Comments on: 5 Articles That Will Change The Way You Think About Personal Productivity http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/18/5-articles-that-will-change-the-way-you-think-about-personal-productivity/ Demystifying Student Success Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:30:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Grad Hacker http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/18/5-articles-that-will-change-the-way-you-think-about-personal-productivity/#comment-6335 Grad Hacker Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:04:05 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/18/5-articles-that-will-change-the-way-you-think-about-personal-productivity/#comment-6335 Late response, I know, but thanks for the good words. Great list here. Tassia's comment: <blockquote>Love #4, but don’t call anyone on it if you want to be or stay friends.</blockquote> is one of the key reasons I am forced to remain "mysterious". Late response, I know, but thanks for the good words. Great list here.

Tassia’s comment:

Love #4, but don’t call anyone on it if you want to be or stay friends.

is one of the key reasons I am forced to remain “mysterious”.

]]> By: Study Hacks http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/18/5-articles-that-will-change-the-way-you-think-about-personal-productivity/#comment-6314 Study Hacks Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:35:08 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/18/5-articles-that-will-change-the-way-you-think-about-personal-productivity/#comment-6314 <blockquote>I totally disagree with #5 - imo, it belongs in #2.</blockquote> I'm not sure I follow? <blockquote>I would add one more: structured procrastination.</blockquote> I hear a lot about structured procrastination. It's an interesting idea. Definitely worth a spot on the list. <blockquote>Cal, I’ve always wondered if a medical student could possibly apply any “study hacks” to medical studies. It seems that study hacks could be applied to graduate studies in other fields but medicine seems to be notoriously unreasonable in regards to the volume of work vs the time constraint. What is your opinion on this?</blockquote> I have some med student readers. I'm not an expert on what makes med school different, having never attended myself, but I sense having a good efficient system to go from lecture notes to structured review -- preferably fit into a well-defined autopilot schedule that keeps you constantly looking at a little bit of material -- works pretty well.

I totally disagree with #5 - imo, it belongs in #2.

I’m not sure I follow?

I would add one more: structured procrastination.

I hear a lot about structured procrastination. It’s an interesting idea. Definitely worth a spot on the list.

Cal, I’ve always wondered if a medical student could possibly apply any “study hacks” to medical studies. It seems that study hacks could be applied to graduate studies in other fields but medicine seems to be notoriously unreasonable in regards to the volume of work vs the time constraint. What is your opinion on this?

I have some med student readers. I’m not an expert on what makes med school different, having never attended myself, but I sense having a good efficient system to go from lecture notes to structured review — preferably fit into a well-defined autopilot schedule that keeps you constantly looking at a little bit of material — works pretty well.

]]> By: Nate http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/18/5-articles-that-will-change-the-way-you-think-about-personal-productivity/#comment-6311 Nate Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:15:58 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/18/5-articles-that-will-change-the-way-you-think-about-personal-productivity/#comment-6311 @JJ I believe that these posts might be helpful: http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/06/23/monday-master-class-conquer-complicated-material-with-the-mini-textbook-method/ http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/03/case-study-why-the-number-of-hours-you-spend-studying-means-nothing/ @JJ

I believe that these posts might be helpful:
http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/06/23/monday-master-class-conquer-complicated-material-with-the-mini-textbook-method/

http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/03/case-study-why-the-number-of-hours-you-spend-studying-means-nothing/

]]> By: Jose http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/18/5-articles-that-will-change-the-way-you-think-about-personal-productivity/#comment-6309 Jose Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:29:04 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/18/5-articles-that-will-change-the-way-you-think-about-personal-productivity/#comment-6309 Hey, this is a great list! thanks for the nomination :) Here goes another hour or so of mindless reading ... Hey, this is a great list! thanks for the nomination :)
Here goes another hour or so of mindless reading …

]]> By: JJ http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/18/5-articles-that-will-change-the-way-you-think-about-personal-productivity/#comment-6308 JJ Mon, 21 Jul 2008 03:28:45 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/18/5-articles-that-will-change-the-way-you-think-about-personal-productivity/#comment-6308 Cal, I've always wondered if a medical student could possibly apply any "study hacks" to medical studies. It seems that study hacks could be applied to graduate studies in other fields but medicine seems to be notoriously unreasonable in regards to the volume of work vs the time constraint. What is your opinion on this? Cal, I’ve always wondered if a medical student could possibly apply any “study hacks” to medical studies. It seems that study hacks could be applied to graduate studies in other fields but medicine seems to be notoriously unreasonable in regards to the volume of work vs the time constraint. What is your opinion on this?

