The shift in thinking that’ll help you beat distraction forever

Imagine you’ve been transported back in time 50,000 years. Once you recover from your initial shock, you set out to learn more about this strange, unfamiliar world. As you explore, you come across a young hunter-gatherer named Urk. He’s amused by your strange clothes, but quickly realizes you don’t pose a threat and invites you to join his tribe.

Although their customs seem strange at first, over time you find yourself enjoying the sense of community and purpose these prehistoric humans share. Suddenly a thought hits you: “Other than the language barrier, how different from them am I?”

That’s the question posed by the self-proclaimed “Time Dorks,” Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky, in their book “Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day”. They contend that a major problem we face today — the sense that our lives are out of our control — is not that we don’t have the willpower to do what’s best for us, it’s that we’re simply not built for it. …

How to break bad habits and build new ones

I have a shameful secret. My Evernote colleagues don’t know about it — in fact, no one I’ve met recently knows. But I’m willing to confess it to you now.

I used to be a smoker.

Yes, I knew the health risks when I started; that was half the fun. I was a teenager certain of my own invincibility — smoking was the perfect accessory to a devil-may-care attitude that included driving a little faster than necessary and climbing big rocks just for the thrill of it.

And it was fun…for a while. But soon I began to resent the hold cigarettes had over me. Morning coffee? Have a cigarette. Walking to the train? Have another. Drinks with friends? Make sure the bar has a smoking section or I can’t make it. …

Turn off the phone, tune into yourself, and be productive when it counts

Have you ever found yourself staring at your phone or laptop, mindlessly checking social media or going down an internet rabbit hole when you’re supposed to be doing something else? So have I.

My name is Brian, and I’m addicted to information. More specifically, I am addicted to the infinite and immediately available mental stimulation the internet offers in the form of information. And, according to scientists, I’m not alone. Information addiction is real, and is a perfect outlet for procrastination. …

The answer isn’t working harder — it’s how you work that matters

You’re probably too busy to read this article.

You probably have at least 20 other browser tabs open right now (I’m ashamed to say I have 28 open as I’m writing this).

You probably have a to-do list filled with other things you should be doing.

That’s exactly why you should read this article.

When life gets hectic and you feel overwhelmed, the temptation is to just try harder. Your inner voice scolds you: skip lunch, have another coffee, push through the exhaustion. Keep doing what you’re doing, but do it better.

We’d like to suggest another way:

Stop. Breathe. Give your mind a chance to catch up to your body. …

Take control of your time with these planner tips

Remember those old-school business calendars? They were desktop calendars all right — they literally occupied the whole desktop. Meanwhile, at home, there was probably a to-do list stuck on the fridge with a magnet. The grocery list and “Dinner with my sister” would go there. Basically prehistoric. A chisel and a block of stone.

Today, you pick up your smartphone and see your very busy day neatly arranged in 10-minute intervals, with no distinction between your work and personal lives. An interview, a dentist appointment, a presentation to management, and a reminder to walk the dog are all there on the same page. Why? Because that’s how your life works. One day at a time. Work, home, travel, errands, appointments, fitness, family, etc., …

Go behind the scenes with our new look and renewed purpose

Today, we publicly launched our refreshed Evernote brand into the world.

Brand refresh. Simple words for a complex process. Especially when it’s a brand that touches the lives of over 225 million people globally, and one that generates significant love from customers, positive sentiment from industry observers, and a strong internal commitment.

So why change? Why toy with something that’s unique, recognizable, and, dare we say, iconic? Our logomark, “Mads” the elephant (named after an early Evernote customer and designed by Gabe Campodonico), has represented us well, standing strong while many brands have refreshed, redesigned, or simply ceased to exist. …

The best songs and playlists for getting stuff done

Whether you’re working nine to five or burning the midnight oil, a pair of headphones and a killer playlist may be the secret to getting more done, faster.

Listening to music releases dopamine and serotonin into the brain, helping you relax and stay focused. Music has an energizing effect, so your mood naturally improves. This state of mind helps you get in the zone and accomplish more.

A playlist for every project

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to what to listen to and when, but we do know that different genres of music work especially well with certain tasks.

Here are the most common work activities and the best tunes to help you stay…

A new approach to living the one life you really want

What’s wrong with work/life balance? Everything.

According to author Beat Bühlmann, work/life balance assumes that a good life requires a careful balance between these two worlds; as if what you do for a living is something totally separate from just, living. The assumption is always that work is bad and private life is good. But there’s something missing from this equation: your dreams. If you’re on a voyage of self discovery, that’s exactly where you need to begin.

The premise of Beat’s new book, “Become the CEO of Your Own Life” is that the work/life paradigm is essentially a false construct. We don’t have two lives. We have one. Some of the activities in that life we think of as work, and the rest is non-work. But even that view is somewhat out of whack. Because work/life balance comes in later. The first question should be what do you dream about? What do you love to do? Where does your overall satisfaction and happiness live? …