Work productivity, time management, organization, tools and tips

On April 24 of this year, Ben Yoskovitz started a group writing project at Instigator Blog.  The Ultimate Guide to Productivity was born with a tip:

"Here’s my Productivity Tip of the Day:  Work in short bursts. The length of a productive burst will vary from person to person, but I’ve found myself to be most productive in 1-1.5 hour increments. Even 30-45 minute bursts are good. Focus on a solitary task during that time, bury yourself in it, but get out quickly. Take a short break, rinse and repeat." --Ben Yoskovitz, The Ultimate Guide to Productivity Group Writing Project, Instigator Blog

 

By April 30, Ben was back with the news that 28 people had already responded. 

Not bad in six days.  The project was on its way to becoming an enlightening productivity resource.

1. Up Your Productivity and Profits too! by Andrew Wee
2. Meme Tagged, Meme Slayer…I Give In by Wayne Porter
3. Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Janet Barclay
4. Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Lorraine Pirihi
5. Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Kathie Thomas
6. 14 Tips to Get More Done in Less Time by engtech
7. Work-Life Balance and Productivity by David Bohl
8. My Contribution to the Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Harrison
9. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Wendy Piersall
10. How Productivity Comes From Clarity by Adam Kayce
11. How To Stay Focused For Greater Productivity by Dawud Miracle
12. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity - Wanna Share One Big Secret? by Ponn Sabra
13. My Productivity Secret - The Joy of Flow State by Chris Garrett
14. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity - MomGadget Style by Gayla McCord
15. If you don't have passion and purpose, greater productivity won't help you! by Alister Cameron
16. Building a Home Business One Weekend At a Time by Tony Clark
17. Ultimate Guide to Productivity Group Writing Project by Jennifer Louden
18. Be Aware, Make Choices by Alex Fayle
19. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Digging into the Blogpond
20. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity meme by Doris
21. Ultimate Guide to Productivity by KM
22. Ultimate Guide to Productivity for Adult ADD Sufferers by Deborah Petersen
23. How to become a Productivity Super Hero who Rights Wrongs, Saves the Environment, and Rescues Cats from Trees by Aaron Potts
24. Zugunruhe Ultimate Guide to Productivity: Time Budgets by Tara Robinson
25. What Are Your Secrets For Personal Productivity by Lisa Mills
26. Blogging Productivity & Criticizing Goals by Andy Beard
27. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity - what’s your secret? by The Kiss Business
28. Secrets to Personal Productivity by The Practical Chick

Only a few days later, May 2, 11 more people had added their thoughts to the list.  Ben's idea was spreading quickly, apparently.  Lots of us wanted to share some of the things that help us be a little more productive. 

1. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity — What’s Your Secret? by Derrick Sorles
2. Instigator Blog: Productivity Tips by Mitch Owen
3. The Childlike Secret to Productivity by Kim & Jason
4. Just Do Something, Already by Lorna
5. Productivity Secrets by Angela Smith
6. Maintaining Productivity In The Midst Of Interruptions by Lexi Sundell
7. The Key to Dunking Your Doubts and Unclogging Your Optimism by Adam Kayce
8. A Nice Collection of Productivity Ideas by Dan Markovitz
9. My Ultimate Guide To Productivity by Vlad
10. A stupidly simple way to have a productive day by Jonny
11. My Secret to Productivity is Not Really a Secret by Char Polanosky

 

May 4; 14 more submissions bring the total to 53 and Ben was calling it a 'bonanza'.  In an aside, Ben had been talking about using the results of the project and putting together a free e-book; now he's thinking about a movie waiting until there are at least 100 submissions.

1. Increase Productivity by Conquering Procrastination by Gia Combs-Ramirez
2. Ultimate Tip To Reach GTD Nirvana by Andrew Flusche
3. Productivity Secrets Project by Lisa Sabin-Wilson
4. Maximizing Productivity by Ah Pek
5. Thoughts on Productivity by Rowan Manahan
6. Being more Productive with your Marketing Efforts by Chris Brown
7. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Don The Idea Guy
8. 5 Productivity Tips That Help by Brett Evans
9. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Sue Olson
10. Productivity Tip for Students (From the Other Side of the Fence) by ispf
11. There’s only one secret to increased productivity by Colleen Wainwright
12. 8 Productivity Tips to Take Control of Your Life by Krista
13. Choices Are Made Long Before You Decide - Productivity Tips by Jonathan
14. Secrets to Productivity by Randa Clay

With another 20, The Ultimate Guide to Productivity reached a total of 73 when Ben updated on May 7.  By this time, there were tips ranging from blogging and technical to passions and goals.  Ben was thinking of the project in terms of something the Lifehacker team might have put together.

