Productivity

Dam the paper!

If you’re drowning with paper see the blog post just before this one.  Once you’ve caught up on your backlog of paper and sticky notes you’ll want to use some of the following tips to keep on top of what comes into your office. 

Special note:  These are habits to develop.  Anytime you want to create a new habit, you’ve got to work at it consciously for a period of time before it becomes automatic.

Step 1 – Look at the sources of your paper.

Mail coming in – your in-box (paper from others) –… Continue reading

Drowning in paper!

I received the following email message from a dear friend and client as she was about to go on vacation.  I had just visited her office and saw paper everywhere.  I felt chaotic just walking in, I couldn’t imagine being there every day.

Here’s what she wroteYou are so right!  I am drowning in little bits of paper.  Thank you for your offer to help out!  I’m ready anytime. 

I am leaving for the beach Saturday morning, but even if you had some time today or tomorrow to give me a… Continue reading

Interruptions

Do you ever get interrupted when you’re trying to get something done?  Have you ever not been interrupted when you’ve tried to get something done?

I read a scary statistic the other day.  An office worker is productive, working on a task, activity or project, on average  1 ½ hours per 8 hour workday.   The rest of the time is spent on email, phone calls, meetings, chatting, looking for files, surfing the net, staring into space, going to the restroom, you name it.

Increasing your productivity is not that hard.  The last post had tips to help you with… Continue reading

Time Robbers

Email and Phone Calls

Email – this is a hard one for so many.  Are you addicted?

Tip 1:  Stop checking your e-mail every second.  It takes up enormous chunks of time.  This is a huge drain on energy and productivity.  Schedule when you’ll look at your email.  Perhaps it’s three times a day.  Turn off the “ding.”

Tip 2:  Here’s a tip that you may want to check with your boss first.  Use this tip if you are addicted to checking email and you are not required by your job to check as it comes in.  You… Continue reading