Do you have trouble staying focused on the task at hand? Have you ever made it to 11AM and realized the only thing you have accomplished is reading emails and checking up on Twitter? If so, you may just need to introduce some simple hacks into your lifestyle. I'll discuss some very easy to implement tips and tricks that can help jolt you from feeling unproductive and wandering through your day to a more focused and "in control" lifestyle.

1. WHAT HAVE I DONE?
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2. Tuesday, October 15, 13

3. WHO AM I?
Brent Schooley
INFRAGISTICS
Technical Evangelist
@brentschooley
http://about.me/brentschooley
http://bit.ly/igbrent
http://codesnack.com
Tuesday, October 15, 13

4. WHO AM I NOT?
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9. SO WHY ARE
YOU HERE?!?!
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12. Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stewtopia/9021814155/
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18. DEALING WITH STUFF
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19. “
Here’s how I define “stuff:” anything you have
allowed into your psychological or physical
world that doesn’t belong where it is, but for
which you haven’t yet determined the desired
outcome and the next action step.
-David Allen, Getting Things Done, pg. 17
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20. HOW GTD WORKS
Source: http://www.43folders.com/2004/09/08/getting-started-with-getting-things-done
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21. HOW GTD WORKS
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Identify the stuff in your life
Source: http://www.43folders.com/2004/09/08/getting-started-with-getting-things-done
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22. HOW GTD WORKS
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Identify the stuff in your life
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Get rid of the stuff that isn’t yours or that you don’t need
Source: http://www.43folders.com/2004/09/08/getting-started-with-getting-things-done
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23. HOW GTD WORKS
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Identify the stuff in your life
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Get rid of the stuff that isn’t yours or that you don’t need
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Create a “right place” that you can trust
Source: http://www.43folders.com/2004/09/08/getting-started-with-getting-things-done
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24. HOW GTD WORKS
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Identify the stuff in your life
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Get rid of the stuff that isn’t yours or that you don’t need
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Create a “right place” that you can trust
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Put your stuff in the right place, consistently
Source: http://www.43folders.com/2004/09/08/getting-started-with-getting-things-done
Tuesday, October 15, 13

25. HOW GTD WORKS
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Identify the stuff in your life
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Get rid of the stuff that isn’t yours or that you don’t need
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Create a “right place” that you can trust
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Put your stuff in the right place, consistently
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Do your stuff in a way that honors your time, energy, and context
Source: http://www.43folders.com/2004/09/08/getting-started-with-getting-things-done
Tuesday, October 15, 13

26. HOW GTD WORKS
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Identify the stuff in your life
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Get rid of the stuff that isn’t yours or that you don’t need
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Create a “right place” that you can trust
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Put your stuff in the right place, consistently
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Do your stuff in a way that honors your time, energy, and context
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Iterate and refactor
Source: http://www.43folders.com/2004/09/08/getting-started-with-getting-things-done
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27. PROJECTS
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28. PROJECTS
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A project is any outcome that requires more than one action step

29. PROJECTS
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A project is any outcome that requires more than one action step
Many things we would capture on a “To Do” list are actually projects

30. PROJECTS
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Many things we would capture on a “To Do” list are actually projects
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A project is any outcome that requires more than one action step
Failure to break down a project into actions leads to anxiety

31. NEXT ACTION
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32. NEXT ACTION
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Next action: “the next physical, visible activity that needs to be engaged in, in order to move
the current reality toward completion.” -Getting Things Done, pg. 34
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33. NEXT ACTION
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Next action: “the next physical, visible activity that needs to be engaged in, in order to move
the current reality toward completion.” -Getting Things Done, pg. 34
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Break every project down into a set of actions that need to be done to complete it

34. NEXT ACTION
•
Next action: “the next physical, visible activity that needs to be engaged in, in order to move
the current reality toward completion.” -Getting Things Done, pg. 34
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Break every project down into a set of actions that need to be done to complete it
Determine next actions for every project

35. CONTEXT
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36. CONTEXT
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A context defines the tools, equipment, or location available at a given moment

37. CONTEXT
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A context defines the tools, equipment, or location available at a given moment
Examples of straightforward contexts: @Office, @Computer, @Grocery Store

38. CONTEXT
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Examples of straightforward contexts: @Office, @Computer, @Grocery Store
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A context defines the tools, equipment, or location available at a given moment
Contexts can be more abstract, which is often necessary in today’s resource rich world

