Delegate as much as possible.

By: La Digue

La Digue — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:07:44 +0000

Really informative post full of advice anyone could use in his daily life. A definite read for anyone. Thanks for the share.

By: oes tsetnoc

oes tsetnoc — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:21:38 +0000

Time is one of the most precious things we have in my life, so, why don’t we do today if we can do it now? :D
oes tsetnoc´s last blog ..My Blog Is Getting Suck!

By: Social Media Marketer

Social Media Marketer — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:35:17 +0000

OMG. This is so true. I have one site that I just can’t get around to finishing. I think subconsciously, it’s because it has my picture on it. lol

Seriously, I have created over 15 sites in 6 months and this one particular site is just sitting there. Every month, I pay the hosting and… nothing. Telling someone else about it always helps, so today I told someone I would have the site up and ready to go for their use. Accountability and the strength to eschew the urge to be perfect-because perfection will never be attained. Two of the best weapons!

Great post!

By: oes tsetnoc

oes tsetnoc — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:04:32 +0000

Thats good way to dived your time
thanks for good post

By: Beth Partin

Beth Partin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:22:41 +0000

I know how easy it is to get caught up in the details of getting everything right. The trick is to figure out what is important and what isn’t.

Part of the reason I’m commenting today is to thank you for Blogger’s Bible #35 (Readership: Showcasing Your Readers), which I just read. It has a long comment from a woman who went to Thailand to live while she established an online business. You were right; it really was a great comment.
Beth Partin´s last blog ..Kansas City: What I Miss(ed)

By: Joe Ryder - Make Money Online

Joe Ryder - Make Money Online — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:30:13 +0000

Thanks Caroline, you’ve given me a completely different outlook on how to divide my time. It’s so easy to get caught up in something stupid that really doesn’t need the time.

Thanks again

Joe

By: lockerz invite

lockerz invite — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:13:16 +0000

Hey Caroline, I agree with you. Too many people become paralyzed trying to make everything perfect and they end up never doing anything.

Great Article!

By: Passo Fundo Tch� - Guia de Passo Fundo - RS - Brazil

Passo Fundo Tch� - Guia de Passo Fundo - RS - Brazil — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:00:34 +0000

I�m now experimenting with NOT taking notes, and not writing down tasks. Instead, I�m trying to take quiet time and visualize the desired outcome for a specified period of time.

By: Dennis Edell

Dennis Edell — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:13:35 +0000

I regret to say, some of the big guns get to charge for further releases, even if they are bug fixes. I certainly don’t agree with it, but they are out there.
Dennis Edell´s last blog ..How Do You Feel About A Static Homepage On A Blog?

By: Dennis Edell

Dennis Edell — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:12:21 +0000

This is exactly why the big boys play with beta release 1 2 3 4 and so on. Even when something comes out of beta, they may still have release 1 2 3 4 and so on…

Complete the core with all essentials tweaks and release it…release 1 ;)
Dennis Edell´s last blog ..How Do You Feel About A Static Homepage On A Blog?

By: Caroline Middlebrook

Caroline Middlebrook — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:09:31 +0000

@Dave, I tend to start off my day by looking at Trac and seeing if there is anything easy I can knock off the list – this gives me a gentle start to the day :) Sometimes though I’ll just spend a whole day working on the issues to keep on top of them.

By: Mike Collins

Mike Collins — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:02:52 +0000

Hey Caroline, I agree with you. Too many people become paralyzed trying to make everything perfect and they end up never doing anything.

How many people always say they want to create their own product but never get around to it? How much time do bloggers waste searching for the perfect theme instead of creating compelling content?

Just do it!
Mike Collins´s last blog ..10 Websites That Will Pay Cash For Your Digital Pictures

By: Dave Doolin

Dave Doolin — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:57:54 +0000

Caroline, I have several Trac systems full of tickets and todos.

Typically, once I write them in there, I hardly ever look them again. I tend to focus on one particular project to the exclusion of the others.

I’m now experimenting with NOT taking notes, and not writing down tasks. Instead, I’m trying to take quiet time and visualize the desired outcome for a specified period of time. The details invariably work themselves out.
Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Where goes Website In A Weekend? Another Week in Review

By: Karl Foxley

Karl Foxley — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:39:22 +0000

Very sage advice. I think if I ever told my mum I was putting something of until tomorrow she would give me that look only mums can give! :)

Regards,

Karl
Karl Foxley´s last blog ..Who Else Wants Access To The Largest Database Of CommentLuv Enabled Blogs On The Internet