How to Catalog Your Possessions
2012.08.27.03:06
An at-home disaster preparedness plan should include taking inventory of all your valuables, from homeowners’ certificates to jewelry to electronics. Here’s how to do it.
10 things to keep in mind when improving processes
2012.08.24.05:48
Handled the right way, business process improvement can provide tremendous benefits to your organization. Here are 10 keys to success.
7 ways to better sort, store, and search your email
2012.08.20.10:50
A cluttered and unorganized mailbox can make it difficult to find the email you need. This messy situation can be remedied. Microsoft Outlook offers great tools that help you sort your email and organize your messages in meaningful, easy-to-control ways. Outlook can even help increase your efficiency and productivity. Whether you’re using Outlook 2010, Outlook 2007 or Outlook 2003, you’ll be better able to stay on top of your mail.
The Collaboration Toolkit
2012.08.20.02:54
There is some amazing software out there for organizing teamwork, group projects, and meetings. Here are some of my favorites.
When to Upgrade
2012.07.18.05:39
How do you know when it is the right time to replace your laptop, desktop computer, iPad, iPhone, or Android device with a new model? These guidelines will help you plan better for your next purchases.
20 Tips for Working from Home
2012.07.04.03:07
Working from home full time or just occasionally can be hugely rewarding, but only if you know how to keep your productivity up, work-life balance in check, and business relationships intact.
How to surf safely
2012.06.28.02:05
From LastPass to tin foil hats, and everything in between. Don’t wait until it’s too late to implement a solid strategy for staying safe online. Here, one of our new writers — Paul Lilly — runs you through a dizzying array of safe surfing techniques.
Article: 12 Tips to Help You Claim More Time for Yourself
By Marquita Herald, 2012.06.18.16:01
Whether you are feeling overextended, overcommitted and overwhelmed, or just ready to do a little spring cleaning to free more time for summer, the following tips can help you take the first steps toward conquering your time crunched lifestyle find more time for “off the clock” fun.
“There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.” ~ Peter F. Drucker
1. Begin by learning the difference between “Do I need to do this now?” and “Do I need to do this at all?”
Just because you are busy and getting things done doesn’t mean you are actually accomplishing anything significant. As you plan your day or week, really think about the things you have to do as opposed to things you think you have to do. A lot of to do’s are not necessarily things we have to do. Often times the lines are blurred because we over commit or feel obligated to things that aren’t in line with our goals and rob us of valuable time.
2. Organize future events with a monthly accordion file
Put birthday cards, directions to a baby shower, a note to check on furniture deliveries, even vacation brochures in the appropriate months for quick reference and retrieval.
3. Create a “just in case” box for the car trunk:
umbrella, cheap rain ponchos, scissors, big black marker, tape, paper towels, plastic bags, extra kids’ socks and a one-size-fits-all T-shirt, sweatshirt and pair of sweatpants for adults, another for kids.
4. Go digital with record keeping
Instead of printing every report, article, recipe or document you think you might need or want some day, burn records onto CDs for storage. You will be amazed about the amount of space you’ll save, not to mention printer ink and copy paper – and as an extra bonus you’ll be saving LOTS of trees in the process!
5. Take control of managing your bill paying schedule
Rather than having to constantly trying to keep track of when various bills are due each month, ask creditors to shift your due dates to lump them all together or to split them between the two pay periods of each month.
6. Make your home office an actual work space
Attempting to work at a cluttered table or desk may not be the sign of a cluttered mind, but piles of disorganized faxes, bills, receipts and mail are definitely off-putting when you’re trying to work at home. You need to be able to sit down in your home office and go to work, without having to clear a space or hunt for a particular piece of paper. Getting your home office organized and keeping it that way prevents distractions and time-wasting. Buy an in and out basket and use it, invest in a filing cabinet, and have a wastepaper can handy so you can clean up when you close up for the day. Keep all your relevant working materials in your work space. Having to walk into another room to retrieve a file can be a serious waste of time. Tip: Having an actual “work space” also helps to get across the point to family and friends that, even though you are at home, you are working.
