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It's surprising how many devs are trying to overoptimize for productivity with various fancy tools and techniques, when it actually comes down to simple basics.

It's surprising how many devs are trying to overoptimize for productivity with various fancy tools and techniques, when it actually comes down to simple basics. Here is what I rely on as a founder who does a lot of context switching: - a never-ending text file for todos and work journal [0] - calendar for planning (and blocking focus time) - website blocker - turned off notifications [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39432876 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39432876

DarkCrusader2 2y ago
Big +1 to this (see my comment on this thread). I just use a editor plugin to make marking tasks as done/cancelled easier and rotate the files every month to keep things a little organized (and scoping the keyword search) and it has been the most effective form of project management/journalling for me for many years.
polairscience 2y ago
What website blocker do you use?
- elitan 2y ago
  I follow the same structure, and I use Notion, Google Calendar, and Flow App.
- Flimm 2y ago
  I use LeechBlock NG, for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, as well as Firefox on Android.
mistahenry 2y ago
For the never-ending text file for todos and work journal, I've found great success with org-mode, especially since deadlines automatically end up in my calendar with org-agenda. The outline format of org-mode is quite nice and it took all of 1 day to learn the key commands for making / manipulating the outline, creating links, and cycling through TODO states (using Doom emacs made the start super easy since I already know vi and didn't have to also learn the text editing commands). I've also found the concept of an "inbox" from the Zettelkasten method very helpful. Anytime something comes up that's not yet in my system, I add it to the inbox for later processing (org-capture on my computer, and beorg on my phone). This way, note entry doesn't require a full context switch. I then just make sure to regularly drain my inbox. I don't use emacs currently for anything but org-mode but I'm far happier with this than I was with a never ending `.md` file.
- sudhirkhanger 2y ago
  How does one hide completed tasks from org mode?
  - Forge36 2y ago
    Archive is an option, it'll move the heading and children into a new file. Agenda can also find and filter by state. Perhaps to clarify: hide from where?
  - merlincorey 2y ago
    Like many things in Software the question is why do you want to hide them? One way to do it is to archive[0] it which will move it into a local _archive file. Another way which I'm currently using is to periodically manually archive tasks into a tree of folders and files by date then category (and sometimes subcategory) which allows me to publish an HTML or PDF file of everything from say 2023 for a particular client. [0] https://orgmode.org/manual/Archiving.html https://orgmode.org/manual/Archiving.html
  - bloopernova 2y ago
    In org-journal, opening a new daily or weekly file only moves uncompleted tasks. It leaves completed tasks in the previous file.
  - setopt 2y ago
    (setopt org-agenda-skip-scheduled-if-done t)
sudhirkhanger 2y ago
How do/would you use it over various systems? What's the best way to cloud sync this? One might have to use it on work machine with restrictions around installing apps.
- Forge36 2y ago
  I use org mode and sync with a git repository. Thoughtfully emacs and git are both approved.
  - sudhirkhanger 2y ago
    Do you have any hooks setup to automatically commit/push if file changes are detected?
    - Forge36 2y ago
      I have a server hook to make a commit (which causes the push to fail) if I forget to manually make one. I have F10 in emacs setup to commit and pull to local. Local is also setup to rebase on pull.
- setopt 2y ago
  As long as auto-revert-mode is on (so the editor notices synced changes from other devices), you can sync it using any file storage service: Dropbox, iCloud Drive, Resilio Sync, etc.
luzojeda 2y ago
Do you manage monthly to-do lists? How do you integrate them with that approach if so? I mean the one that is used in a [bullet journal](https://bulletjournal.com/cdn/shop/articles/monthly-log-inspiration-header_1600x.jpg?v=1533426377 https://bulletjournal.com/cdn/shop/articles/monthly-log-insp...) for example

DarkCrusader2 2y ago

Big +1 to this (see my comment on this thread). I just use a editor plugin to make marking tasks as done/cancelled easier and rotate the files every month to keep things a little organized (and scoping the keyword search) and it has been the most effective form of project management/journalling for me for many years.

polairscience 2y ago

What website blocker do you use?

elitan 2y ago
I follow the same structure, and I use Notion, Google Calendar, and Flow App.
Flimm 2y ago
I use LeechBlock NG, for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, as well as Firefox on Android.

mistahenry 2y ago

For the never-ending text file for todos and work journal, I've found great success with org-mode, especially since deadlines automatically end up in my calendar with org-agenda. The outline format of org-mode is quite nice and it took all of 1 day to learn the key commands for making / manipulating the outline, creating links, and cycling through TODO states (using Doom emacs made the start super easy since I already know vi and didn't have to also learn the text editing commands). I've also found the concept of an "inbox" from the Zettelkasten method very helpful. Anytime something comes up that's not yet in my system, I add it to the inbox for later processing (org-capture on my computer, and beorg on my phone). This way, note entry doesn't require a full context switch. I then just make sure to regularly drain my inbox. I don't use emacs currently for anything but org-mode but I'm far happier with this than I was with a never ending `.md` file.

sudhirkhanger 2y ago
How does one hide completed tasks from org mode?
- Forge36 2y ago
  Archive is an option, it'll move the heading and children into a new file. Agenda can also find and filter by state. Perhaps to clarify: hide from where?
- merlincorey 2y ago
  Like many things in Software the question is why do you want to hide them? One way to do it is to archive[0] it which will move it into a local _archive file. Another way which I'm currently using is to periodically manually archive tasks into a tree of folders and files by date then category (and sometimes subcategory) which allows me to publish an HTML or PDF file of everything from say 2023 for a particular client. [0] https://orgmode.org/manual/Archiving.html https://orgmode.org/manual/Archiving.html
- bloopernova 2y ago
  In org-journal, opening a new daily or weekly file only moves uncompleted tasks. It leaves completed tasks in the previous file.
- setopt 2y ago
  (setopt org-agenda-skip-scheduled-if-done t)

sudhirkhanger 2y ago

How do/would you use it over various systems? What's the best way to cloud sync this? One might have to use it on work machine with restrictions around installing apps.

Forge36 2y ago
I use org mode and sync with a git repository. Thoughtfully emacs and git are both approved.
- sudhirkhanger 2y ago
  Do you have any hooks setup to automatically commit/push if file changes are detected?
  - Forge36 2y ago
    I have a server hook to make a commit (which causes the push to fail) if I forget to manually make one. I have F10 in emacs setup to commit and pull to local. Local is also setup to rebase on pull.
setopt 2y ago
As long as auto-revert-mode is on (so the editor notices synced changes from other devices), you can sync it using any file storage service: Dropbox, iCloud Drive, Resilio Sync, etc.

luzojeda 2y ago

Do you manage monthly to-do lists? How do you integrate them with that approach if so? I mean the one that is used in a [bullet journal](https://bulletjournal.com/cdn/shop/articles/monthly-log-inspiration-header_1600x.jpg?v=1533426377 https://bulletjournal.com/cdn/shop/articles/monthly-log-insp...) for example