Why People Fail with Read Later Apps and How to Achieve Success
If you are already familiar with the concept of Read Later apps, you know that these digital tools serve as invaluable aids in managing and organizing the ever-growing sea of online content. However, despite their potential to streamline our digital lives, many users still find themselves falling short of realizing the full benefits.
For those who do not know Read Later apps, they are digital tools designed to help you save, categorize, and Read online content Later at your convenience. They serve as your personal content curator, allowing you to collect articles, blog posts, and more, and read them when it best suits your schedule. The icing on the cake is that these apps offer a clutter-free reading experience by stripping away unnecessary ads and distractions, allowing you to focus solely on the content. The Two popular apps in this category are Instapaper and Pocket. While both apps offer similar features, I personally prefer using Instapaper.
The success of these apps lies in splitting your monolithic task of online reading into two tasks: 1) scanning your inputs and saving articles for later reading, and 2) dedicating a focused time slot with minimal distractions to read the articles. You can utilize small time slots throughout your day to clear your inputs and reserve longer, uninterrupted periods for only reading.
But, similar to any other physical or digital tool in your daily routine, neglecting to utilize it systematically will likely result in it being relegated to a neglected corner, gathering dust. So, whether you’re an experienced user looking to optimize your approach or new to the world of Read Later apps, here are the actionable tips to ensure you get the most out of these digital companions.
Learn How to Use It
As with any other tool, understanding its features and capabilities will make it more useful and increase your motivation to use it. Here are some not to miss features that will enhance the utility of these tools, multi-fold:
- To ensure seamless access to your app, be sure to install it on all your mobile devices dedicated to reading. Additionally, if you use a desktop computer, don’t forget to add the Chrome browser extension. This way, you can save and access content effortlessly across all your devices.
- the app features a handy ‘Speak’ function, allowing you to listen to your saved articles if you prefer audio consumption.
- Don’t miss the weekly newsletter that contains the list of the most popular articles saved by app users for each day.
Create a Routine
This is the routine you should follow:
- While perusing various communication channels such as email and social media apps, remember to ‘Share’ or ‘Save’ any lengthy content you come across to your Read Later app.
- Integrate your Read Later app into your daily routine, whether it’s during your morning coffee, your lunch break, or before bedtime. Simply open the app, select an article of interest, and dive into your reading.
- For added convenience, consider placing the Read Later app icon on your mobile device’s home screen, adjacent to your other frequently used apps. This visual cue will serve as a reminder to read whenever you have a spare moment while scrolling through your mobile device during your free time. Read more here.
Stay Organized
This is what you should do to keep your app reader-friendly.
- Opt for a single, reliable Read Later app to avoid content fragmentation and streamline your reading experience. Consistency is key.
- Your chosen app should always display only unread or partially read content. Remove all read content from the app to maintain a clutter-free reading list.
- If you’d like to archive content for future reference, it’s preferable to bookmark the article in your browser rather than leave it in your Read Later app. This ensures a cleaner and more organized reading environment.
By implementing these strategies and integrating your Read Later app into your daily routine, you can make the most of this powerful tool for managing and consuming digital content efficiently. Enjoy your reading journey!
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(Originally published in Times of India on September 10, 2023)
Excel Your Productivity: Unleashing the Power of Spreadsheets for Supercharged To-Do Lists
In today’s fast-paced world, where time is a precious commodity, staying organized is the key to achieving success. We all strive to be more productive and accomplish our goals efficiently. But with the hidden talent of Excel or a similar spreadsheet app, you can revolutionize your productivity game. In this blog post, I’ll unveil the untapped potential of the spreadsheet app as a powerful to-do list tool and show you how it can transform your daily work into a supercharged productivity powerhouse.
While many people understand the benefits of staying organized, not everyone appreciates the importance of organizing their tasks effectively. A to-do list is the simplest yet most valuable tool for staying organized with your tasks. It acts as a reliable aid to our limited active memory, which can only retain just four items at once. By jotting down tasks and reminders, we offload mental burdens and free up cognitive resources for other important activities. Until such an evolution bestows us Sapiens, with an expanded memory capacity, the to-do list remains our trusty tool, rescuing us from the clutches of forgetfulness! So don’t fall prey to productivity gurus who coax you to stay away from to-do lists, without suggesting a reliable way to combat forgetfulness.