7. Practice Chunking
This strategy refers to completing similar types of work all at the same time. For example if you typically field a large number of calls and or emails each day – instead of dropping everything to take each call as it comes in or each email as it arrives, set aside specific blocks of time dedicated to returning calls and responding to emails. It’s more effective and a better use of energy, where possible, to accomplish similar tasks all together. Same goes for writing, scheduling clients, etc. Tip: I know, being needed is so gratifying, but so is self-preservation. It’s especially for us ‘control freaks’ to let go of control and allow others to make decisions, but if you try just testing the waters, you’re likely to find very few true “emergencies” in a given day. In fact, you may be pleasantly surprised at how often problems are magically solved without your able involvement – which leaves you the opportunity to heap praise for a job well done!
8. Be prepared before making phone calls
Before picking up the phone, make a list of things you need to talk about and questions you need to ask. That way, you won’t waste time calling someone back because you forgot to ask an important question. I even do this when I call my relatives if I have a lot of things to tell them.
9. Use templates & swipe files
You can use templates and swipe files for invoices, letters of introduction, client questionnaires, standard email responses, out of office notices and other documents you use on a regular basis. If you have a website or blog consider a FAQ page where readers can easily access answers to the most frequently asked questions about your product or programs. Keep a current copy of your online profile in your swipe file so when you register at a new forum or website you can simply cut and paste.
10. Create easy access to your information
You can use Evernote to capture thoughts and ideas, store notes, swipe files and photos all in one place. Evernote Mobile lets you capture anything you want to remember where ever you are and instantly makes it available on all the computers and devices you use. That doesn’t mean you should work everywhere, or all the time. It means you spend less time trying to locate or transfer files & programs. Less time typing the same responses over and over. Less time stuck inside in your office. Best of all – it’s FREE!
11. If you DARE – use Rescue Time
For those really serious about productivity, Rescue Time can save you hours every week by tracking how and where you spend your time online. There’s no data entry required – a little application tracks what you use, and how much time you spending using it. There’s a free 14-day trial for the full service version, then optional plans ranging from just $6 to $9/month. If you don’t care about all the graphs and reporting, you can opt for the Lite “free forever” version.
12. Finally, plan how you will use your “off the clock” fun time
As gratifying as it can feel to take control of your time and become more productive in the process – if you don’t create a plan for what you’ll do with your free time, it will be quickly lost to whatever pops up. Even if your plan is to finally read that book that’s been gathering dust on your nightstand, schedule your personal time around that so it feels more like a commitment – because it is, a commitment to enjoy more of your life. So start using these tips and enjoy all the new free time you have at your fingertips!
Article: 7 Steps to Improve Your Focus Overnight
By Catherine Franz, 2012.06.18.16:01
Haven’t you always thought having a disorderly mind meant something was wrong? Well, I did. That was, until…
I read tons of information about the brain, including material produced by the Center for the Study of the Brain.
And guess what? Having a mind that is disorderly is a natural condition. Who would have guessed? Hey, we’re normal.
Doesn’t just knowing this give you a breath of fresh air? It sure did for me.
After my fresh air experience, I was still faced with the challenge that I needed solutions. How can be more focus when I want and not just when it swims in at its own leisure?
So, I weeded through a stack of medical journals, talked with some therapists and doctors, and came up with what I’m about to share. Then I put them to a test. To my surprise, they worked. And worked darn well.
