Desktop Zero - two simple rules of productivity in OS X

I am sure everyone has heard about the technique of Inbox Zero, following which people try to dismantle all their mail and leave your inbox empty by the end of the working day. The usefulness of this method is beyond doubt, what has convinced many. Developer James Zhang is so inspired by the practice of Inbox Zero, he decided to transfer this experience to the normal work of Mack. He invented a method Desktop Zero, which I'll tell you in this article.

Modern man is difficult to stay focused even if he wants it very much, because there are so many interesting things: a video with lions, interesting links, messages from social networks and all that jazz. Our mind wanders when there are so many distractions, but we can get rid of them. To do this, follow these rules:

1. Remove everything from your desktop and dock.
2. Close all applications that you do not use within 15 minutes.

With the first rule of all is simple - you need to remove all the documents and files from the desktop, expanding them in their places, and from the dock ruthlessly remove the labels of all applications, leaving only

Finder and "Shopping cart". Do not worry about what will not be able to quickly launch applications after this. It is much easier to call them via Spotlight or AlfredWhich inter alia allow more search files, documents, and perform a variety of scripts.

Follow the second rule will be a little harder, then you'll need a bit of practice and self-discipline. Ordinary people are usually open at the same time about a dozen windows, but are widely used in all three. 70% running and hanging in the background of the application do not give anything good for your productivity. Do not overestimate human capacity to multitask, the more scientists proved its negative impact on the performance of your brain and productivity.

Unused applications are not only slow down your computer, but also distract you. Forcing himself to refuse the applications you do not use within 15 minutes, you will be able to completely eliminate distractions. The less you have to switch between them, the more productive will be your job.

Here doc James, he developer, so all he needs is a web browser, text editor, terminal and corporate chat. If you need to quickly launch any other application - it uses Alfred, performs the necessary work and then closes it. The main objective - to have a minimum number of running applications to be less distracted and be as productive as possible.

By analogy with the Inbox Zero, Desktop Zero aims to focus the most attention on the task at hand, to get the maximum effect. At the end of the day, when you are done with the last application you will know exactly what to cope with all the chores and start tomorrow with a clean desktop.

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