30 seconds to an empty inbox

We all want to control the barrage of emails hurling at us everyday, but often the task is just too daunting. Perhaps, you read Merlin Mann’s Inbox Makeover tutorial or Gina Trapani’s Trusted Trio system for managing email. You might have said, “Wow, this is great and makes a lot of sense. I’m gonna do it now!”

How to gently end procrastination

Daniel Jalkut has just released the final version of FlexTime, a fantastic little Mac timer deftly suited for the (10+2)*5 procrastination hack. It still has no out-of-the-box support for Growl’s nifty notification system. Luckily, FlexTime now has robust support for AppleScript, allowing a backdoor into the Growl system.

How to organize your cluttered desktop and regain your sanity

I’ve always been known as the messy kid, so it’s no surprise that zillions of random files and folders often litter my desktop. Every time I clear my desktop, it gets congested again a few days later, each icon reminding me how much I suck at organizing. What I lack is a system.

10 quick and (almost) painless ways to kill distractions

Are you spending more time dealing with emails, IMs, phone calls, and random stray files than actually working? You might think those things are just a fact of working in a fast-paced world. But it’s not.

100 Tips to Improve Your Life

Behance just started collaborating with a group of fourteen established blogs, all very different, but all with a shared interest in helping people increase productivity (among other self-improvements). We call this collaboration "LifeRemix."

The secrets of a super slim wallet

Do you remember George Costanza’s mammoth wallet? It was so enormous, he had to stuff napkins in his other back pocket to keep himself balanced when sitting down. After causing back problems, it eventually exploded out onto a street, unleashing a torrent of receipts, coupons, and Irish money.

5 ways to instantly find cheap gas

Of course, the surefire way to save money on gas is to simply not drive. But since I’ll be finally getting my license in a couple of months, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared. If soaring gas prices are draining your wallet dry, here’s five ways to find cheap(er) gas anywhere.

10 tips for keeping your desk clean and tidy

A messy desk is a sign of creativity and imagination. This is the excuse I gave myself for the mountain of papers, knickknacks, and San Pellegrino bottles normally piled on my desk at work. Truth is, I’m just lazy.

How to gently end procrastination

Daniel Jalkut has just released the final version of FlexTime, a fantastic little Mac timer deftly suited for the (10+2)*5 procrastination hack. It still has no out-of-the-box support for Growl’s nifty notification system. Luckily, FlexTime now has robust support for AppleScript, allowing a backdoor into the Growl system. With a little tinkering, I’ve put together...

15 ways to maximize your lunch hour

In our obsession with productivity, you might think this article is about how to multi-task and use your lunch hour to work more efficiently. It’s not. In fact, your lunch hour should be the least “productive” moment in your day.