Top all-time · #175
Zen Habits Website
Personal blog · zenhabits.netproductivityphilosophy
Zen Habits Website is a personal blog at zenhabits.net about productivity and philosophy. Since 2007, 253 different Hacker News readers have linked it 357 times, most often “Zenhabits”. It is still writing: the last post was on 2026-10-30, and you can follow it by feed.
Sometimes recommended · 13 of 40 sampled comments recommend it?
Why HN links it
HN readers link Leo Babauta's Zen Habits for practical productivity and habit advice, especially Zen to Done, the MITs idea, and posts on discipline, burnout, and minimalism. Commenters point newcomers to it as a free, approachable starting point.
- Recommended for · 13 comments
- Commenters call the Zen to Done post a simple GTD alternative and the blog a solid, great, free read.
Summarised by Claude from a sample of 40 HN comments that link here. Each comment is marked recommending, critical or neutral (citing without judging); how this works.
Most-linked posts?
- /5 people · 5 mentions · first linked 2017-03-08
- Zenhabits4 people · 5 mentions · first linked 2011-09-16
- The Myth of Discipline4 people · 5 mentions · first linked 2011-06-04
- The No. 1 Habit of Highly Creative People4 people · 4 mentions · first linked 2010-05-27
- /4 people · 4 mentions · first linked 2009-01-30
- The Letting Go Ebook, Free : zenhabits3 people · 5 mentions · first linked 2014-05-01
- /zen-to-done-ztd-the-ultimate-simple-productivity-system/3 people · 4 mentions · first linked 2017-11-13
- Zenhabits: Focus Book3 people · 3 mentions · first linked 2010-10-24
- Simplify the Internet2 people · 2 mentions · first linked 2020-07-13
- 4 Simple Principles of Getting to Completion2 people · 2 mentions · first linked 2010-02-20
What Hacker News says?
In regards to email, google wave took a stab at attempting to change the dynamic of communications but that project has now been shelved. The difficulty in a new "email" replacement is overcoming the hurdles of engrained habits - see http://zenhabits.net/ for more on that psychology or even www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com (people see the inbox as a to do, that they grind through in mechanical fashion). Think to tackle…
Comment linking /
on “Frighteningly Ambitious Startup Ideas”Submitted How I Learned to Stop Procrastinating, and Love Letting Go as a story · 339 points
HN discussionHi, I want you to tell you a litte story about my self and my struggles. We should be about the same age. A year ago, I was going strong, working my job, having side projects and getting things done. I was doing a lot of sports and was on the level of a marathon runner. Then I had an injury. Due to the lack of sport, I fell into depression. I was unable to concentrate on a single thing for even five minutes and had…
Comment linking /
on “Ask HN: Is it 'normal' to struggle so hard with work?”Submitted The No. 1 Habit of Highly Creative People as a story · 190 points
HN discussionNOTE: If you find GTD "too technical" or "too overwhelming" give a try to ZTD, zen to done. It's a modified version that keeps goals and main tasks for the day front and center. https://zenhabits.net/zen-to-done-ztd-the-ultimate-simple-pr...
Comment linking /zen-to-done-ztd-the-ultimate-simple-productivity-system/
on “A Beginner´s Guide to Getting Things Done”Submitted My Standing Desk Experiment as a story · 189 points
HN discussionSounds like you'd like Zen to Done, a modified version of GTD. The basics is here: https://zenhabits.net/zen-to-done-ztd-the-ultimate-simple-pr... (and there's a longer ebook version for sale, too).
