The top 5 new rules of productivity
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From: 5 New Rules of productivity[^] 1: Your productivity will vary wildly from day to day. This is normal. - Of course yes, that is expected. 2: Working more hours means getting less done - I do not think I fully agree with this statement. If I find something interesting I automatically work long hours. 3: Working harder means getting less done - I doubt it. 4: Procrastination can be good for you - Well I have been procrastinating writing articles and it did nothing to me:) 5: Happiness is the ultimate productivity enhancer - Agreed! In my opinion, doing all the productivity studies may be a waste of time. I do not think there is any universal formula that works for everybody. Incidentally, I was planning to get this book: Drive[^] which discusses about things which motivates us.
Maybe the people doing the productivity studies can be more productive doing something else ;)
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Maybe the people doing the productivity studies can be more productive doing something else ;)
LOL! Or may be they are procrastinating their real work and doing productivity studies in that time.
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LOL! Or may be they are procrastinating their real work and doing productivity studies in that time.
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From: 5 New Rules of productivity[^] 1: Your productivity will vary wildly from day to day. This is normal. - Of course yes, that is expected. 2: Working more hours means getting less done - I do not think I fully agree with this statement. If I find something interesting I automatically work long hours. 3: Working harder means getting less done - I doubt it. 4: Procrastination can be good for you - Well I have been procrastinating writing articles and it did nothing to me:) 5: Happiness is the ultimate productivity enhancer - Agreed! In my opinion, doing all the productivity studies may be a waste of time. I do not think there is any universal formula that works for everybody. Incidentally, I was planning to get this book: Drive[^] which discusses about things which motivates us.
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
2: Working more hours means getting less done
Apply Rule 1 and some discretion, and avoid working long hours without positive results. I also doubt Rule 3, but we can revise it together with my qualification of rule 2. Procrastination has often been good for me. Probably not as often as it's been bad for me, but procrastination when you can afford it should be actively explored. You must, however, do something else productive in the time it gives you. Or at least something enjoyable and postive. [Extra, no charge today: I often procrastinate tasks that I find frustrating or that I get 'stuck' on. Returning to them after some constructive distraction often yields a new perspective that removes the 'block' (like, cleans out the bad energy bru) Health, for me, is the ultimate productivity enhancer. Where I am normally physically healthy, I do suffer from anxiety disorder, manifest in severe indecision, avoidance behaviour, irritability etc. When I sort that, I work like a machine, and that makes me happy.
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Maybe the people doing the productivity studies can be more productive doing something else ;)
I agree.
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail! Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person. - Chanakya
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From: 5 New Rules of productivity[^] 1: Your productivity will vary wildly from day to day. This is normal. - Of course yes, that is expected. 2: Working more hours means getting less done - I do not think I fully agree with this statement. If I find something interesting I automatically work long hours. 3: Working harder means getting less done - I doubt it. 4: Procrastination can be good for you - Well I have been procrastinating writing articles and it did nothing to me:) 5: Happiness is the ultimate productivity enhancer - Agreed! In my opinion, doing all the productivity studies may be a waste of time. I do not think there is any universal formula that works for everybody. Incidentally, I was planning to get this book: Drive[^] which discusses about things which motivates us.
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
1: Your productivity will vary wildly from day to day. This is normal.
Wow! they've really found something no one knew before. But they failed to mention why this is so. *See below
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
2: Working more hours means getting less done
Bollocks! Working longer hours means the person writing your paycheck wants you to work longer hours. They've got two projects for you, each of which requires 8 or more hours of work, each day. So you work your arse off thinking you are doing some good. Actually your employer is getting rich while you get screwed over - again and again and again.
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
3: Working harder means getting less done
Yeah! tell that to your employer. He will really like it and will give you a hug and a kiss on the cheek for saying that. :rolleyes:
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
4: Procrastination can be good for you
Right! Lets deliver this product five months late and expect to still be employed.
