How can you avoid getting overwhelmed by all the various communication channels you use? This episode of Done! is about a way to manage communications effectively without burning out. If you have a similar round as mine, how do you concretely work your way through it? Please write to me and describe how you do it. I am interested in hearing what works well for you, so feel free to get in touch. Do you know these chef-approved principles for kitchen efficiency? These episodes are also...

Why print out something you need to read when you can read it on the screen? Well, there’s a good reason to do that. Today’s episode of Done! - No. 593 - is about a study about the benefits of printing reading material even in this digital day and age. The two studies I mention are: Reading on a smartphone affects sigh generation, brain activity, and comprehension Comparison of reading performance on screen and on paper: A meta-analysis What texts do you prefer to read on paper? Please...

What can you do structure-wise when some major, life-changing disruption happens? This week’s episode of Done! - No. 592 - is about four rules to hold on to that help you get through tough times more easily. Do you have any other guidelines that you find helpful when faced with a major Event? Please write to me and tell me. I may not see everything I will need in the situation I am currently in, so your experiences are like gold to me. Here's how to get an AI to write your ALT texts! ...

What if you need to use similar but not the same sets of folders again and again? This week’s episode of Done! - No. 591 - is about an easy trick to create a folder structure quickly. What templates have you created that you have found particularly useful? Please write to me and tell me. Right now, I'm especially interested in simplifying through reuse, so I'm curious to hear about the innovative solutions you have come up with. Do you know how to make an AI write the ALT text for every...

When you document all the decisions you make while collaborating through email, chat and meetings, how do you make sure every colleague notices what you agreed on in a random quick phone call? Today's episode of Done! - No. 590 - is about what you can do to avoid a certain kind of misunderstanding that might result in conflict. Have you solved this problem differently? Please write to me and tell me. As you can tell, I collect tips like this, and I'm interested in yours, too, of course. ...

How can you quickly get into "focus mode" when you have important tasks to get done? Done! episode No. 589 is about a Windows app that recently got a new feature for easier concentration. Have you tried the Clock app? If so, what do you think about it? Have you found a way to use it that works particularly well for you? Please write to me and let me know. I'm curious to hear about your experiences. Do you know how to not lose flexibility when improving structure in your work? These...

You want to find emails you look for immediately. But how? This week's episode of Done! is about an email app feature that far too few use. Do you use the "saved search" feature for your emails? What type of emails do you use it for? Please let me know, as I want to get inspiration for refining my own structure even more!  Here's how to set reasonable goals. These episodes are also available as a weekly newsletter to your email. If you rather read than listen (or both!), sign up for a...

Have you missed something important in a fast-paced chat flow? This week’s episode of Done! - No. 587 - is about the three kinds of chat messages that you need to look out for when the chat is hectic. How do you balance having free, lively chats and more formalized channels with the same people? How do you keep them separate? And how do you handle it when things risk getting messy? Please write to me and let me know. This question is becoming more relevant for many, and I'm curious to hear...

Do you have tasks that you tend to postpone more than others? This week’s episode of Done! - No. 586 - is about a trick that will help you get going on those tasks by turning a weakness into a beneficial strength. Do you have a completely different way of getting slow tasks done? Please let me know! Your email is warmly welcomed. As you know, I am a tireless collector of such tricks. Here's how to get rid of the old desktop folder. These episodes are also available as a weekly...

Do you really have to use a timer to keep track of time when you do your ”Pomodoros”? Today’s episode of Done! - No. 585 - is about an unconventional way to remind yourself to take breaks regularly. What Pomodoro playlist do you use? Do you even have one on Spotify? Email me a link, and I'll try it out, too. Maybe I'll discover new concentration music that could help me focus even more. These are the seven types of email you should take care of immediately. These episodes are also...

Do you think of work when you are free - even if you don’t want to? This week, episode No. 584 of Done! is about how to feel more free when you actually are free. What tricks do you have for delivering just enough? Please write to me and tell me. We ambitious people often fall into this trap, and every trick that helps us avoid it is very welcome.  This is why you maintain your focus better if you take breaks regularly. These episodes are also available as a weekly newsletter to your...

If you have promised to meet someone at a particular hour and then mistakenly book another meeting at the very same hour, you know how uncomfortable that is.  In today's episode of Done! - No. 583 - you will learn a trick that helps you avoid having to experience that again. How do you make sure you find everything you talked to someone about on a particular day? Do you have a completely different trick than this one? Please write to me! I'm curious to hear your best tip. These episodes...

How can you copy a paragraph from paper and turn it into editable text on your computer without typing it manually? In episode No. 582 of Done!, I share two easily accessible apps that are both excellent at OCR. Do you use any other OCR app that works fantastically well? Please write to me and let me know!  Check out my guide on how to handle an overflowing inbox. These episodes are also available as a weekly newsletter to your email. If you rather read than listen (or both!), sign up...