The four most common blocks to being able to focus are:
1. Being tired.
2. Being bored.
3. Being under stress or duress.
4. Trying to do too many things at once. (Too many balls you’re juggling.)
5. Are you hungry?
6. Do you need more clarity?
7. Do you need to make a decision you are trying to avoid?
After learning to be acutely aware of when any of these blocks were occurring, I experienced a new euphoria in my life, especially in my decision making process. Instead of trying to force myself to focus when I was experiencing one or more of the blocks, I choose to correct my time management and answers instead. I also learned to take better care of myself physically when any of these were occurring. I also needed to develop methods to let go of them quickly. This could include getting more rest, like taking a nap, going to bed early and getting up early, exercising the stress away, and stop multi-tasking. And not feeling guilty about it but to be proud of it. Oh heavens, the last one is a whole story by itself.
In the research process, I picked up seven simple tricks that can help increase focus for a few seconds, a few hours, even a day if you take it slowly. Over a 30-day trial period I put all these to a test. Many I did sporadically and just needed gain them as a habit. I set up printed reminders and Outlook pop ups to keep them active. Even cards on my bathroom mirror helped.
First, I didn’t begin anything without asking what my objective was for doing it. What did I want to accomplish? It didn’t matter if I was taking a shower, making dinner, chatting with a friend or client, or writing. Everything!
Let me tell you, it sure wasn’t easy to remember to ask the question. Many times I thought it was silly and wanted to stop. I soon realized that in order to go big I needed to begin small. What got me through this portion was knowing the small would pass quickly and the big wouldn’t be big any longer.
The second is visioning — visioning the payoff. Feeling full from the dinner before I began to eat or seeing my writing being emailed or published. The stress reduced itself by half at first and then decreased completely. This transfer rewnewed me spiritually, physically, and mentally. My self-talk became more and more positive as time progressed.
Obesity is associated with early puberty, faulty menstrual patterns, decreased contraceptive efficacy, ovulatory disorders, increased miscarriage rate and poor response to fertility treatments. viagra 10mg Mental problems: Mental health gets badly affected due to high efficacy factors, the prescription of kamagra tablets is also very easy. viagra spain You will feel refreshed and energetic viagra sale canada to perform your daily tasks perfectly. Rarely will epicondylitis heal on its own. viagra no rx Third, was setting up the environment for my success. I cleared my desk except for the materials I needed to work on. I practiced mantras before starting each piece of work. Again it felt silly at first. As I progressed with the practice I was able to do it faster and without thinking. Sometimes I played a productivity CD or meditated for a few minutes (using a timer so I didn’t get lost in time). Before when I did this, I felt I was wasting my time. Now, I realized this actually accomplishes the opposite.
The fourth is being in the NOW — the present moment. Not thinking about the past or the future. Just the now. When I first started this practice, I found my inner chatter jumping into the future often. Instead of dismissing it, I told myself I would address the question or answer in X minutes. It seemed to satisfy the need to let go of the distraction. I began seeing how much time I wasted on future possibilities…playing the if game. You will find this yourself doing this as well. It’s a neat practice to test whether you’re really in the now as well.
Fifth, is learning to let go of everything else except the objective. It’s similar to the NOW exercise above, just a little stronger. Here’s you letting go of what comes next and doing what needs to be done now. When I’m in this stage I think of a horse drawn carriage. The horse is wearing blinders so their eyes don’t stray or see something that spooks them. This includes letting go of any fears that might be crowding in. Just put on the blinders. I use my hands sometimes to imitate this effect.
Sixth, is about taking breaks. It wasn’t until my third year at college, my first degree, that I learned that if I took a short break every 30 minutes, for science every 15 minutes, I remembered more. My brain caught up with what I just read and processed the information. I began connecting the dots. Ask yourself, “What is your maximum attention span?” It averages somewhere between 10 and 30 minutes.
The seventh method involves writing. Writing down what it is that is blocking your focus. Writing releases the “I don’t want to forget” factor. It places the information in a trusted place you know you can return to. Set the timer for five minutes and freewrite what’s going on in your mind. I call this process, “The Dumping Game.” I recommend using a positive tone.
