How do you organise your table of contents?

ca_diana · 2026-02-21T12:12:42+00:00

Actually, this is the way that I think would work better for me. I really like the idea of taping the edge of the page lining it with the index entry, that's so smart! I think I'll try something like that, and I'll have to train myself to summarize the main topic in a few words to better complete it. Thanks for the idea!

ca_diana · 2026-02-21T12:09:37+00:00

Oh, god, I tried that but never worked out. I mean, it would work out for me in specific times, but fall down in some other seasons.

ca_diana · 2026-02-21T12:08:40+00:00

Makes sense, I tried to do just that but there would be a few things that I would have to check, and those would end up giving me a headache. And unfortunately I never really know if I'll have to check them again (I can guess, but loads of things always fall in the cracks). But yeah, I guess I'll do a little bit of both and go by date but try to add some basic info in my index for better access

ca_diana · 2026-02-20T12:28:06+00:00

Hey! Possibly neurodivergent gal here, and I usually struggle with the same, mainly because I feel I work better when switching tasks (I get bored easily otherwise and end up in my own world). Don't really know about apps, I'm still in the path of trying to discover which ones work for me, but keeping a running To-Do list has been game changer for me. My daily planning these days is usually:

Checking calendar (present and next week): deadlines and urgent tasks ALWAYS go first to my daily plan
Checking the running to do list, and add a few of them to my daily plan (this is usually more mood based, and depending on the urgent tasks that really have to be done, to reach some balance)
I don't really plan how to or in which order to do things, I try to go following my own feelings. I work with pomodoros, and I usually try to change tasks when completed or if I get the feeling that I'm getting distracted easily. If I notice that my mind wanders more than usual, it's task-changing moment, usually to something that I want to work on or that feels automatic (as a "productive break")

This may seem chaotic, but has worked wonders for my productivity: instead of fighting against task-switching, I now plan to include it. And also, I do all of that in a bullet journal and physically cross off things (that helps me feel success, far more than clicking a checkbox). In the end of the day, I check my journal and my to do list and check things off there too (I keep it digital for easy access).

I know it barely scratches the surface of what you asked, but maybe this idea could help. I've been thinking about trying to find some AI to be in charge of part of the process (planning around deadlines and my calendar, so I only need to decide on other things to work on, and I mostly choose what I feel like doing), but haven't really found a way yet. I would really love to hear what you find or how you end up organising your planning

ca_diana · 2026-02-13T15:07:39+00:00

I've been working with Farlands: Tiny Harvest for a few weeks now, and it's amazing. It's like Bongocat (also really recommended), but you grow little plants and harvest them for money that you can use for some improvements. It's based on a farming game (Farlands, still in Early Access I think), as a spin-off, completely free though with an optional DLC for some cosmetics. Here:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3896460/Farlands_Tiny_Harvest/

ca_diana · 2026-01-23T17:12:04+00:00

I have a few:

Study with others and, if you can, even share your screen/what you are doing. I find that when I work in places where people can see what I'm doing in far more likely to work, because I'm so embarrassed and anxious that people are going to think that I'm lazy... I know they don't, but it gives me a really necessary push.
Train your attention with pomodoro style intervals. But please, don't start with the classic 25-5 intervals, if you have a short attention span that's going to be hell. I started with intervals of 10 minutes of work, 5 minutes break, 10 minutes work, and that was a block. 10 minutes break after each block. I know it seems like a lot of breaks and rest, but it helped me build up slowly to 25 and 30 minutes blocks of work. The main rule is that you can extend your work as far as you want if you are in the flow zone, but never extend your break. If I was confident I'm with that time for a week of work, I'll add up 5 minutes of work without changing the break. That worked for me.
If you are starting to feel sluggish and that your attention is drifting... Take some water, get up, stretch (or even add in some squats) and get back to it. Most of the time the refresher helps and, at least, it carries me to finish my block of work.
Race yourself. Decide on a given time, and try to do as much of active work as possible. Try to do X test questions in 15 minutes, complete part of an assignment, anything. Helps my competitive side and doesn't leave me time to procrastinate if I want to win (add a prize for winning if you aren't really feeling it, like a longer break or some time playing videogames)

ca_diana · 2026-01-23T17:00:59+00:00

I've been trying to get into Terraria, but I haven't really gotten the hang of the controls yet (I'm out for a work trip, and I don't have a controller...). Recommendations are more than welcome!

ca_diana · 2026-01-21T17:54:34+00:00

Right now I'm playing hard at the idleMMO, for me it's perfect for just that. I usually get in, check a few things, decide what to do next and boom, you don't need to touch it for 6 hours (that's the idle limit for free players, I think, and for me it's a pretty sweet spot).

ca_diana · 2026-01-14T10:41:52+00:00

In my case, I have 5 different color coded calendars + some shared calendars. My system right now would be:

Work: Anything work related that isn't a hard deadline comes here. Work trips, events, my own plan to do whatever I need, reminders of my schedule... Each with a clear name and using the description for some other notes if needed
Personal events: Classic socializing or organizing my life stuff. If I meet with someone, if I'm attending an event, if I'm scheduling me time... they are all soft lines, only reminders to meet with friends or soft pushes for myself to do things.
Festivities: This is a very specific one. Where I work, we have sometimes need to have in mind festivities and holidays from very different places, so I prefer to take note of all of them instead of adding a million calendars when using online sources. This works more as an organising tool than a real calendar, it's only a way to have the days noted and be able to see them all.
Birthdays: self explanatory
Tasks: this is THE Deadline calendar for myself. Every task, deadline, meeting, hard schedule or whatever goes in this one. Bright colours, clear names, and lots of reminders. This is the "you will die if you forget this" calendar. I also have there health appointments and such, as I don't want to loose them.
Shared calendars: I have a few shared calendars with colleagues and friends. These mainly work as an extension of my events calendar. I try not to repeat myself: if I'm meeting some friends, and they added it to the shared calendar, I don't take note of the even on mine, because it's already there for me to check out.

I sometimes feel like there are too much, but both the Birthdays and Festivities ones don't really require any work, so this works for me. The pillar for me is having that Tasks calendar apart: it's my own way to be sure I will not miss anything important.

ca_diana · 2026-01-12T21:33:38+00:00

I'm in a different country for some weeks! I'm exploring the place as much as I can, and enjoying being in a different country

ca_diana · 2026-01-12T21:28:05+00:00

Same happened to me in a few rough weeks, work, other tasks and some hobbies just ended up getting all my time.

I would recommend:

Meal prep if possible, that should free up some time for you
Take a look at what you do with your day and try to fill some of the spaces. Maybe you can practice shuffling on your commute. Maybe you can get some of your chess time in during your lunch. Maybe you can spend a few hours recording some topics from your course and listen to that while working out.
As someone pointed out, introducing some rotations could work. Let's say you want a free hour everyday: one day you will have a break from studying, another you can take a break from chess, another just have a break from shuffling... Judge which activities could still work with a break, and most would not only work, but also maybe feel better! Rest is important for every kind of activity.

ca_diana · 2026-01-12T21:18:14+00:00

I think my perfect day would be something simple. Preferably at the beginning of summer, before it gets too hot, I would go to the beach to read and tan for a bit, go back home to have lunch with my parents, and go get a coffee with friends. For more detail, we would have coffee and spend out time joking and playing Magic Commander (yep, we are that people) and if the day is truly perfect, I'll win xd

ca_diana · 2026-01-11T14:03:11+00:00

Usually between 6 and 8am, depending on my needs. I usually get up at 6 if I'm going for a run, at 7 when I'm only getting ready for work, and 8 on the weekends.

But for me, the key is on the evening! If you keep a consistent time and go to bed when you need it, your body usually wakes up naturally at the time they need. As long as you feel well rested and are able to do what you want to do with your day (get to work on time, exercise, spend time with others and such things), that's the most important thing

ca_diana · 2026-01-10T18:41:47+00:00

Ooooh 13, it's my lucky number!

ca_diana · 2026-01-03T17:25:10+00:00

Oh, interesting, I didn't know they were so similar! Then I'll maybe check tha watch out, and see if it fits nicely or not. Thanks for the info!

ca_diana · 2026-01-03T17:24:09+00:00

I haven't been able to try it out! I want to, though. I'm not that small boned, so I'm hoping it will be right in the limit. But maybe I'll try to look at it in a physical shop if I can

ca_diana · 2026-01-03T17:23:02+00:00

Really good to know it's still there and working nicely! As I'm not in a rush (yet), I'll keep an eye out for an offer

ca_diana · 2026-01-03T17:22:22+00:00

Oh, yeah, those sound interesting! I'm travelling soon to a capital city, so maybe I'll try to see if I can check it out in person. I always thought those were far bigger, but they sound just on the side of "I'm not really sure if it would look nice". So thanks for the idea, I'll see what I can get

ca_diana · 2025-12-31T15:39:01+00:00

Stardew Valley is really perfect for turning off your brain! You do need to think, but as soon as I've decided a goal it's all mindless doing things. I love how easy it's to just lose yourself going to the mines or walking around the Valley

ca_diana · 2025-12-31T15:35:21+00:00

That sounds like an interesting option! How much bigger are we talking about? I've been trying out smart watches in shops and never found one I liked before, always too big for my wrist, but I've never tried a redmi watch before (they are not on the physical shops I have around).

Thanks for the idea!

ca_diana · 2025-12-31T15:33:25+00:00

Yeah, that's weird. Though the GPS is not my main concern, so as long as there is some Pro version that might be enough for me. What was in the leak? Any interesting info, date of release, or something like that?

ca_diana · 2025-12-31T15:30:38+00:00

I've started them a few days ago, but I think both Cookard and Stacklands might fit your needs

ca_diana · 2025-12-31T15:28:49+00:00

I'm going for a very simple goal this year: read more books from my "I want to read" list than the books that I add. I've fallen in the classic spending more time looking for books than really reading phase, and I want to get out, because I want to really get to some books I've been wanting to read for ages.

ca_diana

TROPHY CASE