]]> By: The Commoditization of Wisdom Literature « Zen-House Counsel http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/18/5-articles-that-will-change-the-way-you-think-about-personal-productivity/#comment-6307 The Commoditization of Wisdom Literature « Zen-House Counsel Mon, 21 Jul 2008 01:36:32 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/18/5-articles-that-will-change-the-way-you-think-about-personal-productivity/#comment-6307 [...] nothing new, of course, but today there seems to be a profusion of it. As Cal Newport’s post here reminded me, much of it is about “productivity,” whether the author is David Allen, Tim [...] […] nothing new, of course, but today there seems to be a profusion of it. As Cal Newport’s post here reminded me, much of it is about “productivity,” whether the author is David Allen, Tim […]

]]> By: JP Adams http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/18/5-articles-that-will-change-the-way-you-think-about-personal-productivity/#comment-6306 JP Adams Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:08:46 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/18/5-articles-that-will-change-the-way-you-think-about-personal-productivity/#comment-6306 Thanks for the good summation of unique productivity techniques. I would add one more: structured procrastination. http://www.structuredprocrastination.com/ Perfected by a Standford Psychology professor, he became well know on campus for playing ping pong with students. "What a set up: play ping pong as a way of not doing more important things, and get a reputation as Mr. Chips." Thanks for the good summation of unique productivity techniques.

I would add one more: structured procrastination.

http://www.structuredprocrastination.com/

Perfected by a Standford Psychology professor, he became well know on campus for playing ping pong with students. “What a set up: play ping pong as a way of not doing more important things, and get a reputation as Mr. Chips.”

]]> By: Tassia http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/18/5-articles-that-will-change-the-way-you-think-about-personal-productivity/#comment-6301 Tassia Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:10:07 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/18/5-articles-that-will-change-the-way-you-think-about-personal-productivity/#comment-6301 I totally disagree with #5 - imo, it belongs in #2. I cut Allan some slack because he began by marketing his ideas to businesses (so it's hardly surprising that businesses use them), plus he's marketing a process - the amount you put into that process is up to you. (Though I think your student version is much more workable for anyone who isn't in "the workforce", student or not.) Love #4, but don't call anyone on it if you want to be or stay friends. I totally disagree with #5 - imo, it belongs in #2.

I cut Allan some slack because he began by marketing his ideas to businesses (so it’s hardly surprising that businesses use them), plus he’s marketing a process - the amount you put into that process is up to you. (Though I think your student version is much more workable for anyone who isn’t in “the workforce”, student or not.)

Love #4, but don’t call anyone on it if you want to be or stay friends.

]]> By: Alec http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/18/5-articles-that-will-change-the-way-you-think-about-personal-productivity/#comment-6300 Alec Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:48:04 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/18/5-articles-that-will-change-the-way-you-think-about-personal-productivity/#comment-6300 Thanks for these. I found the first article a while ago and I too experienced that "moment" that you speak of. This article seemed to connect my GTD craze to the big picture more than any other article. I now subscribe to that blog and it provides a good counter-balance to the productivity-obsessed blog culture that I read regularly. That's another reason I like this blog so much. It does a great job of viewing productivity as a means (to happiness, etc.) rather than an end and gives good advice on how students can get there. Thanks for these. I found the first article a while ago and I too experienced that “moment” that you speak of. This article seemed to connect my GTD craze to the big picture more than any other article. I now subscribe to that blog and it provides a good counter-balance to the productivity-obsessed blog culture that I read regularly.

That’s another reason I like this blog so much. It does a great job of viewing productivity as a means (to happiness, etc.) rather than an end and gives good advice on how students can get there.

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