Hackers Digest #58: Fix Your Posture

Welcome to this week’s installment of the Hackers Digest, a feature that illuminates some of the more fascinating ideas about productivity that came to the surface over the past several days. We explore every nook and cranny of the Internet to find the six best hacks and productivity stories of the week so you don’t have to.

Here’s what’s on tap this week:

1. Productivity starts with having strong soft skills.

We often hear that the key to reaching peak productivity can be found by using the right tools, learning from the right thought leaders, and trying the latest fads. But what if the answer was much simpler than that? A recent study found that workers who had strong soft skills—like time management skills, communication capabilities, stress management skills and the ability to work well in team settings—were 12% more productive than their peers who lacked them. It turns out that the secret to productivity might just be figuring out how to support your team so they develop a strong set of soft skills. Phys.org has the story.

2. Five tools self-employed entrepreneurs rely on.

Those that work for themselves know how difficult it can be to put in a productive day. While it might be nice to sleep in on Monday morning, before you know it, it’s almost noon and you’ve not yet finished any assignments. The good news is that more and more folks are becoming self-employed as the gig economy further matures. To this end, there’s no shortage of platforms and apps built specifically for the self-employed entrepreneur in mind. If you’re looking for a productivity boost, you may want to give GetResponse a try. The marketing automation tool can help your inbound marketing efforts. There’s also WorkFlowMax, a cloud-based project management tool that helps you keep your fingers on the pulse of your deliverables. For more, head to Entrepreneur.

3. How artificial intelligence can improve productivity.

Lots of folks are worried that robots and automation are going to displace a number of workers from their jobs in the near future. That may very well be true. But that’s not to say artificial intelligence will be a completely horrible thing for businesses and workers. According to one recent report, artificial intelligence will soon be able to tackle 80% of the repetitive tasks organizations are responsible for. This will free up workers (at least those who keep their jobs) to focus on more important tasks. The end result? Thanks to robots, the average worker may be able to become 300% more productive. ComputerWeekly has the scoop.

4. Five simple things you can do to become more productive.

We’ve already talked about how soft skills can make workers more productive. So the case has already been made that increasing productivity doesn’t have to be a complicated process. In fact, an argument can be made that the key to productivity is actually quite simple. One writer recently put together a list of five things anyone can do that should help them become at least a little bit more productive. Develop a morning routine so you start your days off right. Plan your days out every day to make sure you have clear objectives. Organize your workspace, your files and your inbox so you don’t waste your time searching for things. Remove clutter from your life so that you’re not distracted. For more on those tips and others, head to Entrepreneur.

5. Your bad posture is ruining your productivity.

Do you sit down at your desk all day long? If so, you won’t be as productive as your peers with better posture are. Many office workers who sit down all day have bad posture—which contributes to back, neck and head pain. In addition to being distracting, this pain can keep workers home from the office. According to one study, bad posture sucks $7 billion out of the U.S. economy each year. If you want to take your productivity to the next level, it might be time for you to start figuring out how you can improve your posture. Head over to EHSToday for the story.

6. How one busy Mozilla employee gets everything done.

Aurelia Moser is super busy. When she’s not plugging away at Mozilla, you can find her working on Girl Develop It or teaching. To be successful when you’re that busy, you have to be super organized. Moser is no exception. In a recent piece, she clearly articulates the myriad of digital tools, extensions, and habits she relies on to get her work done without skipping a beat. If you’re struggling to tackle your ever-increasing workloads every week, Moser’s approach to work may be just the inspiration you need. Read the story on SuperYesMore.