On a somewhat random note, if you want to send yourself a reminder so that, say, you don't forget to update your accountability partner on things, Boomerang may be able to help with that.

Does Evernote premium do anything very helpful for this that the free version does not?

And sometimes throwing money at it is still effective. :)

The formatting here is somewhat screwed up, but here goes. Tell me if I'm breaking something with all of the text and I'll try to fix it.Use whatever you want from this -- you don't have to go through it all, and gloss over what doesn't help. Stop at any point you feel it's good to do so. Being open with people and allowing them to have whatever judgments they may is an option.Quotes: Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear. Often I have found the one thing that can save is the thing which appears most to threaten. One has to go down into what one most fears and in the process... comes a saving flicker of light and energy that, even if it does not produce the courage of a hero, at any rate enables a trembling mortal to take one step further. When you’re in an earthquake on a unicycle, juggling chain saws, the only way to survive is to tack down everything you can tack down, so you can deal with what you can’t. The old Wizard’s thoughts raced. There was a path through this. There was a path through everything … Yet one more lesson learned at Kellhus’s punishing hand. Miles looked up at his father. "Did . . . I do the right thing, sir? Last night?" "Yes," said the count simply. "A right thing. Perhaps not the best of all possible right things. Three days from now you may think of a cleverer tactic, but you were the man on the ground at the time." Speed and precision are the key ingredients to effective motion in the martial arts, and being relaxed allows for maximum control and focus. Might this be true anywhere else? You don’t break boards or bricks with the greatest efficiency if you’re uptight. Or handle four people who jump you in a dark alley. Or negotiate a deal. Or have the most appropriately deep and meaningful and risky conversation with your partner, your spouse, or your son. You’d better be relaxed. Find out what’s stressing you, and deal with it—now—if you want to be truly effective on all levels at once. Being relaxed and capable of focusing on what’s at hand, when it’s at hand, without over- or underreacting, is a master skill. It’s the context for accessing the greatest power. Figure out if there's an obvious reason that you're not feeling well. Not drinking coffee/vitamins on schedule? Food? Water? What do I feel like doing right now? Do that. Getting things done may make you feel better, and will help your future self out regardless. Suggestions: Maintainance: Plug your laptop in so that it'll be charged for tomorrow. Sort the bottom bin, doing simple tasks if you need to. (Unsorted notes go into the bottom bin, too.) Sort the junk bin. Check whether the Keurig is filled. Check whether the trash is full or smelly. If so, bag it and you can take it out after Check whether blue folder has paper. Make hummus, if you're running low. Make some tea, if you want. Wash glasses or dishes (food processor?) if they need it. Vacuum (iff it's reasonably quiet so you can hear the phone). Categorize stuff in Quicken Go through email Homework? Skim textbooks for tomorrow's lectures? Work on project for school? Are you afraid that something in particular has happened? How likely is it that this has actually occurred?

I have a file that I look at when I'm feeling useless in some way or another. It has some quotes that I think are likely to motivate helpful thought, a quick checklist of coffee/vitamins/food/water, some ideas for things to do, and a couple personal prompts.

Good point. Planning fallacy can also screw you over with this, especially if you're planning on putting the last touches on when you've got other deadlines looming. It's bad enough when you expand 1-2 hours of work to 3-5, but it's especially nasty when you don't see it coming.

I have not taken any racetams, and have no relevant expertise. With that said, I'd be a bit more cautious of things that are known to have effects for a significant amount of time after you stop taking them -- as reactions seem to vary somewhat from person to person, I would anticipate that something producing a positive effect for one person after they stopped taking it might produce a negative effect for someone else, which would be unpleasant. It seems like things which *do not* have such long term effects would be preferable, as if you wanted to continue to have the short-term effect, you could just continue taking it (but can stop at any time.)

Due to the whole 'lack of expertise' thing, though, I might be spouting caca. Let me know if I am.

Same request -- an example or two would make this easier to understand.