Something Sunday: Productivity and the Internet
- Ben Garland
- Oct 9, 2016
- 2 min read
I have noticed my productivity start to decline over the past week. It is taking me longer to do things than before. I think a large part of that is due to the age we live in. Our minds are being overstimulated with information due to it being so accessible through television, radio and particularly the internet. I am finding myself getting distracted, with a reduced attention span to get done what I need to get done: the curse of this generation!! I looked for ways to stay focused and maximize production and I interestingly came across technology that is useful in doing so. Therefore, maybe we aren't doomed to surf the web for hours, jumping from one task to another and updating (and checking) our social media feeds constantly!!
The video outlines 5 key apps/websites that allow for increased productivity. I will give my quick take on each of them but more info is available within the video. Google calendar is useful for keeping a schedule so that you stay on track and get done what you absolutely need to as long as you follow it. This seems useful but in reality we need motivation to stick to the plan. This reminded me of one of the main keys to successful transfer is incentive to apply knowledge from one area to an unrelated area. The next app he talked about is Newsfeed Eradicator. Ever get bombarded by phone notifications of things being added to your social media newsfeeds? This solves that problem by replacing the newsfeed with an inspirational quote so if you're ever tempting to search what your friends are up to while you should be studying or completing something else, you are no longer able to do so if you keep the app running.
The third website he suggested using is Freedom. It blocks websites for predetermined durations of time and does not allow access within that time period. It addresses the issue of motivation by being absolute... not budging regardless of what you do. It seems like it would significantly reduce the amount of time spent web browsing on sites like youtube. Evernote is another useful app he suggests that allows you to organize your notes, reminders and to do lists so that even the most forgetful of people can remember to do the important things. Lastly, he suggests using Plan to Eat. Yes, a cooking site!! It allows you to cook healthy meals in less time to help you power through overtimes and late night cram sessions by putting together a shopping list and giving clear easy instructions on how to prepare the meal. In reflection, I spend a lot of time thinking about what I'm going to eat and then trying to interpret the instructions. This would allow me to plan meals in advance and know I have exactly what I need to make it ahead of time so that cooking is no longer a tedious and complicated daily chore.
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