Computers can vastly increase your personal productivity. But they can also become vast time-sinks. Here are some ways to keep on the “productive” side:
Use scripting
There was a time when using your computer meant programming your computer. The legacy of the do-it-yourself past remains just under the surface of your computer. Mac users have AppleScript, plus the entire legacy of Unix scripting support at their fingertips. Windows users can use a program like AutoHotkey. A script can automate complex repeated tasks like ripping a DVD, formatting it, and transferring it to your portable media player.
Use templates
If there are documents you create over and over again, then spending some time to create templates will save you from having to do a repetitive, time-consuming task.
Use boilerplate
You may also find yourself creating certain kinds of text regularly -- perhaps the HTML to insert a link into a webpage, your bio, or a description of your business or product. If you’re going to do it more than once a day, it’s wise to use a program like TextExpander (Mac) or Texter (PC) to automatically insert boilerplate text when you type some pre-defined set of keystrokes.
Automate tasks
There are plenty of routine tasks that can be totally automated. Look for programs that have automation built in, or use the scheduler built into your operating system.
Track revisions
Ever work on something for a while and realize that the version you had two hours ago was better? A version control system that tracks your changes for you can save you time and effort. The simplest version control is just saving newer versions under different file names. With a little work and technical know-how, you can set up a Subversion repository which will let you “check out” documents, work on them, and then “check in” your finished work. Subversion automatically keeps a copy of each document at every stage of creation. FileHamster is another program that watches every file in a folder you designate and saves all the old versions.