A recently launched group project started by Ben at the Instigator Blog aims to collect the web's most comprehensive list of productivity tips. Everybody can chip in with their secret productivity tips. In the end, we're going to compile one huge list (and hopefully publish it in a downloadable e-book) that anybody would find immensely useful.

Ultimate Guide to Productivity Button

What's my secret?

One word: automation.

Let me elaborate on that a bit:

By automation, I mean putting an end to manually doing those nasty repetitive tasks that kill your productivity by wasting your time and sucking up your energy. I'm talking specifically about the tasks we do as we interact with our computers.

Why automation?

Two reasons:

  1. Less work
  2. Less distraction

With every little or big repetitive task you automate, you win back a chunk of time better spent doing creative work.

Also, with automation, you have better chances at maintaining a steady flow of creative state. In other words, those little tasks won't be responsible for interrupting your train of thoughts, anymore.

How do I identify those repetitive tasks?

Oh boy, they're everywhere!

The problem is, we're so used to doing them we don't even recognize their impact and the potential of automating them. They can be as simple as minimizing a window, pushing a freaking button, to more complex ones like keeping up with news, blogs, etc.

What do I do about them?

Simple: look for and get a software to automate the process of achieving them.

To this end, there are two categorizes of such software:

  1. One that can generally automate any task
  2. One that is meant to automate specific tasks

Software to automate any task

In the "any" category, there's one amazingly useful tool I use called: AutoMate (bet you didn't see this one coming)

AutoMate  AutoMate_Triggers  AutoMate_Task_Builder 

AutoMate tasks are assembled via drag-and-drop, without writing a single line of code. This allows automated tasks to be developed really rapidly. It includes over 140 available actions and triggers, enabling you to build tasks that automate a wide variety of network and computing operations, such as: windows manipulation, automated FTP backup, job scheduling, data or file replication, application testing, data entry, etc.

Software to automate specific tasks

This is a bit tricker. There are lots of tools out there that aim to help you achieve specific tasks. For example, my favorite program launcher, ENSO, helps me launch any program I want with few keystrokes from any application. For reading news and blogs, my favorite RSS reader, Google Reader, helps me keep up with all the cool stuff happening on the internet.

Tasks I automate

To give an example, here is a (hopefully) complete list of every task I can think of which I automate by utilizing certain software and the reason of automation:

Minimize, Maximize, Close Windows

Reason: Faster and more natural.

Push annoying buttons and dialogs

Reason: Very simple to configure and works like magic!

Aggregate latest news and blog posts

Reason: Fast, lots of keyboard shortcuts, integration with Firefox.

Locate files

Reason: Again fast, easy to use (double-tap the Ctrl key).

Launch applications

Reason: Unobtrusive, relevant, pretty. 

Play music

Reason: Lightweight, easy, global keyboard shortcuts, lots of plugins.

Conclusion

The point to take home is this:

To improve your productivity, try to spot the tasks that you do repetitively which you think can be automated. Chances are, there's a piece of software out there that can configured to accomplish this task. I have a knack for always discovering such pieces of software, so if you're in doubt, let me know and I'll try and offer you some advice. 

Further Reading

Here are more great posts by various bloggers regarding their productivity secrets:

  1. Productivity Tip by Jenn Givler
  2. Productivity Tip - Just Start by Andrew Garrett
  3. My Key To Productivity by Matt McDonald
  4. How Productive Are You? by Tish
  5. Time management for graphic designers by Rob Cubbon
  6. Productivity Tips 2.0 by Stephen
  7. My Most Powerful Productivity Tip by Ellesse
  8. Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Ian McKenzie
  9. Ultimate Guide to Productivity by GTD Wannabe
  10. The ultimate productivity tip by Matthew Cornell
  11. My single best tip for productivity by Brett Kelly
  12. My Key to Productivity by Andrew Barbaccia
  13. Blog Even More Efficiently by Scott Hartshorn
  14. The Greatest Productivity Tip in the World by Gary Vaughan
  15. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity Group Writing Project by Joy Slaughter
  16. Single Best Productivity Tip by Leo
  17. Join the Ultimate Guide to Productivity by JC
  18. My top productivity tip by Steven Aitchinson
  19. Phil Gerbyshak
  20. Virtual Assistants and Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Key Business Partners
  21. Ultimate Guide to Productivity (My First Meme) by Geoff R.
  22. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity - What’s your secret? by Mary Ann Copson
  23. Continuously Increase Productivity by Embracing the Optimization Mentality by John Wesley
  24. Increase Productivity by Conquering Procrastination by Gia Combs-Ramirez
  25. Ultimate Tip To Reach GTD Nirvana by Andrew Flusche
  26. Productivity Secrets Project by Lisa Sabin-Wilson
  27. Maximizing Productivity by Ah Pek
  28. Thoughts on Productivity by Rowan Manahan
  29. Being more Productive with your Marketing Efforts by Chris Brown
  30. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Don The Idea Guy
  31. 5 Productivity Tips That Help by Brett Evans
  32. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Sue Olson
  33. Productivity Tip for Students (From the Other Side of the Fence) by ispf
  34. There’s only one secret to increased productivity by Colleen Wainwright
  35. 8 Productivity Tips to Take Control of Your Life by Krista
  36. Choices Are Made Long Before You Decide - Productivity Tips by Jonathan
  37. Secrets to Productivity by Randa Clay
  38. Up Your Productivity and Profits too! by Andrew Wee
  39. Meme Tagged, Meme Slayer…I Give In by Wayne Porter
  40. Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Janet Barclay
  41. Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Lorraine Pirihi
  42. Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Kathie Thomas
  43. 14 Tips to Get More Done in Less Time by engtech
  44. Work-Life Balance and Productivity by David Bohl
  45. My Contribution to the Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Harrison
  46. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Wendy Piersall
  47. How Productivity Comes From Clarity by Adam Kayce
  48. How To Stay Focused For Greater Productivity by Dawud Miracle
  49. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity - Wanna Share One Big Secret? by Ponn Sabra
  50. My Productivity Secret - The Joy of Flow State by Chris Garrett
  51. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity - MomGadget Style by Gayla McCord
  52. If you don’t have passion and purpose, greater productivity won’t help you! by Alister Cameron
  53. Building a Home Business One Weekend At a Time by Tony Clark
  54. Ultimate Guide to Productivity Group Writing Project by Jennifer Louden
  55. Be Aware, Make Choices by Alex Fayle
  56. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Digging into the Blogpond
  57. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity meme by Doris
  58. Ultimate Guide to Productivity by KM
  59. Ultimate Guide to Productivity for Adult ADD Sufferers by Deborah Petersen
  60. How to become a Productivity Super Hero who Rights Wrongs, Saves the Environment, and Rescues Cats from Trees by Aaron Potts
  61. Zugunruhe Ultimate Guide to Productivity: Time Budgets by Tara Robinson
  62. Are Your Secrets For Personal Productivity by Lisa Mills
  63. Blogging Productivity & Criticizing Goals by Andy Beard
  64. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity - what’s your secret? by The Kiss Business
  65. Secrets to Personal Productivity by The Practical Chick
  66. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity — What’s Your Secret? by Derrick Sorles
  67. Instigator Blog: Productivity Tips by Mitch Owen
  68. The Childlike Secret to Productivity by Kim & Jason
  69. Just Do Something, Already by Lorna
  70. Productivity Secrets by Angela Smith
  71. Maintaining Productivity In The Midst Of Interruptions by Lexi Sundell
  72. The Key to Dunking Your Doubts and Unclogging Your Optimism by Adam Kayce
  73. A Nice Collection of Productivity Ideas by Dan Markovitz
  74. My Ultimate Guide To Productivity by Vlad
  75. A stupidly simple way to have a productive day by Jonny
  76. My Secret to Productivity is Not Really a Secret by Char Polanosky