Being productive requires having the right thought process, as your mental state plays a crucial role. In fact, it is even more important than the tools you use to accomplish tasks. However, many productivity resources focus heavily on the toolbox itself, rather than on how to apply these tools effectively. This week we’ve got a few links on ways to think differently about workflow productivity. Enjoy!
Maker vs. Manager: Schedule for your productivity style →
Managing your time effectively requires a different approach to slicing up your day depending on your primary role. This post talks about the contrasting approaches you should use if you’re a “maker” or a “manager,” and how to handle a hybrid role.
Penmanship and programming education →
A thoughtful post from Tom MacWright on the connections between penmanship for the writer and typing for the programmer. Jumping into the process of “making computers do things” without an understanding of syntax and specificity causes frustration. And jumping right into “programming” the thinking skill without discussing the writing skill is doing the craft a disservice.
As with teaching any language to a non-native speaker, programming education must consider the foundational components that experts take for granted.
How to make mind maps →
Our friends at Zapier put together this great introduction to mind mapping techniques for workflow productivity. When beginning a new project or managing a list of tasks, visualizing everything in a mind map can help. This approach moves ideas from your head into a structured system, making it easier to organize your thoughts.