Welcome to a new year and the first episode of Done! for the season (and the 581:st since the start)! Today, Done! is about a new feature in Outlook that I think everyone should try. In the episode, I mention that you can create your own meeting time poll in Google Forms and Doodle. And, of course, the scheduling poll feature in Outlook that the episode is about. Have you tried the scheduling poll? What did you think? Write to me and tell me. I want to know. By the way, now, at the...

How do you make the most of your meetings? This year’s last episode of Done! is about a way to make your meetings more productive. Where do you usually place the most critical points of the meeting in the agenda and why? Tell me. I’m all ears! Want to know how to get rid of small tasks you tend to put off? These episodes are also available as a weekly newsletter to your email. If you rather read than listen (or both!), sign up for a free subscription. David Stiernholm is a...

When you lack motivation and you feel somewhat slow - what can you do? This week’s episode of Done! - No. 579 - is about something seemingly trivial but valuable that will do the trick. How do you keep (or raise) your mood when you feel so unmotivated that the job is slow? Please write to me at [email protected] and tell me. Hearing about your experiences and tricks is worth its weight in gold to me! Here you will find how to make a simple check to make sure your goals are specific...

A strict structure - doesn't that stop you from being creative? On the contrary. This week's episode of Done! is about how structure can actually free up your creativity. What in your structure helps you be creative the most? Please write to me and let me know. I'm interested in these aspects too of how we work as smoothly as possible, so I look forward to hearing from you. Here's how to declutter things you no longer use. These episodes are also available as a weekly newsletter to...

Should you read emails in batches now and then or instead individually, as you receive them? In this week's episode of Done! - No. 577 - you will learn exciting findings from a recent study that will guide you. What approach have you found to email handling that fits you? Please write to me and let me know. When it's time to read emails next time, I'll read yours - with great interest. Warmly welcome to get in touch. If you do your weekly run-through together with a colleague, you might...

Now, more than in a long time, you can avoid the time-consuming trivialities of work. This week's episode of Done! - No. 576 - is about a question you can ask yourself often to make the most of the current AI development. What do you use AI for most right now? Tell me! I want to find more things I can use this fascinating technology for, so I welcome your experiences. Did you know that If you involve someone else in your deadline, that might help you meet the deadline more easily? Here's...

Are you sure that your home office setup is optimal? Today’s episode of Done! - No. 575 - is about a Japanese study that gives us ideas about how to work more efficiently from home. What home work solution are you particularly satisfied with? Tell me about it! I'm curious! As I mention in the beginning of the episode, by formulating the deadline in a certain way, you can lower the risk of procrastinating and get started earlier. These episodes are also available as a weekly newsletter...

Have you ever wasted time looking for a file you thought you had? This episode of Done! - No. 574 - is about an often forgotten function that will prevent that from happening again.  Have you used these shortcuts in a creative way that you are delighted with? Then write to me and tell me. As you know, I'm always looking for new, intelligent tricks, so your tip is warmly welcome. This episode's theme, for example, I got a tip from Thomas, who emailed me. How soon is "sometime soon"? ...

Have you sent an email, expecting a response and then been met by silence? I definitely have.  This week’s episode of Done! is about how to make sure you get the responses you need. Do you have any other way of tracking if you get replies to emails you have sent? Write to me and let me know. You don't have to flag the email you sent to me, put it in a particular folder or create a to-do task for it - I will reply. I promise. You should strive for having only one to-do list, but if you...

Have you regretted that you a long time ago said yes to attend something you realize is tomorrow? In this week’s episode of Done! - No. 572 - you will learn how to avoid the ”Free time” trap. How do you say yes to the right meetings far in advance? Do you have any tricks or mindsets that work well for you? Write to me and tell me. I meet many people who need to take a firmer grip on their calendar and for them your experiences are worth their weight in gold. Here's what to do when you...

Do you spend too much time looking for documents and files? You want to find them right away - of course! This week’s episode of Done! - the 571:st - is about how you can better organize your documents. What are your tricks to save digital documents in the simplest way? Write to me and tell me. This is a problem that I too need to have good structure to control, so your tip is warmly welcome. I found a study that gives us a clue to how we can meet our deadlines easier. These episodes...

If you listen to music - does that influence the outcome of your work? Episode No. 570 of Done! is about the benefit of listening to music while working. Here's the study I mention. What works best for you when it comes to listening to music while working? Is there something that helps you or do you prefer complete silence? Write to me and let me know. This, like many other aspects of structuring your workday, is something that interests me a lot. I'm therefore curious to hear how you do...