Focus doesn’t need to be fleeting elements in our life. Nor do you need to tolerate the natural disarray condition. With alert awareness and conscious choice — and solutions on how to focus — it can be there whenever we want or need it. Just knowing that it’s part of your arsenal is powerful in itself. As you test these solutions, you will find what works best for you. It’s guaranteed to work some where in the process.
Create Better To-Do Lists
2012.03.19.05:00
How effective is your to-do list? Do you cross things off it throughout the day? Is it a scrolling and never-ending beast? Does it fill you with dread and remind you of all the things you haven’t done? Does it help you achieve the important things in your life?
Living a Passionate Life of Purpose
2012.03.12.15:00
Studies by the research company Harris Interactive have shown that 80% of working Americans don’t enjoy what they do for a living. The highest incidents of heart attacks and suicides are on Monday mornings. Clearly something is missing in the lives of most people.
10 Simple Tips To Develop Concentration
2012.03.12.15:00
All of us know the importance of concentration skills. Below are some tips to help you develop better concentration whether you are working, studying or doing anything at all!
Digitizing Personal Documents
2012.02.27
Computers are very good at searching. Computers are also excellent at retrieval. No matter how fast and efficiently you think you can find and retrieve information in your house from pieces of paper, rest assured, computers can do it faster.
Adopting Paperless Notes
2012.02.20
To adopt a paperless lifestyle, you need rules. The rules are everything. If you pick the wrong rules for you or ambitiously try to implement too many rules, you’ll set yourself up for failure. Here are some suggestions for rules—or more accurately, suggestions for how to craft the right rules for you—that you’ll need to go paperless with your office or school notes.
10 things you have to know to be computer literate
2012.02.13.09:52
Many of your users are coasting along without adequate computer knowledge. Help them close the gap by sharing this list of essential skills.
25 Essential Keyboard Shortcuts
2012.02.13
Organization and productivity go hand-in-hand. Learn even a few of these keyboard shortcuts for Windows PCs or Macs to improve your efficiency.
Note: Single letter keys are shown capitalized, but you do not have to hold Shift unless it’s specified. You also don’t have to type the plus sign; plus sign just means push the keys on either side of it at the same time.
Commonly Used OS-Level Shortcuts
1. Alt + Tab (toggle between programs)
2. Windows button + M (show desktop, i.e., minimize all windows)
3. Windows button + Tab (show all active windows in task bar)
4. PrtScn (save screen capture to clipboard; “paste” the image into an image-editing program to make it into a file)
5. Windows button (opens applications menu)
Browser Shortcuts
6. Ctrl + T (open a new tab)
7. Ctrl + Shift + t (reopens the tab you last closed; works multiple times)
8. F5 (reload page)
9. Backspace (go to previous page; works multiple times)
10. Ctrl + Tab (cycle between tabs)
Commonly Used Shortcuts in Most Applications
11. Ctrl+ Z (undo last operation)
12. Ctrl + Y (redo last operation)
13. Crtl + O (open file)
14. Crtl + S (save)
15. Ctrl + W (close active window or file)
16. Crtl + Q (quit application)
Copy-and-Pasters’ Delight
17. Ctrl + A (select all in active window; e.g., select all text on page)
18. Ctrl + X (cut to clipboard)
19. Ctrl + C (copy)
20. Ctrl + V (paste)
Find, Select, and Navigate Text
21. Ctrl + F (find; helpful if you’re searching for a particular word on a website or document)
22. Ctrl + Shift + down arrow (select until end of line)
23. Ctrl + Shift + up arrow (select until beginning of line)
24. Ctrl + Home (move cursor to top/start of document)
25. Ctrl + End (move cursor to bottom/end of document)
Nine Ways to Wake Up Earlier
2011-06-10 15:52
Some of us are night owls. Others, early birds.
Get more Send To choices in Windows Explorer with one keystroke
2011.01.14.10:52
With one simple keystroke a user can get many more choices for where to send a file when using Windows Explorer.