Traditionally, a to-do list conjures images of a simple notebook. However, as technology continues to advance in all areas, the to-do list doesn’t have to be left behind. Embracing a digital to-do list app, particularly one built on a spreadsheet, unlocks a multitude of productivity benefits.
The digital advantage is undeniable. By going digital, your to-do list could be securely stored in the cloud, accessible from any corner of the world. You can effortlessly copy and paste task descriptions from various sources, such as emails, chats, and PDFs, saving time and reducing the resistance to maintaining your to-do list. Editing, reordering, and deleting tasks become seamless with just a few clicks. A simple keyword search enables swift retrieval of any desired information, adding another layer of convenience to your productivity arsenal.
Tabulating your tasks takes organization to a whole new level. Instead of a linear list, a tabulated format allows you to categorize and tailor your columns to include project names, task priorities, or any additional notes. The flexibility of a spreadsheet empowers you to create a personalized to-do list that aligns perfectly with your workflow.
Beautify your textual task data with various fonts, colors, and fills, or use conditional formatting for automated styling.
Mastering organization with filtering is another game-changer. Embrace a long and comprehensive to-do list as a sign of responsibility, knowing that you can easily filter it to find exactly what you need. The spreadsheet’s filtering capabilities keep you focused and on track.
Develop the habit of productivity journaling by maintaining a productivity journal to record completed tasks, effortlessly copying and pasting from your to-do list. You don’t have to go far! you could use another tab in the same spreadsheet to maintain your journal in a tabulated fashion. Check out details here.
Spreadsheets are an omnipresent and integral part of most working environments. Whether you opt for Excel, Sheets, or Numbers, at least one of these applications is readily available for your everyday tasks, sparing you the expense of investing in specialized software. All you need to do is repurpose it to suit your specific needs.
Spreadsheets don’t have to be intimidating. Many people associate Excel with complex formulas and macros, but you can effectively use spreadsheets without them. So, there’s no need to hesitate when using spreadsheets. Even if you don’t utilize formulas or macros, spreadsheets can still be incredibly useful as a to-do list. If you feel like exploring more, there are plenty of interesting resources available online to learn a few tricks and master the tool with ease.
Unleash the full potential of this versatile software to unlock your true productivity prowess. Why settle for a plain to-do list when you can have a supercharged Excel-powered task management system at your fingertips? Give it a try, and witness your productivity soar to new heights!
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(Originally published in Times of India on July 29, 2023)
The Power of Conferencing with Self: Mastering Personal Work Management
In the fast-paced world we live in, managing personal work effectively is crucial to maintaining productivity and achieving our goals. While there are numerous tools and strategies available to help us stay organized, one approach that often goes overlooked is conferencing with oneself.
Yes, you read that right – engaging in a conversation with yourself can be a powerful technique for managing personal work and enhancing overall productivity. While Scrum meetings, also known as daily stand-ups, are essential for agile project management within the Scrum framework, they primarily focus on team collaboration. However, once an individual is at their desk with their assignments, they still need a micro-level Scrum for their own tasks. This is where a session of conferencing with oneself can be incredibly valuable.
In our eagerness to solve complex problems, we often turn to our best friend or benefactor for advice, but we frequently overlook the most trustworthy benefactor of all—ourselves!
In this blog post, we’ll explore how conferencing with self can revolutionize your work management and provide practical tips on how to do it.
These are some common topics for which engaging in a self-conference can be beneficial:
- Creating or updating a work breakdown structure for your new project: By conferencing with yourself, you can meticulously analyze the project requirements, break them down into smaller tasks, and establish a clear plan of action.
- Identifying gaps in planned solutions: Through self-conferencing, you can critically assess the solutions or strategies you have planned for a particular problem or project. This allows you to identify any gaps or areas that need further attention or refinement.
- Prioritizing tasks for the day: Engaging in a conversation with yourself enables you to review your tasks and responsibilities for the day. By considering their importance, deadlines, and dependencies, you can prioritize them effectively to maximize productivity. This method surpasses the approach of impulsively jumping into a task without proper evaluation and planning.
- Making informed decisions on complex problems: When faced with complex problems or challenging decisions, conferencing with yourself can provide an opportunity for careful deliberation. By discussing different perspectives, weighing pros and cons, and considering various factors, you can make more informed decisions.