39. EXERCISE:
YOUR PROJECT
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40. TOOLS
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41. OMNIFOCUS (Mac)
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42. OMNIFOCUS (iPhone)
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43. OMNIFOCUS (iPad)
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44. BUT I DON’T LIKE APPLE!
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46. JUST KIDDING!
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47. GTD TOOLS LIST
http://bit.ly/gtdappslist
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48. IS THAT ALL?!?!
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55. FOCUS!
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59. POMODORO TECHNIQUE
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60. POMODORO TECHNIQUE
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Planning - Decide the day’s activities at the beginning of the day

61. POMODORO TECHNIQUE
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Planning - Decide the day’s activities at the beginning of the day
Tracking - Figure out how long things are taking

62. POMODORO TECHNIQUE
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Tracking - Figure out how long things are taking
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Planning - Decide the day’s activities at the beginning of the day
Recording - At the end of the day, compile some data

63. POMODORO TECHNIQUE
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Tracking - Figure out how long things are taking
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Recording - At the end of the day, compile some data
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Planning - Decide the day’s activities at the beginning of the day
Processing - Transform the data into meaningful information

64. POMODORO TECHNIQUE
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Tracking - Figure out how long things are taking
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Recording - At the end of the day, compile some data
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Processing - Transform the data into meaningful information
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Planning - Decide the day’s activities at the beginning of the day
Visualizing - present the information such that it facilitates understanding

65. POMODORO TOOLS
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66. POMODORO TOOLS
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A kitchen timer: the Pomodoro

67. POMODORO TOOLS
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A kitchen timer: the Pomodoro
A To Do Today Sheet

68. POMODORO TOOLS
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A kitchen timer: the Pomodoro
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A To Do Today Sheet
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Contains a prioritized list of things to do today

69. POMODORO TOOLS
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A kitchen timer: the Pomodoro
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A To Do Today Sheet
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Contains a prioritized list of things to do today
Also contains a section of Unplanned and Urgent Activities

70. POMODORO TOOLS
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A kitchen timer: the Pomodoro
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A To Do Today Sheet
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Contains a prioritized list of things to do today
Also contains a section of Unplanned and Urgent Activities
A Records Sheet - contains a list of tasks and the number of Pomodoros to complete

71. POMODORO BASICS
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72. POMODORO BASICS
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A Pomodoro is an uninterrupted period of focused work, typically 25 minutes

73. POMODORO BASICS
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A Pomodoro is an uninterrupted period of focused work, typically 25 minutes
Each Pomodoro is followed by a break (5 minutes or 15 minutes after 4th Pomodoro)

74. POMODORO BASICS
•
•
Each Pomodoro is followed by a break (5 minutes or 15 minutes after 4th Pomodoro)
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Tuesday, October 15, 13
A Pomodoro is an uninterrupted period of focused work, typically 25 minutes
A Pomodoro is Indivisible - there is no half or quarter Pomodoro

75. POMODORO BASICS
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Each Pomodoro is followed by a break (5 minutes or 15 minutes after 4th Pomodoro)
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A Pomodoro is Indivisible - there is no half or quarter Pomodoro
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Tuesday, October 15, 13
A Pomodoro is an uninterrupted period of focused work, typically 25 minutes
A Pomodoro Must Ring - once started, you must finish the Pomodoro for it to count

76. POMODORO BASICS
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•
Each Pomodoro is followed by a break (5 minutes or 15 minutes after 4th Pomodoro)
•
A Pomodoro is Indivisible - there is no half or quarter Pomodoro
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A Pomodoro Must Ring - once started, you must finish the Pomodoro for it to count
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A Pomodoro is an uninterrupted period of focused work, typically 25 minutes
Protect the Pomodoro - Do whatever necessary to ensure a successful Pomodoro

77. PLANNING & TRACKING
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78. PLANNING & TRACKING
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79. PLANNING & TRACKING
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80. PLANNING & TRACKING
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81. RECORDING
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82. RECORDING
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83. INTERNAL INTERRUPTIONS
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84. INTERNAL INTERRUPTIONS
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85. EXTERNAL INTERRUPTIONS
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86. EXTERNAL INTERRUPTIONS
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87. SO, PAPER &
PENCIL?!?!
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88. Tuesday, October 15, 13

89. DEMO
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91. WHO AM I?
Brent Schooley
INFRAGISTICS
Technical Evangelist
@brentschooley
http://about.me/brentschooley
http://bit.ly/igbrent
http://codesnack.com
Tuesday, October 15, 13

92. fin.
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