1. Tag! Productivity - how do you get so much done? by Mark Silver
2. Ultimate Guide to Productivity: My Secret by Ellen Moore
3. Technology Could Be Your Best Friend - Or Not by Jonathan
4. 100 Ways To Be More Productive by UKStevieB
5. Secrets to Productivity by Tara
6. 6 Productivity Hacks for Bloggers & Writers by Kim Roach
7. Ultimate Guide to Productivity: My Tip by Cristine Favreau
8. Blogging and Productivity by Daniel
9. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity - Systems Check by Beth Dargis
10. How can you squeeze more out of your day by Rebecca Morgan
11. Being productive (and mean) by Kim Kotecki
12. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity Group Writing Project by Bonnie Gillespie
13. Best Productivity Tip: Disable Your Inner-Critic by David Wahl
14. 20 Steps to Maximize Your Productivity by Daniel Sitter
15. Tips on Productivity - How to Achieve Your Goal of Making Money Online by Maki
16. Prioritizing Your To-Do List by Deborah Brown
17. My Two Cents on Productivity by Asgeir Hoem
18. Five top tips for increasing your productivity by Aaron Russell
19. I have Clarity…Now Let me Explain by Martin Neumann
20. Ultimate guide to productivity: My tip by Julie Fleming-Brown

Thirteen more submissions listed on May 11 but there's a minor problem; Ben's having some trouble with he updates.  Dave Olson was overlooked, I was overlooked; what's happening?  The total is now 86.  Or is it?

1. What productivity? by Paul Enderson
2. The Tale of the Gnawing Scrimshanks by Zep Hopper
3. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity by J David Macor
4. Making The Most Of Your Productive Time by Winterbride
5. Passion and Productivity by PixelHead Online
6. Secrets to Being Productive by Dan
7. The Key to Productivity: Immediate Deadlines and Mini-Goals by Renita T. Kalhorn
8. Being Productive Online by Charity Ondriezek
9. The Key To Being Productive by Robert Hruzek
10. Productivity Hint? NO! by Annie Boccio
11. 25 Ways to be Jazzed about Productivity by Liz Strauss
12. Productivity Tips by Lillie Ammann
13. Tips for increasing productivity by Sera Strawbridge

 

Six days later, May 17, 23 more submissions push the total over the 100 e-book goal; 109 now!  That's a whole lotta productivity goin' on. 

1. Productivity Tip by Jenn Givler
2. Productivity Tip - Just Start by Andrew Garrett
3. My Key To Productivity by Matt McDonald
4. How Productive Are You? by Tish
5. Time management for graphic designers by Rob Cubbon
6. Productivity Tips 2.0 by Stephen
7. My Most Powerful Productivity Tip by Ellesse
8. Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Ian McKenzie
9. Ultimate Guide to Productivity by GTD Wannabe
10. The ultimate productivity tip by Matthew Cornell
11. My single best tip for productivity by Brett Kelly
12. My Key to Productivity by Andrew Barbaccia
13. Blog Even More Efficiently by Scott Hartshorn
14. The Greatest Productivity Tip in the World by Gary Vaughan
15. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity Group Writing Project by Joy Slaughter
16. Single Best Productivity Tip by Leo
17. Join the Ultimate Guide to Productivity by JC
18. My top productivity tip by Steven Aitchinson
19. The Greatest Productivity Tip In The World by Phil Gerbyshak
20. Virtual Assistants and Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Key Business Partners
21. Ultimate Guide to Productivity (My First Meme) by Geoff R.
22. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity - What’s your secret? by Mary Ann Copson
23. Continuously Increase Productivity by Embracing the Optimization Mentality by John Wesley

Finally, after a knock-down drag-out an email, my submission made it to the list along with 19 others to bring the running total to 129 on May 24. 

1. Challenge Your Brain for Productivity - 5 MITA Steps by Robyn McMaster
2. My Ultimate Productivity Tip: Unplug! by Hugh Hollowell
3. 10 Ways Communicators Can Stay Productive by Nonprofit Communications
4. One Is A Productive Number by Carolyn Manning
5. Ultimate Guide to Productivity: To-Do Lists by Tonya
6. The art of getting things done by Vernon Lun
7. The Greatest Productivity Secret Of Them All by Roger Carr
8. Productivity Tips for Writers by Yvonne Russell
9. A Housewife on Steroids by GP
10. Single Best Productivity Tip by Susan Sabo
11. How To Organize Your Desktop to Boost Productivity by Anthony
12. Productivity Group Writing Project by Vickie Turley
13. What’s Your Greatest Productivity Secret? by World Wanting Peace
14. Get More by Doing Nothing by Lyman Reed
15. Productivity Group Writing Project by Karen Del'Marmol
16. Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Jeff Simon
17. Ultimate Guide to Productivity: My Tip by Gillian Hood-Gabrielson
18. What is my secret to being productive? by Sunny Days
19. What’s my top productivity tip? by Tracey Lawton
20. The Greatest Productivity Tip in the World by Alex Brie

June 6, six weeks and one day since kick-off, another 8 are added to the list and we're up to 137 and the talk of an e-book is getting louder.

1. Tag, I’m It! by Christina Haas
2. Number 1 productivity tip by Shannon
3. Productivity: Snooze It or Lose It by Connie Reece
4. Automation: My Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Alaeddin
5. Meme Week: My Secret to Productivity by Mark Goodyear
6. Cutting Out the Bull: Information Overload and Productivity by David Bohl
7. Fear - The Ultimate Productivity Blocker by Shaboom
8. Ultimate Guide to Productivity: A Tip the Worx by In The Worx

I think the project is still open, if you care to submit some of your tips; check over at Instigator Blog.