Comment linking /zen-to-done-ztd-the-ultimate-simple-productivity-system/
on “A Beginner´s Guide to Getting Things Done”Submitted Tired of Being Tired as a story · 186 points
HN discussionShort-term focus is why I fell in love with and still use Leo Babauta's GTD-related idea of MITs (Most Important Tasks). See links at bottom. Each morning I set 3 tasks (sometimes 4 or 5 if I absolutely have to and they're small) that would make me feel good about the day if I finish. I write them in an otherwise empty text document, order them by importance, and start working on the first one. These tasks can be la…
Comment linking /zen-to-done-ztd-the-ultimate-simple-productivity-system/
on “If you're busy, you're doing something wrong (2011)”Submitted Uncopyright as a story · 148 points
HN discussionHere's a solid article: https://zenhabits.net/respond/
Comment linking /respond/
on “Why we’re betting against real-time team messaging”Submitted How to Have the Best Year of Your Life (without Setting a Single Goal) as a story · 116 points
HN discussionIf you start looking, you'll find a pretty unanimous agreement of the benefits of meditation both from a research and an anecdotal perspective. However it's not a practice that, at least initially, benefits much from doing extensive research or setting goals. Just let your curiosity guide you. Here's something that you can read in 5 minutes to get you started: http://zenhabits.net/meditate/
Comment linking /meditate/
on “Boredom is not a problem to be solved, it's the privilege of a free mind”Submitted Get Less Done: Stop Being Productive and Enjoy Yourself as a story · 104 points
HN discussionThis newsitem reminds me of times whan HN had that news about people traveling with just a backpack, 100-thing challenge and other minimalism-related news. I discovered http://zenhabits.net/ and /r/minimalism. The idea of selecting 1 or 2 Most Important Tasks for the next day really worked for me, for example. Anyone care to share some good minimalism-related resources?
Comment linking /
on “Why I don't want stuff”Submitted Benefits of getting up early even if you don't want to code as a story · 102 points
HN discussionI'm 23, and I'm in the same position as you. It might be a generational problem. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wait-but-why/generation-y-unha... I also think we are tuned to focus on the future and all its glory and not focus on the present, especially in an environment that is all about "becoming the next big thing." So, one suggestion is to focus and be mindful of the present because if your head is always in the…
Comment linking /toolset/
on “I'm 25 years old and I am lost”Submitted Top 20 Motivation Hacks as a story · 93 points
HN discussion"Without great solitude no serious work is possible." - Pablo Picasso, http://zenhabits.net/creative-habit
Comment linking /creative-habit
on “The power of lonely: What we do better without other people around”Submitted Life Lessons I’ve Learned in 38 Years as a story · 93 points
HN discussionWish I'd seen this a bit earlier. I read a great article today from Leo Babauta from Zen Habits on essentially the same topic. Set a value system, and stick to it. That's exactly what this author is encouraging. I think it's unfortunate that the context the author chose to illustrate the point is distracting to many, but it doesn't change the validity of his message. Check out the article from Leo here at Zen Habits…
Comment linking /12rules/
on “Never Lie About Who You Really Are”Submitted Get Off Your Butt: How to Get Motivated When You’re in a Slump as a story · 92 points
HN discussionNot a single one of your links supports your claim. Most (all?) are not even talking about motivation or discipline at all. One talks about self-control, which is a whole other topic and closely related to motivation. Here's a link that would be relevant to what we're talking about: http://growthzer.com/substitute-for-motivation/ It could be argued with. But, at the end of the day, it's just a blog post. Here's anot…
Comment linking /discipline/
on “Ask HN: How do you keep motivated if nobody supports you?”Submitted Create as a story · 69 points
HN discussionLeo Babauta has an interesting claim on this that discipline therefor is a myth: http://zenhabits.net/discipline/ . In the light of the article: those kids must at least get the organization and scheduling part of their lives from their parents.
Comment linking /discipline/
on “If You’re Busy, You’re Doing Something Wrong”Submitted The Best Goal is No Goal as a story · 68 points
HN discussionWhen my brain is functioning properly (according to third parties), this sounds like great advice, and I can even intend to head it next time I sink. However, once my brain was processing my every action as futile, I was often too depressed and incapacitated to shower, or even to get up and make food when I was hungry. In that state of mind, things like kayaking and hiking were functionally impossible. Music remaine…
Comment linking /more/
on “Some Practical Thoughts on Suicide”Submitted Zenhabits as a story · 54 points
HN discussionThe latest post on zenhabits is about bringing things to completion: http://zenhabits.net/2010/02/completion-principles/
Comment linking /2010/02/completion-principles/
on “I need to find out how to finish anything I start. Help me. Please.”Submitted Zenhabits: Focus Book as a story · 45 points
HN discussion
