hebel. today · 13 November 202634 / 80

Technology · Productivity Tools

Consolidating daily operations into a single text-based dashboard

Ellen Chisa manages her personal operating system through a 5,000-word markdown file that serves as a central playbook for her daily routines. This document integrates product rules and specific scheduling constraints, such as adding…

Ellen Chisa manages her personal operating system through a 5,000-word markdown file that serves as a central playbook for her daily routines (Ellen Chisa from Ellen’s Newsletter). This document integrates product rules and specific scheduling constraints, such as adding 30-minute buffers after monthly meetings, to ensure her calendar and task lists remain aligned with her priorities (Ellen Chisa from Ellen’s Newsletter). By using a standard text format instead of complex software, she updates the system with small daily tweaks—42 corrections since late September—to refine how her AI agents handle administrative tasks and meeting preparation.

  • Sabahudin Murtic reduced dropped requests by creating a 'Today Board' that sorts incoming messages by urgency before he opens his inbox (Unstuck).
  • The Five-Minute Capability Tour helps users identify hidden AI tool features by mapping functions against interface buttons and settings (The Ai Rabbit Hole).
  • Brandon recommends using AutoCAD templates and sheet set managers to stop setting up new drawings from scratch while maintaining project coordination (Design x Technology).
  • Sifu Yik suggests saving successful prompts in a notes app to replace manual drafting with reusable, high-quality instructions (Sifu Yik's Substack).

Try today · 30 min

Create a 'Personal Playbook' markdown file to centralize your recurring rules and scheduling constraints.

Start by listing three specific operational rules you find yourself repeating, such as meeting buffer times or daily preparation steps.

You need

  • A text editor or markdown-compatible note app
  • A list of your three most frequent scheduling or administrative constraints

Steps

  1. Create a new file named 'Personal-Playbook.md'.
  2. Draft a section for 'Daily Routine' listing the steps you take to prepare for your day.
  3. Add a section for 'Operational Rules' documenting your constraints like buffer times or response requirements.
  4. Review your calendar and identify one recurring task that could be governed by these rules.
  5. Append the rule for that task to your document.

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Sources

  1. Ellen Chisa, Ellen’s Newsletter on hebel. → ✎ Written by a personThis newsletter details how a 5,000-word markdown file acts as a personal operating system for daily productivity.

  2. Unstuck on hebel. →This article describes a 'Today Board' dashboard that sorts incoming messages to prevent missed communication.

  3. The Ai Rabbit Hole on hebel. →This guide provides a step-by-step method for mapping the hidden capabilities of any AI tool in five minutes.

  4. Design x Technology on hebel. →This post outlines seven AutoCAD workflows that improve drawing consistency and reduce repetitive manual updates.

  5. Sifu Yik's Substack on hebel. →This list provides actionable prompt strategies for saving time by reusing successful AI instructions in a notes app.

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