Personal Optimization

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Being a Boss at Context Switching, Part 1 – Proper Setup

Habits that keep me from worrying about "project A" when working on "project B," missing deadlines, and losing time when I return after days away.

Personal Optimization

You’re Doing Feedback All Wrong

Telling people how to improve actually hinders learning. Your advice is probably wrong, too much about you, and too focused on improving weaknesses.

Personal Optimization

Four Lessons I Learned Too Late about Balancing Work and Grad School

Considering enrolling in grad school while working full time? Were I to do it all again, here are four things I wish I'd known earlier.

Personal Optimization

Keep Meetings on Track with a Time Timer

Are your meetings running long? Do you feel like your team is getting off in the weeds and not focusing on the important points? Try a Time Timer.

Personal Optimization

How I’m Getting a Business Education Without Going to B-School

What started out as an intriguing experiment has already helped me grow. The practices and tools I’m adding to my arsenal will serve me my entire career.

Personal Optimization

Your Smartphone Is Stealing Your Brain. Here’s How to Take It Back.

Regular, short breaks can increased productivity — but not if you're using them to surf social media, which fractures your attention and drains brainpower.

Personal Optimization

Don’t Make it All About Your Cheese!

Having goals is good, but don't force yourself to choose one thing and pursue it relentlessly. Life is unpredictable, and your goals will change over time.

Personal Optimization

2 Design Techniques that Can Make You a Better Influencer

A good designer has to help people with different ideas and priorities find a way forward. The skills I learned as a designer still serve me every day.

Personal Optimization

Why I’m Glad I Switched from QWERTY to Colemak

After a month using Colemak, I'm as fast as I was after 20 years of QWERTY. My fingers are traveling less, and my hands aren't sore at the end of the day.

Personal Optimization

Reviving the Handwritten Thank-You Note: Tips, Tools, and a 4-Sentence Template

Be more grateful in 2019! Here are examples, a tracking tool, and a 4-sentence template to help you write the perfect thank-you note.

Personal Optimization

Creating a Fast, Easy Daily Log with Bear & aText

Keeping a daily log can be tedious. Here's how I use Bear — plus shortcuts from text expander aText— to easily record everything I do during the day.

Personal Optimization

What I Learned from Working 32 Hours a Week

Instead of taking all my vacation at once, I decided to see what a 4-day work week would look like. It taught me a lot about myself and how I work.

Personal Optimization

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