Google Reader Hacks

One of my New Year’s Resolutions is to deal more effectively with the volumes of information arriving in my inbox and feed reader. To that end, here are some great tips for Google Reader:

A Three-Dimensional Approach to Organizing Your Feeds Using Google Reader

…a multi-tiered approach to classifying and reading your feeds using an often ignored feature of [Google Reader].The Problem

The fundamental problem is input management. Most of us simply have too many feeds to read in a single sitting. How can we be sure we’re reading the right content at the right time? Are we reading too much? Too little? The goal is to avoid the anti-GTD state of not being sure – a state that consumes valuable brain resources and keeps you from functioning at your best.

That’s what this system helps you do: it lets you instantly choose which feeds to read at any given time – allowing you to feel fully satisfied when you’re done with a session.

The System
The first thing we’re going to do is make three categories of tags/labels within Google Reader (think folders for old-schoolers). These are:

1. Priority
2. Subject
3. Location

Mine look like this:

* Priority (general importance): Primary, Secondary, Tertiary
* Subject (classical organization): Security, Programming, Design, Humor
* Location (contextual consideration): Industry News, Important World Events, etc.

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