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
5: Happiness is the ultimate productivity enhancer
Yes, but how do you get happy ? Less work ? No. Less work -> Getting less done -> Less money in your employer's bank account -> Less money in your hand (you wouldn't need a wallet to carry all that cash, you know) Dealing with office politics ? No. Knowing that your employer didn't give you the increment he promised you 8 months ago ? No. Knowing that you will have to stay in the smelly rented s**thole of a house because you cannot afford a better one ? No. Knowing that you cannot afford to get a new machine for yourself because you don't have the money for it ? No. Competive pay and your employer not hell-bent on screwing you with a police baton ? Probably yes. From the article: 1.Don’t work overtime. In fact, some studies indicate that knowledge workers are the most productive when they work 35 hours a week. Riiight! Tell that to your employer. 2.Take breaks during the work day and make sure to take vacations. :laugh: Look! he said "Vacation", whatever the hell that is. * You get little done on days when you learn that you are not getting any increment this month. In a couple days you get used
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From: 5 New Rules of productivity[^] 1: Your productivity will vary wildly from day to day. This is normal. - Of course yes, that is expected. 2: Working more hours means getting less done - I do not think I fully agree with this statement. If I find something interesting I automatically work long hours. 3: Working harder means getting less done - I doubt it. 4: Procrastination can be good for you - Well I have been procrastinating writing articles and it did nothing to me:) 5: Happiness is the ultimate productivity enhancer - Agreed! In my opinion, doing all the productivity studies may be a waste of time. I do not think there is any universal formula that works for everybody. Incidentally, I was planning to get this book: Drive[^] which discusses about things which motivates us.
I always wonder if these sorts of lists are written by people who hate their jobs or think that everyone hates their jobs? I usually find their conclusions ludicrous at best.
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
1: Your productivity will vary wildly from day to day. This is normal.
Yeah, I agree, too.
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
2: Working more hours means getting less done
Either the author is an idiot, or thinks that everyone else is! I work longer because I get paid to work longer.
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
3: Working harder means getting less done
Again, the author must be an idiot. What he describes is working stupider, not working harder.
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
4: Procrastination can be good for you
That depends. Usually I put off doing things that seem unpleasant, but once I force myself to do them they go fast and not nearly as bad as anticipated. In every single case, procrastinating was a waste of time, unless I had something more important to do, in which case it wasn't procrastinating but handling priorities.
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
5: Happiness is the ultimate productivity enhancer
When I'm perfectly happy not doing something, why would I be happier doing it? That's just ridiculous. It's the promise of happiness, unless you just love what you're doing. Then it isn't work at all. Which is why I can work 16 hours a day without any problem - I love what I do and am amazed that I get paid for doing what I love to do. And if I didn't, I'd have to find a different job.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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From: 5 New Rules of productivity[^] 1: Your productivity will vary wildly from day to day. This is normal. - Of course yes, that is expected. 2: Working more hours means getting less done - I do not think I fully agree with this statement. If I find something interesting I automatically work long hours. 3: Working harder means getting less done - I doubt it. 4: Procrastination can be good for you - Well I have been procrastinating writing articles and it did nothing to me:) 5: Happiness is the ultimate productivity enhancer - Agreed! In my opinion, doing all the productivity studies may be a waste of time. I do not think there is any universal formula that works for everybody. Incidentally, I was planning to get this book: Drive[^] which discusses about things which motivates us.
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
2: Working more hours means getting less done - I do not think I fully agree with this statement. If I find something interesting I automatically work long hours.
It's talking long-term... If you're working 60-hour weeks, as it uses in the example, you'll get more done initially, but eventually that's going to wear you out. Seriously, if you were stuck working 12-hour days, 5 days a week, whether you're "in the zone" or not, you'd burn out, wouldn't you?
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
3: Working harder means getting less done - I doubt it.
It's talking about too much pressure. High stress, hard to concentrate, everything rushed... So the output is lower quality... This probably varies person-to-person, but on average, it makes sense.
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
4: Procrastination can be good for you - Well I have been procrastinating writing articles and it did nothing to me
It's pretty standard advice... If you're stuck on a problem and just can't work it out, try switching to something else for a while and coming back to it later. If you're in a visually-creative mood today, work on the GUI instead of the data layer, because you'll probably get more done. Come on, Rama... Read more than just the headings :)
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of Guardians of Xen (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novel) -
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
2: Working more hours means getting less done - I do not think I fully agree with this statement. If I find something interesting I automatically work long hours.
It's talking long-term... If you're working 60-hour weeks, as it uses in the example, you'll get more done initially, but eventually that's going to wear you out. Seriously, if you were stuck working 12-hour days, 5 days a week, whether you're "in the zone" or not, you'd burn out, wouldn't you?
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
3: Working harder means getting less done - I doubt it.
It's talking about too much pressure. High stress, hard to concentrate, everything rushed... So the output is lower quality... This probably varies person-to-person, but on average, it makes sense.