What are the Benefits of Conferencing with Self?
- Clarity of Thoughts: Engaging in a dialogue with yourself allows you to articulate your thoughts, concerns, and ideas more clearly. When you verbalize your objectives and challenges, you gain a fresh perspective on your work.
- Improved Focus: Conferencing with self helps you eliminate distractions and maintain focus. By discussing your work with yourself, you can create an open environment that allows for uninterrupted thinking and problem-solving, leading to increased efficiency and output.
- Enhanced Problem Solving: When facing a complex task or challenge, engaging in a self-conference can stimulate your creativity and facilitate innovative problem-solving. By engaging in a structured conversation with yourself, you can explore different perspectives, generate new ideas, and develop effective strategies to overcome obstacles.
How do you conference with Self?
- Set the Stage: Find a quiet and comfortable space where you can think without interruptions. This could be a dedicated room, a cozy corner in your home, or even a peaceful outdoor location. Eliminate distractions by turning off your phone, closing unnecessary tabs on your computer, and creating a conducive environment for self-reflection.
- Prepare an Agenda: Before starting the conference, create an agenda or list of topics you want to address. This will help you stay organized and ensure you cover all the important aspects of your personal work. Whether it’s setting goals, analyzing progress, or brainstorming ideas, having a clear agenda will provide structure to your self-conference.
- Engage in Dialogue: Ask yourself open-ended questions and respond thoughtfully, considering multiple perspectives. Take notes during the conversation to capture insights, ideas, and action items that emerge.
What kind of tool set do you need?
A mind map tool is an incredibly useful resource for stimulating structured thinking and generating ideas in a systematic and comprehensive manner. It allows you to visually organize and connect various concepts, helping to unlock creativity and enhance productivity.
To maximize the benefits of mind mapping, it is recommended to maintain a collection of mind maps, one for each of your projects and the different roles you perform. By creating dedicated mind maps for specific projects, you can capture and organize relevant information, outline key tasks, and establish connections between different elements. Similarly, having separate mind maps for each role you undertake allows you to maintain a clear overview of responsibilities, goals, and ideas associated with that particular role.
Embrace this unique method of self-reflection and see how it transforms your personal work management, leading to greater success and fulfillment in your professional and personal endeavors.
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(Originally published in Times of India on July 15, 2023)
World Productivity Day 2023
Imagine a world where you consistently fulfill the promises you’ve made to yourself, your family, and your colleagues. Surprisingly, achieving this level of commitment is not as daunting as it appears; it merely requires adopting a few straightforward habits. And, GTD (Getting Things Done) empowers individuals with those precise habits!
GTD is an unparalleled technique renowned for its ability to effectively manage tasks and cultivate a state of stress-free productivity. In celebration of World Productivity Day 2023, I present to you a special gift: an innovative GTD cheat sheet!
Embrace its wisdom and relish in the benefits it brings!
Finding Balance in the Chaos: Effective Time Management for professionals with Fluctuating Workloads
In the fast-paced world of healthcare, doctors face unique challenges when it comes to managing their time effectively. With fluctuating workloads, unpredictable schedules, and the constant demands of patient care, finding a balance between professional and personal life can be a daunting task.
However, with the right strategies and mindset, doctors can optimize their time management skills and achieve greater productivity, satisfaction, and work-life integration. In this blog post, we will explore valuable insights and practical tips for time management specifically tailored to professionals with fluctuating workloads.
To effectively manage your time in a dynamic profession like yours, a rigid time-blocking method may not be suitable. Instead, you need a flexible and reliable time management system that can adapt to the changing nature of your work. This system should accommodate uncertainties, changing priorities, and the need for resilience.
Here’s a suggested approach:
(A) Divide your work into three main categories at a high level:
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- Work that needs to be done as it shows up: This includes attending to patients without appointments or responding to emergencies. These tasks require immediate attention and don’t require specific planning or management.
- Work that is time-sensitive: This category includes patient appointments, planned procedures, meetings with stakeholders, and other tasks that are sensitive to specific days and times.
- Work that needs to be done ASAP but isn’t time-sensitive: Some tasks require prompt completion but can be flexibly scheduled within your available time. These tasks should be managed using a to-do list rather than a calendar.
