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Ask HN: What tools/methods do you use to focus your time well?

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Re: Ask HN: What tools/methods do you use to focus your time well?

#51

Post by Glench »

Concentration meditation is an extraordinarily powerful method. Ordinarily, the mind wanders haphazardly from topic to topic even in the middle of tasks [1]. Most people find it a challenge to focus on even one thing fully for 30 seconds without their mind wandering. With good concentration practice, the mind concentrates fully and effortlessly for as long as the meditator wants. As you can imagine, that can be a real boon for productivity.

[1] http://www.danielgilbert.com/KILLINGSWORTH%20&%20GILBERT%20(...

Re: Ask HN: What tools/methods do you use to focus your time well?

#52

Post by victor106 »

Glench wrote: post #51

Concentration meditation is an extraordinarily powerful method. Ordinarily, the mind wanders haphazardly from topic to topic even in the middle of tasks [1]. Most people find it a challenge to focus on even one thing fully for 30 seconds without their mind wandering. With good concentration practice, the mind concentrates fully and effortlessly for as long as the meditator wants. As you can imagine, that can be a rea…

Interesting. How do you practice concentration meditation?

Re: Ask HN: What tools/methods do you use to focus your time well?

#53

Post by Glench »

victor106 wrote: post #52
Glench wrote: post #51

Concentration meditation is an extraordinarily powerful method. Ordinarily, the mind wanders haphazardly from topic to topic even in the middle of tasks [1]. Most people find it a challenge to focus on even one thing fully for 30 seconds without their mind wandering. With good concentration practice, the mind concentrates fully and effortlessly for as long as the meditator wants. As you can imagine, that can be a rea…

Interesting. How do you practice concentration meditation?

Pick something to concentrate on, like the breath. With your awareness, focus and get absorbed in the details of the concentration object. When your mind wanders from the object, bring it back. With good practice, it starts to become automatic.

Re: Ask HN: What tools/methods do you use to focus your time well?

#55

Post by tmaly »

I read the David Allen GTD book a few years back. I have not fully committed to the method. But a big take away for me was keeping lists of things to review. This closes the open loops in your mind so you don’t feel stressed that you forgot something.

I use Things 3 app on ios for lists and reminders.

Staples sells an ARC notebook system I use at my day job. I like the ability to rearrange things and they have a nice page template for notes and action items. I use this for meetings both in person and on the phone.

I use the 5 minute journal to help me keep focused on 1-3 top items at night.

If you can have at least 2 kids, that is probably the best way to learn time management. Everything else pales in comparison

Re: Ask HN: What tools/methods do you use to focus your time well?

#57

Post by ceetronic »

juvoni wrote: post #10

I utilize a similar system to "reverse engineer the year". Breaking down the major outcomes I want for the year into quarters which each having a specific focus and theme. At the end of each quarter I have a 90 day review to reflect on how I'm doing, where I'm heading and if there is any recalibration that needs to happen from changing priorities. Each month I is essentially 3 "Acts" that play out the goals of that q…

Put noise cancelling headphones on and go to musicforprogramming.net, select random mix.

Re: Ask HN: What tools/methods do you use to focus your time well?

#58

Post by acl777 »

tmaly wrote: post #56
acl777 wrote: post #49

pomodoros have been mentioned quite a few times, but I love using Apple Watch as a pomodoro timer http://redgreenrepeat.com/2016/04/01/apple-watch-beyond-fitn...

I use Focus Keeper on Iphone for this

hmm... I'll have to try this out too. Love the charting feature (which I do by hand in onenote)

One thing about timers on iPhone is when I look to see how much longer I have, other notifications distract me.

Does Focus Keeper solve for this in some way? Or do you turn all notifications off?

Re: Ask HN: What tools/methods do you use to focus your time well?

#59

Post by szaboat »

Glench wrote: post #53
victor106 wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting. How do you practice concentration meditation?

Pick something to concentrate on, like the breath. With your awareness, focus and get absorbed in the details of the concentration object. When your mind wanders from the object, bring it back. With good practice, it starts to become automatic.

I've started to practice vipassana meditation and this book was gave a really practical approach. It's really pragmatic and describes everything, position, breathing, problem handling, pacing. I recommend to give it a try.

http://www.vipassana.com/meditation/mindfulness_in_plain_eng...

shameless plug, I made an ebook from the online texts

https://github.com/szaboat/ebook-mindfulness-in-plain-englis...

Re: Ask HN: What tools/methods do you use to focus your time well?

#60

Post by tmaly »

acl777 wrote: post #58
tmaly wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use Focus Keeper on Iphone for this

hmm... I'll have to try this out too. Love the charting feature (which I do by hand in onenote) One thing about timers on iPhone is when I look to see how much longer I have, other notifications distract me. Does Focus Keeper solve for this in some way? Or do you turn all notifications off?

That one of two reasons why I switched to Iphone from Android. Ability to turn off all notifications from one screen. Focus from distraction is paramount
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