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
4: Procrastination can be good for you - Well I have been procrastinating writing articles and it did nothing to me
It's pretty standard advice... If you're stuck on a problem and just can't work it out, try switching to something else for a while and coming back to it later. If you're in a visually-creative mood today, work on the GUI instead of the data layer, because you'll probably get more done. Come on, Rama... Read more than just the headings :)
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of Guardians of Xen (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novel)Ian Shlasko wrote:
It's talking long-term... If you're working 60-hour weeks, as it uses in the example, you'll get more done initially, but eventually that's going to wear you out. Seriously, if you were stuck working 12-hour days, 5 days a week, whether you're "in the zone" or not, you'd burn out, wouldn't you?
Only 5? I can work about 3 months of 10 to 12 hours a day 7 days a week before I burn out and production gets worse. Currently I am in that situation with 1 month left to deliver and only 15 to 20 thousand lines of code to write..
John
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Ian Shlasko wrote:
It's talking long-term... If you're working 60-hour weeks, as it uses in the example, you'll get more done initially, but eventually that's going to wear you out. Seriously, if you were stuck working 12-hour days, 5 days a week, whether you're "in the zone" or not, you'd burn out, wouldn't you?
Only 5? I can work about 3 months of 10 to 12 hours a day 7 days a week before I burn out and production gets worse. Currently I am in that situation with 1 month left to deliver and only 15 to 20 thousand lines of code to write..
John
Ok, well, that's a lot more than I could handle. I work 45 hours a week (9 x 5), though I occasionally work late if I'm in the middle of something. This is near the upper end of my tolerance... Bit more than this, and I'd start to burn out far too quickly.
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of Guardians of Xen (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novel) -
Ok, well, that's a lot more than I could handle. I work 45 hours a week (9 x 5), though I occasionally work late if I'm in the middle of something. This is near the upper end of my tolerance... Bit more than this, and I'd start to burn out far too quickly.
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of Guardians of Xen (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novel)I just hired an additional programmer to my team. Hopefully that will eliminate this problem in the future.
John
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From: 5 New Rules of productivity[^] 1: Your productivity will vary wildly from day to day. This is normal. - Of course yes, that is expected. 2: Working more hours means getting less done - I do not think I fully agree with this statement. If I find something interesting I automatically work long hours. 3: Working harder means getting less done - I doubt it. 4: Procrastination can be good for you - Well I have been procrastinating writing articles and it did nothing to me:) 5: Happiness is the ultimate productivity enhancer - Agreed! In my opinion, doing all the productivity studies may be a waste of time. I do not think there is any universal formula that works for everybody. Incidentally, I was planning to get this book: Drive[^] which discusses about things which motivates us.
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From: 5 New Rules of productivity[^] 1: Your productivity will vary wildly from day to day. This is normal. - Of course yes, that is expected. 2: Working more hours means getting less done - I do not think I fully agree with this statement. If I find something interesting I automatically work long hours. 3: Working harder means getting less done - I doubt it. 4: Procrastination can be good for you - Well I have been procrastinating writing articles and it did nothing to me:) 5: Happiness is the ultimate productivity enhancer - Agreed! In my opinion, doing all the productivity studies may be a waste of time. I do not think there is any universal formula that works for everybody. Incidentally, I was planning to get this book: Drive[^] which discusses about things which motivates us.
3: Working harder means getting less done - I doubt it. Showing only this, you change the context. Be forced to "work harder" to meet the expectations will probably stress the worker and, if it is an intellectual work with must not have errors, will increase the chance of such errors.
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From: 5 New Rules of productivity[^] 1: Your productivity will vary wildly from day to day. This is normal. - Of course yes, that is expected. 2: Working more hours means getting less done - I do not think I fully agree with this statement. If I find something interesting I automatically work long hours. 3: Working harder means getting less done - I doubt it. 4: Procrastination can be good for you - Well I have been procrastinating writing articles and it did nothing to me:) 5: Happiness is the ultimate productivity enhancer - Agreed! In my opinion, doing all the productivity studies may be a waste of time. I do not think there is any universal formula that works for everybody. Incidentally, I was planning to get this book: Drive[^] which discusses about things which motivates us.
Oddly for me, I've found that productivity leads to more productivity. When I feel like I've accomplished more than trivial things I get energized and very focused.
