Productivity is memorio-habitual in nature

A friend just shared this little article on productivity apps. The article raises questions on the claims of such apps.

The forms of internet-enabled communication have changed every sphere of life. Apps that offer good communication structures certainly help. But again different structures suit different kinds of people. And now there's also an issue of how many communication structures do people adopt to really stay productive, even if we debate the meaning of 'productivity'?

My observation is that folks that can work well with their memories (not the app ones or computer ones. One has to remember at least the name of the app or the location of the folder on the computer screen or hard disk to use the app or the folder) are productive. Mind you, I am not saying 'folks that memorize well'. I am saying folks that can work well with their memories. The way memories work, quite a bit of it is still a mystery. But the triggers you can offer your memory to respond to make the memories work anyway.

On the mobiles or computers, all apps, apart from communicational functions, trigger memories in certain ways. Cockpit Planner also offers triggers that helps one work well with one's memories.

Try the apps. Try the Cockpit Planner. See the difference.

I don't use productivity apps anymore.

Meaning of WATCH

For a long time now I've been asking myself why is WRIST WATCH called so? Especially, why is it called WATCH.

So here's what Google has to show when we search for 'etymology of watch':

REMAINING AWAKE it says.

Check the etymology here. In the sense of a verb, it even hints at "to be strong, lively".

From the link above, in Old English it also carried a meaning of "act or practice of refraining from sleep for devotional or penitential purposes"!
 
I like that 'penitential purpose'. Industrial assembly lines ensured working 'by the watch' and making it absolutely penitentiary. From my observation, folks into white-collar desk-jobs feel equally penitential these days. They work by the watch and beyond the watch.

I wonder how a wrist watch keeps us awake, except in the sense of reminding us when the boredom of a timed job would get over before one can fall asleep at will. It's your memory of what you want to do or would like to do that keeps you awake, that truly keeps you watchful.

Try Cockpit Planner. It might become your watch "to be strong, lively".

Note-taking on Paper vs on Laptop. What works?

Have so often felt this and discussed with some close friends also.

Typing on screen has always felt less 'substantial'. While it's easier, more so with the extensive usage of smart phone, than writing on paper, it doesn't quite improve our functioning or thinking. The efficiency doesn't quite result into effectiveness.

Here's a bit of research talk about taking notes on paper vs. taking notes on laptop.

A Learning Secret: Don’t Take Notes with a Laptop

Why Using Pen And Paper, Not Laptops, Boosts Memory: Writing Notes Helps Recall Concepts, Ability To Understand

What's been your experience?

Your memory is a monster!

You heard it right.

I have a profound appreciation for this quote by John Irving:

Your memory is a monster; you forget - it doesn't. It simply files things away. It keeps things for you, or hides things from you - and summons them to your recall with a will of its own. You think you have a memory; but it has you!

I can, and perhaps even you can, vouch for this. You think you have a memory; but it has you! Your memory has a will of its own. Hard to digest but very very hard to refute.

I am active, I am agile, most often I am alert. However, for long I struggled to get a grip over stuff I would want to do during the day. Why? Because it would be strangely difficult to recall all the different things.

The 11 handles that Cockpit Planner shows on the daily page make it mighty easy for anyone to recall the different things that need to be done on a typical work-day. And when you recall, you are far more likely to do it. Yes, while 'your memory still has you', it offers good access and behaves rather congenially for all practical purposes.

Hope your memory allows you to recall at will in 2015. Hope you and your memory accomplish a good deal!

Pic found here