Many Americans rank the Internet as their most important source of information, more important even than books, newspapers, television, radio, and magazines.

However, finding quality information on the Internet can be a major challenge -- I know because I have been doing it for years -- and it’s very easy for an entire afternoon to disappear while you surf the Web.

Using the Internet wisely can very well save you loads of time for business, social, and personal activities. It seems most of you Vital Votes members agree that the Internet is a great tool for increasing your productivity.

However, the benefits can easily be negated if you begin to get sidetracked. This LifeHack article has some excellent ideas to make sure the Internet works with you, not against you, in accomplishing your tasks, such as:

• Avoid getting into arguments and disputes via e-mail
• Monitor and limit the time you spend Web surfing
• Measure your productivity by what you have achieved, not by how much time you’ve spent
• Be careful with forums -- while they’re a great way to network, you don’t have to follow every thread of every conversation
• Use bookmarks and RSS feeds to get the information that’s important to you (not the information that others want you to have)

I am always on the lookout for pearls of wisdom on how to increase productivity, because from my perspective you can never get enough practical advice on how to improve your personal efficiency, be happier, and increase your free time.

One of the most significant things allowing me to accomplish so much is compiling and working off of a very good "To Do" list. I thought I had a good handle on this until I came across a book that is truly one of the most useful books I’ve ever read in my life. It’s called Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, by David Allen.

David Allen‘s approach to managing yourself and your world may be amongst the best advice you ever receive, too. It is profoundly practical, realistic, hands-on, and superbly focused with hundreds of tips, tools, and techniques for improving your personal productivity.

I highly recommend it.

For more tips on how to be productive in your life, be sure to also check out the Related Articles below.

Lifehack.org August 23, 2007