An important point to remember is that this categorization is an ongoing process and you need to find every day for this. As new tasks and responsibilities arise, it’s crucial to promptly categorize them using the approach mentioned above.
(B) Utilize a Calendar App: Use a calendar app to manage time-sensitive tasks that must be done at specific times. Reserve your calendar solely for appointments, meetings, and other time-bound commitments. Avoid including tasks that don’t have strict time constraints as it may dilute the purpose of your calendar.
(C) Maintain a To-Do List: Tasks that require prompt attention but aren’t tied to specific time slots should be managed in a to-do list. When you have available time between the first two categories of work, refer to your to-do list and select a task to focus on. A concise and manageable to-do list is crucial for easy reference and decision-making.
(D) Backburner Items: Create a category for tasks that are desirable to be done but can wait beyond a couple of weeks. These are lower-priority tasks that can be reviewed during the weekends. Assess whether any action items from this list should be moved to your active to-do list or vice versa.
The strength of this method lies in its ability to adapt to uncertainties and plan work accordingly. You can confidently attend to unplanned yet important tasks, knowing that your to-do list will remind you of pending work upon your return. If a planned task gets rescheduled, you can take advantage of the newfound time to address items from your to-do list.
It is a well-known fact that the mind tends to dwell on unfinished work, creating mental clutter and distraction. Once you have implemented such an organized time management system, you will utilize your time most effectively and so be very productive. You will also experience significant relief from the mental burden of constantly remembering pending tasks. That will lead to an increased focus on the work and hence the increased quality of the output.
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(Originally published in Times of India on June 24, 2023)
Unlocking the Path to Work Motivation and Fulfillment
Imagine a scenario where a dietitian is providing consultation to a client, meticulously crafting a diet plan tailored to the client’s health condition and specific needs. However, the client expresses discomfort by saying, “I like this diet plan, but I have a problem—I never feel hungry!”
Did he choose the wrong consultant? Probably!
Similar situations occasionally arise in my own consultancy. When I present my sleek and foolproof time management system to individuals, they respond with statements like, “This looks great, but I have a problem. I simply don’t enjoy working. How can you assist me with that?”
Another client once remarked, “Your system is excellent, but I was seeking something that would give me a kick in the butt to make me work.”
While I am not an expert capable of identifying the root cause of their lack of motivation, I offer a potential solution akin to a doctor prescribing a broad-spectrum antibiotic. I suggest that they read or re-read the book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey, which is renowned for its timeless wisdom. Additionally, I recommend an unconventional choice—The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” holds legendary status and has the potential to rectify numerous issues. Stephen Covey’s following teachings offer insights into important aspects that can address their concerns effectively:
Proactivity: Covey provides a profound understanding of proactivity beyond its commonplace usage in people management. Proactivity, according to Covey, involves recognizing that regardless of external circumstances or conditioning, individuals possess the power to choose their attitude and approach towards work. It emphasizes personal responsibility and empowers individuals to take control of their responses to situations.
Principle-centeredness: Covey introduces the concept that everyone has something at the center of their paradigms through which they perceive the world. This central focus acts as a source of security, guidance, wisdom, and power. While some people may prioritize family, money, pleasure, or self, Covey argues that these are misguided choices. Instead, he advocates for being principle-centered, with principles being timeless positive values such as fairness, integrity, honesty, patience, service, quality, and excellence. Basing decisions and actions on these principles serves as a reliable guide.
Manson says that, it’s easy to choose the pleasure that you want but it’s a futile exercise. Instead one should choose the pain they are willing to endure. Seeking constant happiness and pleasure can lead to dissatisfaction and a sense of emptiness. While, the best course of action is to choose the pain or challenges that align with their values and aspirations, embrace the associated discomfort to lead to a more fulfilling and authentic life.
He introduces the idea of “short-term” and “long-term” pleasures. Short-term pleasures are often immediate and superficial, providing instant gratification but lacking lasting satisfaction. Examples of short-term pleasures may include indulging in junk food, mindlessly scrolling through social media, or seeking validation through external sources.
On the other hand, long-term pleasure is about finding a deeper sense of fulfillment and purpose that arises from investing time and effort in pursuits that contribute to personal growth and well-being.. Manson suggests that individuals should prioritize long-term pleasures over short-term ones.