Read author Tim Ferriss, he writes about all sorts of ways to automate your life. His book is called "The 4 Hour Work Week." He also has a pretty good blog.<p><a href="http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/" rel="nofollow">http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/</a>
I created WinKeyPlus to map shortcut keys to common tasks.
<a href="http://www.winkeyplus.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.winkeyplus.com</a>
Works on all modern(ish) Windows (XP, Vista, 7)
I'm perpetually getting absorbed into things and forgetting other things in my near-term mental queue. So I use a script or utility to pop up a dialog after the passing of a time value I specify. I don't need to add a topic qualifier; the reminder is enough to jog my memory and get me out of my seat.<p>A calendar doesn't help for these items; it has to be in my face. And the other way around, I don't need the clutter of a calendar entry to remind me to e.g. get up in five minutes and check the pot on the stove.<p>Hmm... This is probably too low tech, but I was running the electric kettle and then forgetting to go back and pour the hot water. I found that by resting a bunch of metal measuring spoons against its power lever, which pops up when it's done, I hear a metal "jangle" and am reminded.<p>I guess there are larger schemes of organizing one's day, but sometimes little hacks like these provide more immediate results and satisfaction. And, for me at least, therefore end up being more effective.<p>Oh, also, there was a blog entry circulating widely a while back titled "Do It [F-ing] Now!". That's kind of useful, too. In lieu of a concrete alternative, "now" is always the perfect time.<p>I guess another way of putting it might be, "Hacks are beautiful, because they are real time." If they are taking away significantly from your other work, either they are getting away from you, or they need to be qualified as (sub)projects of their own.