If that’s you, well, I feel sorry for you. Not because writing for a productivity blog means that I’ve found the secret to getting everything done before everyone else, but because it’s hard, really hard, to work from home, and there’s only so much you can do to make it easier. That’s what this article’s about. Here are some tips to help you make the transition from the office job, where the environment is tailored to make sure you don’t do anything except work, to the home office, where every distraction you could’ve asked for is present....

So, what is the easiest way to make sure your dietary needs are met? Try eating a wide variety of healthy foods! And you want to do more than simply cover the major food groups. The higher amount of variety within each of those categories means there is a greater chance that you are covering your bases. To help you make wise choices regarding your nutrition, use these tips to help increase the variety in your average meal....

It is a pretty good read for Sunday morning. Bet This! A Gambler’s Guide to Leadership – [Eileeon Shapiro at ChangeThis]

In fact, scientists are just as curious as the rest of us as to whether cats even like their owners, especially compared to dogs. Dr. Paul Zak decided to conduct a study to measure the oxytocin levels in dogs and cats after interacting with their owners. “He took saliva samples from 10 cats and 10 dogs on two occasions – 10 minutes before a playtime session with their owners and immediately after – and tested both samples for oxytocin....

But, what if you want all the bells and whistles of productivity tools and the minimalist way feels somewhat restricted? This is where the idea of “maximal” productivity tools come in; tools that provide the user with a ton of functionality and settings that allows them to customize the tool in any way they see fit. The case for minimalist tools One of the largest complaints about complicated productivity tools is that they tend to get in your way rather than help you get things done....

The computers are running the risk of being overrun by their small screened younger brothers: the mobile phones. The reasons are obvious – they fit in our pockets, they dissolve with our body weights while carrying, and they can seemingly do everything what their elder brother does. Mobile marketing was building for many past years and is on the verge of exploding in the wholesome marketing scene. Below are 10 good reasons why mobile marketing is set to dominate the marketing universe....

When it comes to these types of assignments, our ego suddenly disappears. We no longer think we’re capable of every challenge the educational system exposes us to. How do teachers manage to find the most impossible topics every single time? If you’re really confident in your essay writing skills, a challenging situation will probably prove you wrong. That’s the moment when you’ll realize that hiring a custom writing service is not such a bad idea after all....

A team of scientists found out in a new study that people who frequently run have shorter life spans. Here’s more. The research came up with results showing people who ran a lot, and those who never, have shorter life spans compared to folks who do moderate exercises. Featured photo credit: running/Living fitness via flickr.com Ultimately, the team discovered that these factors could not be used to explicate why these group of people who ran longer distances had shorter lifespans....

How many times have we all heard that? At work, school, or with friends and family? Or maybe, more appropriately for a lot of us, how many times have you said it yourself? But is it actually true? Or is it a convenient, or maybe even subconscious, response to the inherent difficulty of learning a complex subject? Born to learn math? Yes, math is more difficult than most standard life skills (learning to walk, talk, interact with people, etc....

1. Remember names. When I was younger, I was really good with names, but I always pretended that I’d forgotten someone’s name that I had just met, so as to not seem creepy. I now realize that that’s pretty dumb, but it seemed smart at the time. Now, I’m not as good with remembering names, but I use names when I can. People are usually impressed that you know their names, and it shows that you’re interested in them....

Putting your dreams on a shelf for the sake of productivity is like squeezing shut the tube that pipes air and sunshine down to you from your future. You don’t want to do that: in fact, David Allen doesn’t want you to do that. Dreams, like potted flowers, need regular attention. They need regular bits of your attention to keep that connection to you alive. The question is, what’s the best method for you to ensure your dreams get the attention they deserve?...

Unlimited Printable Calendars

“The secret of success is found in your daily routine.” ~John Maxwell Many of us have explored our daily routines to some extent. We have played around and tried all kinds of ways of approaching our days and have found what works for us, or at least what we are comfortable with. However, not many explore beyond day-to-day planning. By additionally reviewing our lives from a weekly perspective, we can allow a greater level of experience to thrive in the ways most meaningful to us....

Make sure to read through the comments – there are some great suggestions over there as well. I can only speak for myself, but during this reacquaintance stage I’ll often get distracted by just about anything. Usually the culprit is Bloglines, Thunderbird, Gaim, or any other application that pops up to notify me of something going on. Giving into these temptations is suicide. I can literally get sucked in and spend an entire day accomplishing absolutely nothing....

The system of Montessori education is denoted via: Children in mixed age classrooms Children provided blocks of time in working on projects (up to three hours) Children have limited choices in there activities Children are free to learn concepts through exploration of materials rather than ‘direct’ instruction The Montessori model of education was introduced across America in 1911. These activities may be used to prepare a pre-schooler for school or for home schooling purposes....

The reality is, success means different things to different people. For many, it’s financial wealth and freedom. As an entrepreneur, I’m able to choose where and when I work as well as whom I work with—that’s what’s really important to me. But to others, success might be working in a career that brings joy, ensures the bills are paid, and guarantees security. It’s essential that you don’t compare where you are now to others because that’s not what success looks like....

There are couple of good ideas that researcher has done on emails – it would be interesting how those ideas change to implementation to help us to reduce distractions in computing usage. You There, at the Computer: Pay Attention – [The New York Times]

Maybe you’ve already started noticing this in your life. It may seem sad at first, but this is normal. Growing up means that new lifetime events and even romantic relationships become more important. But, don’t worry, true friendships will stand the test of time. True friendships will stay with you as your life changes. “A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow....

K7 – [via Adam Weiss] After the second or third time hearing about that party “next week” a month later, I came across k7.net. k7 will give you a free phone number and voicemail box. When you get a message — here’s where the magic is — they will email you the sound recording. Now, when you get home, you’ll be reminded to listen exactly at the point where you are able to write something in your calendar or look it up online....

What it is is a little Flash application that creates a foldable book out of an A4 sheet of paper you can customize to suit your needs. Great for taking your own paper personal organizer in your back pocket or wallet. Very simple and very small. Feeds For those of use who want to carry around our little piece of digital organization, there are some quick scripts you can use to get things done....