Possibly producing productivity..

Planning and/or brainstorming is a multi-faceted landscape of ideas and techniques of what the best and most efficient method is. Many just simply make lists, and some kick it up a notch to visual, flowing lists, such as mind-mapping, as I've  previously written about.  But as for list making, there is a well developed web app called WorkFlowy, that's been around for a while now that has recently begun to release updates making it compatible to editing with several mobile devices, most importantly, Android and IOS devices, as well as adding in a collaboration feature.

It does require you to create an account to use it, but for obvious reasons as list privacy and saving. There is a  good short demo video, that shows its ability to expand and change focus on which list and sub-list you are looking at.

This ability to make extensive lists with a nested stub-structure is the same reason I appreciate FreeMind, but instead of the lines and web of connections its a little less flashy with a simple note list type of format. Now its big selling point is the mobile editing update, and that it is purely web-based. So check out WorkFlowy and step up your organization and productivity, especially if you are a student and school starts next week (like me), if it hasn't already.

Embarrass Your Distractable Self

Being productive is more often then not done on a computer nowadays, no matter walk of life or job one has, at some point in the day, you try to get things done on a computer.  In our connected times of online working, banking, socializing and the like, most, if not all of that time is spent in a browser, utilizing tabs to maximize multi-tasking and minimize desktop clutter.

Now with all things looking in our favor for digital online productivity, the only think any human still lacks is discipline. To combat this quirk of the selfish nature in the human condition, check out TaskForce. I first saw this little web app up on the 10k Apart app contest site last year (check out the site archives for other cool apps).

The idea is simple and relatively effective.  You start by entering your name in under 1 minute, as task #1, then enter a new task and a time limit and let the clock tick while you knock it out. Once completed check it as "Done!" to keep yourself on a high percentage of productivity, paired with a nice smiley emoticon. If you start to slack and miss deadlines, your percentage falls, as well as the emoticon becoming less jolly. And if you have any sense of pride and dignity, once seeing how distracted and inefficient you are, you hopefully show some gumption and get your crap done, and get off Facebook.