My desktop uses a wireless network with an external USB radio. Having the ability to physically disconnect it a few hours a day works better at countering distractions than exercising self-restraint by not opening a browser.
Ask HN: What are your best life hacks/best tools in life/time savers?
51–60 of 140 posts
Re: Ask HN: What are your best life hacks/best tools in life/time savers?
#521) 9 - 10 hours sleep 2) reduce multitasking 3) eat like a bird 4) exercise 5) don't commute more than 20mins each way
>> 5) don't commute more than 20mins each way
I walk to work. Free 1.5 hr of exercise every day and I don't have to spend money on transportation.
Re: Ask HN: What are your best life hacks/best tools in life/time savers?
#531) 9 - 10 hours sleep 2) reduce multitasking 3) eat like a bird 4) exercise 5) don't commute more than 20mins each way
1. I understand sleep is important, but how in the world do you guys get 9-10 hours of sleep?
Between a full time job (8-10 hrs, salary so when a client needs help, off I go!) and trying to hack the latest and greatest of my ideas in my spare time, family, friends, chores, and relaxing for a moment at the end... I don't have 9 hours left before I have to be at work the next morning.
3. Am I missing something, can someone enlighten me about this eat like a bird? If anything I need to gain weight.
5. I live a block from the office :)
Re: Ask HN: What are your best life hacks/best tools in life/time savers?
#54humanized enso. I usually drop this in every "best tools" thread.
for windows users: I recently learned to like installing the console app and set the startup path in it to cygwin. I'm sure most of you HNers do this already, but I've spent a loong time looking for a decent console setup on windows x64, where andlinux/colinux isn't supported yet.
Re: Ask HN: What are your best life hacks/best tools in life/time savers?
#55Cheap program launcher for Windows users, but I've had something similar on Linux at one point:
1) Create directory "shortcuts".
2) Map path to that directory.
3) Drag shortcuts into there, for e.g. documents, folders, programs. The further-from-your-desktop the better, because that saves the most time. Rename them to 'ideas', 'timesheet', web', 'projects' etc - note that the shortcut name can be quite different to the file name.
4) Change IE setting for autocompletion in the URL bar to true. Probably Tools/Internet Options/Advanced/Use inline Autocomplete. This affects your start menu.
5) [Windows key]-R and the shortcut name. Your shortcut should execute. If you have done #4 above then in future you should only have to type one or two letters of the shortcut in future. 'ti' for timesheets, for example.
Re: Ask HN: What are your best life hacks/best tools in life/time savers?
#56When asked to do things you do not want to do, say no. Obviously you have to pick your battles, but this simple act is guaranteed to give you more time to do the stuff you do want to do.
I've noticed that I don't do this often enough. I don't know if it is because I've become conditioned to say yes to tasks and assignments at work, and that has bled over into my personal life, or just because I hate friction. Either way, I agree with this tip. If you don't want to do it, say no. Otherwise you're going to spend a long time making excuses.
Re: Ask HN: What are your best life hacks/best tools in life/time savers?
#57Also, start keeping a separate google calender (subcalendar) for small daily routines you want to do (i.e. workout, check todo lists, etc). Set it up to SMS / push to your device, But don't sync the calendar on your mobile.
This way your calendar app on your phone only shows the important events in your month view, and you still get notified when to do daily things like "check todo list"
Re: Ask HN: What are your best life hacks/best tools in life/time savers?
#581) a collection of autohotkey scripts (key remapping, fast toggling for show/hide hidden files, toggle selected text from upper/lowercase and a heap more) 2) sms reminders on google calendar (free!) 3) learning as many kb shortcuts to your software as you can 4) automatic filters and a well thought out label system in gmail 5) sumatra pdf viewer, or any really quick pdf program 6) electric blanket on a timer, makes g…
#6 - There is growing evidence that putting large electromagnetic fields near vital organs is not good for your long-term health.
Re: Ask HN: What are your best life hacks/best tools in life/time savers?
#59Cheap program launcher for Windows users, but I've had something similar on Linux at one point: 1) Create directory "shortcuts". 2) Map path to that directory. 3) Drag shortcuts into there, for e.g. documents, folders, programs. The further-from-your-desktop the better, because that saves the most time. Rename them to 'ideas', 'timesheet', web', 'projects' etc - note that the shortcut name can be quite different to t…
Launchy is as cheap as free (as in free beer), and it indexes all the filetypes you want, and with a hotkey like alt+space or win+space it learns by usage, so you end up just typing one or two letters... plus there are plug-ins
Re: Ask HN: What are your best life hacks/best tools in life/time savers?
#60Life Hack:
Buy a box (10 or so) of small LED flashlights. Place one discretely behind anything you routinely have to peer behind. I have one behind my fridge, my television and inside my computer rack.
Work Hack:
When hosting a meeting, never schedule more than 30 minutes. This requires keeping things on point and moving ahead. Start on-time, state the point, tease that the meeting should only take 20 minutes. Avoid rehashing for late-comers, explain that you'll get with them after the call/meeting. Participation goes up when people have incentive and when you have a reputation for starting on time, people will arrive on time. The ones that don't probably don't need to be there.
If you're at a larger company, greet everyone you pass in the hallway regardless of title, position, or rank. Get to know their names and use it in the greeting (there was a famous book somewhere . . .). "Good Morning, Joe" is enough.
Completely disconnect for more than two days every once in a while, especially if you're in a rut somewhere (dead-end project, writer's block). I'd take short cruises and spend the majority of the time watching the water (this was back when cruises didn't have internet access or cell service, and even now the cost is prohibitive enough that you can tell work "You can reach me for $9.00 a minute"). The first day or so is discomforting, but after the third you stop thinking about what you missed on Hacker News.
You didn't say Vacation Hacks, but I have a few:
- Schedule trips during the common first/last week of school. Parents usually can't take trips at this time, so resorts/cruises are usually under-booked and less expensive.
- If you like cruises, watch NYC launches that happen over one of the big Jewish holidays, especially themed or promo cruises. Cruises are usually booked several months in advance. Cancellations are common, the cruise company gets paid partially and wants to fill the room. I got a $500 and $400 balcony on a 7-day in East Caribbean on a great ship this way. Both were themed cruises, so this may make a difference (much earlier booking, perhaps).