And above all things, never think that you're not good enough yourself. A man should never think that. My belief is that in life people will take you at your own reckoning. --Isaac Asimov Avoid the crowd. Do your own thinking independently. Be the chess player, not the chess piece. --Ralph Charell
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Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
2: Working more hours means getting less done
Apply Rule 1 and some discretion, and avoid working long hours without positive results. I also doubt Rule 3, but we can revise it together with my qualification of rule 2. Procrastination has often been good for me. Probably not as often as it's been bad for me, but procrastination when you can afford it should be actively explored. You must, however, do something else productive in the time it gives you. Or at least something enjoyable and postive. [Extra, no charge today: I often procrastinate tasks that I find frustrating or that I get 'stuck' on. Returning to them after some constructive distraction often yields a new perspective that removes the 'block' (like, cleans out the bad energy bru) Health, for me, is the ultimate productivity enhancer. Where I am normally physically healthy, I do suffer from anxiety disorder, manifest in severe indecision, avoidance behaviour, irritability etc. When I sort that, I work like a machine, and that makes me happy.
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Brady Kelly wrote:
I do suffer from anxiety disorder
Have you ever tried seriously hard exercise 3 days out of 4 (works a treat for me)?
Yesterday they said today was tomorrow but today they know better. - Poul Anderson
I haven't seen seriously hard exercise since basic training, when I wss 18. :-O
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I haven't seen seriously hard exercise since basic training, when I wss 18. :-O
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Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
2: Working more hours means getting less done
Apply Rule 1 and some discretion, and avoid working long hours without positive results. I also doubt Rule 3, but we can revise it together with my qualification of rule 2. Procrastination has often been good for me. Probably not as often as it's been bad for me, but procrastination when you can afford it should be actively explored. You must, however, do something else productive in the time it gives you. Or at least something enjoyable and postive. [Extra, no charge today: I often procrastinate tasks that I find frustrating or that I get 'stuck' on. Returning to them after some constructive distraction often yields a new perspective that removes the 'block' (like, cleans out the bad energy bru) Health, for me, is the ultimate productivity enhancer. Where I am normally physically healthy, I do suffer from anxiety disorder, manifest in severe indecision, avoidance behaviour, irritability etc. When I sort that, I work like a machine, and that makes me happy.
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From: 5 New Rules of productivity[^] 1: Your productivity will vary wildly from day to day. This is normal. - Of course yes, that is expected. 2: Working more hours means getting less done - I do not think I fully agree with this statement. If I find something interesting I automatically work long hours. 3: Working harder means getting less done - I doubt it. 4: Procrastination can be good for you - Well I have been procrastinating writing articles and it did nothing to me:) 5: Happiness is the ultimate productivity enhancer - Agreed! In my opinion, doing all the productivity studies may be a waste of time. I do not think there is any universal formula that works for everybody. Incidentally, I was planning to get this book: Drive[^] which discusses about things which motivates us.
1: Your productivity will vary wildly from day to day. This is normal. Matches my experience. 2: Working more hours means getting less done. Agree - usually. I put a lot of hours in up front to master the tools, the documentation, the technology and the underlying problem space so that I rarely have to work lots of hours to get lots done. Aside from brief stints I find that working lots of hours all the time usually coincides with "fix-break-fix-break" situations. Usually means the devs are in over their head - no one's taking on the task of doing the fundamental redesign needed to break the "fix-break-fix-break" cycle. 3: Working harder means getting less done. Once you've mastered the tools the process of coding becomes very fluid - it just flows out of you. If you're working hard all the time, not just for stints as you encounter something new, then there's a good chance you could work less hard by increasing your mastery of some piece of the puzzle. 4: Procrastination can be good for you No comment! :) 5: Happiness is the ultimate productivity enhancer. Hear Hear!
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From: 5 New Rules of productivity[^] 1: Your productivity will vary wildly from day to day. This is normal. - Of course yes, that is expected. 2: Working more hours means getting less done - I do not think I fully agree with this statement. If I find something interesting I automatically work long hours. 3: Working harder means getting less done - I doubt it. 4: Procrastination can be good for you - Well I have been procrastinating writing articles and it did nothing to me:) 5: Happiness is the ultimate productivity enhancer - Agreed! In my opinion, doing all the productivity studies may be a waste of time. I do not think there is any universal formula that works for everybody. Incidentally, I was planning to get this book: Drive[^] which discusses about things which motivates us.
Talks about productivity make me laugh for the following 2 simple reasons ... 1. Productivity in the strictest sense has no relation to accomplishment. It's strictly a number that provides (a fuzzy) relation between the "effort" your put and the "outcome" that is outputted. The fact that the middle factor "Strength/Capacity" is not even considered, makes it a very risky performance indicator to consider alone. 2. All the above mentioned factors have to do with the personality and character. The variety of working conditions, ones preferences, endurance, strength of discipline when it comes to demanding or things that we don't like doing affect what/when/how and how much of it we're doing. People should really learn first about the true meaning of words like productivity, effectiveness and efficiency before they start writing misleading articles about what is usually their personal experience. :|