...or my productivity strategy. There's a ton of other really good articles on increasing productivity, so I thought I'd share some specific things that have really helped me. Also, these aren't all necessarily geared towards Mac/OSX users, but some of them are. Check it out, and if you're a PC user leave a comment, or let me know of any Windows equivalents (or other OSes for that matter). Onto the good stuff...

1. Create a to-do list, and use it, and use CheckOff

My productivity strategy centers around a simple, consistent to-do list. There's quite a few other free Mac to-do list apps, but CheckOff has quickly become my favorite. It sits in your menu bar, subtle but always accessible. The completely intuitive interface allows for different colors, and folders. It's the perfect stay out of the way until I need it application.

Some other apps worth mentioning: * TaskMate - Another free, lightweight app. * Anxiety - Popular app that puports to be super-lightweight. * EntreTask - No due dates, interesting philosophy

2. Use a launcher, use Quicksilver

There are numerous other application launchers on the market, but Quicksilver is amazing, and I strongly suggest every MAC user at least download, and try it out.

On the surface, it's an application launcher, but as many will tell you, it can do much more than that. I have it set-up to open using [CMD] + [space] and then all I have to do is start typing the first few letters (or the first letter most of the time) of the app I want to start, and voila, it's up and running. No searching through an applications folder, no messing with the dock, just "ill" to launch illustrator, "f" to launch firefox, etc...

Make sure to check out Lifehacker's: Beginner's Guide To Quicksilver to get it configured and working properly, and to learn the basic commands.

3. Learn keyboard shortcuts

I've found that using the keyboard is almost always faster, easier, and better on my wrists than using the mouse, so I'm constantly striving to memorize more key commands. Here are the ones I use the most:

• [CMD] + C - Copy
• [CMD] + X - Cut
• [CMD] + V - Paste
• [CMD] + W - Close window (or close tab in a browser)
• [CMD] + Q - Quit application
• [CMD] + [space] - Launch "Quickilver"
• [CMD] + 1,2,3,4 - Switch to 1,2,3,4 space
• [CMD] + [shift] + 4 - Take screenshot

h3. 4. Use 'Spaces' and organize your spaces

Spaces was an awesome addition to the latest version of OSX, and is key in my productivity arsenal. If you haven't used it yet, give it a try, you might love it.

I have it set up to use only one row, of 4 spaces. My first space is my main work area, and has: Firefox, my text editor and my twitter client. Since I normally do a lot of template (html/css) work, this makes the most sense for me. My second and third spaces, are my flexible spaces. Normally I'll keep my FTP client, and a second browser (Safari) in the second space, and photoshop, illustrator or flash in space three. Space four is where my email lives, and sometimes where I keep my twitter client in case I become overly distracted. I set up the keyboard commands to use [cmd] + 1 to switch to space 1, and so on for the others. This makes it easy, and quick to jump from space to space.

h3. 5. Clear your dock

It might sound crazy at first but if you're using Quicksilver you shouldn't need to have all your application icons living in your dock, you'll be using the keyboard instead. So take the plunge and banish all those apps (except quicksilver, and maybe a couple important folders). This leaves everything uncluttered and clean, with only those applications that are currently running showing in your dock. If you're like me, you sometimes have a handful of programs running at any given time, so being able to glance at the dock and know that everything there is running is a lot easier than looking for that tiny blue dot underneath.

6. Clean your desktop regularly

Okay, I'll admit it: I used to keep all my important files in folders that lived permanently on the desktop. But I've seen the light, and I'm here to tell you that a clean desktop is the next big thing.

What I did was to move all of my stuff, project work, miscellaneous files, tools, and the rest to their own folders within Documents, where they now live permanently. I now use my desktop as sort-of a staging ground for stuff I'm working on throughout the week. Whenever a new project or task arises, I'll create a new folder on the desktop, and save/open from there. At the end of every week, I go through everything on my desktop, and either trash it, or file it permanently in Documents.

h3. 7. Stop checking your email, learn to process email instead

So this might not be a new concept, but it's definitely worthwhile, and has helped me immeasurably. Some will tell you to create separate folders for things like action items, responses, etc... Some will tell you that getting to inbox zero is the ultimate goal. Depending on what you do, and how you work, some of these methods might make more sense than others.

The point, though, is to at least use some sort of processing method, and stick to it. My job is usually about half project work, and half maintenance or ticket work. So the first thing i do every morning is to go through any emails that are waiting for me. I respond to the ones that simply need a response, read and archive any that don't need a response, and add to my to-do list any tasks that come from emails.

I have Entourage set up to give a notification whenever i receive a new email, so throughout the day, I can just glance over and see whether or not that urgent email I just received really is urgent or if it can wait till the next time I process. I usually try to process once in the morning, once before lunch, once after lunch (when inevitably everything always comes in), and once about 30 minutes before I leave. Like I mentioned in tip #5, putting the email on space 4 is key. It's as much a psychological trick as anything else. Out of sight, out of mind...

h3. 8. Use a second monitor

I've been using dual-monitors for quite a while, and it's amazing how much it helps with certain things. If you're following along, and configured your spaces, you essentially get double the space. As a web designer, I find it immensely helpful to have my text-editor on my laptop, and Firefox open on the second monitor. Monitors are a lot cheaper than they used to be, and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised what it can do for your productivity.

h3. 9. Productive procrastination

I love the term productive procrastination. Essentially it means getting other things done while you're putting off something else. Let's face it, everything that you do on a daily basis isn't fun, and often times you'll put things off that you should be working on. So use that time to get all those easier, maybe funner, things done in the meantime.

h3. 10. Beware the notification

I think it's pretty much a fact that being constantly interrupted is the best way to kill your productivity. Yet, almost every OSX application can be configured to give a notification (or work with Growl to do the same thing), for anything and everything. Before you know it, your email, twitter, ftp, and all the rest are constantly screaming at you for attention. Be aware of how easily a distraction can kill your focus, and only set-up notifications for those apps where it makes sense. For someone like me, I like having an email notification; most of the other corporate stiffs I work with use email like an instant-messaging client and so when I get the one word "thanks" email, I can tell right away and leave it to be processed when the time comes.

What other, specific tips have helped you? Leave a comment, and let everyone know :)