I remember reading some of the citations about "Blackberry Thumb," http://www.wordspy.com/words/BlackBerrythumb.asp years/months ago and thinking, “How ridiculous. You mean to tell me they actually have a definition of this condition?” Yep! It’s "A repetitive stress injury characterized by swelling and pain at the base of the thumb and caused by prolonged use of the thumb while operating a BlackBerry or other personal digital assistant." Well, now I’m not laughing so loud. I went to the hand surgeon today with a severe, stabbing pain at the base of my thumb and wrist. I left after a diagnosis for tendonitis, a cortisone shot in the joint, a wrist brace to sleep in for one month, and a strict admonishment to not hold my phone … [Read more...]
Never Check Email in the Morning? Who made that rule?
Karen Hoffman asks “Okay, readers… on the 17th I said I had bought Julie Morgenstern’s latest book, “Never Check E-Mail in the Morning and Other Unexpected Strategies for Making Your Work Life Work.“ …on page 97… she suggests we resist e-mail for the first hour of the day… why? She states that e-mail is the world’s most convenient procrastination device. She says the most dramatic, effective way to boost your productivity is to completely avoid e-mail the first hour and instead devote that first hour every day to your most critical task. According to Julie, by concentrating on a critical task the day starts with you in charge of it, rather then the other way around. Thoughts? Comments? “ Answer: whether you should check email in the morning depends on a myriad of factors, so it’s not … [Read more...]
Improving Your Concentration Span
Rinoa posts, “Could you post something about improving your concentration span? I know the reason why I procrastinate is because I know I won't be able to concentrate long enough to finish the task. Please help.” Inability to concentrate comes from three main sources: 1. Technology 2. People 3. Your brain 1. TECHNOLOGY. First, you must disable your global email alerts, so you don’t receive a notification for every garbage email coming into your in-box but still be able to receive an alert for “important” people. Turn off your global desktop alerts in Outlook: Under the Tools menu Select Options In the Preferences Tab, select Email options In the Email Options dialog box, … [Read more...]
I intended to post an article on procrastination but didn’t get around to it
As author Jennifer Duffy quipped in her article in the Arizona Daily Star on 3/13/06, "I know I should have thought of a better joke, but I ran out of time." Jennifer posts several quotes from me in her article on conquering procrastination, such as breaking up large tasks into little pieces, do something for only five minutes to gain momentum, etc. All those ideas are nice, but fundamentally, if you really want to conquer procrastination, you have to understand the psychology behind WHY you're doing it. All the tips in the world won't help if you don't take time to understand your behaviors around the procrastination habit. Then you can match the HOW with the WHY. Not all tips work for all people. Lee Silber advocates in the book "Organizing From the Right Side of the Brain: A … [Read more...]
Music, iPods, and Productivity
I was mentioned in the USA Today on 3/23 in a story called "Music hath charms for some workers — others it annoys" http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/gear/2006-03-23-ipod-work_x.htm My quote was (as is usual) taken a bit out of context. When I said "I'm all for it," I was referring specifically to people who say they can concentrate while music is playing in their ears (look at your average teenager, listening to music, IMing with friends, watching tv, and doing homework at the same time). Just because you can concentrate don't mean others can. At work, you definitely should follow iPod etiquette and not blast your music through your computer's speakers or portable iPod speakers. When you use your earbuds, make sure it's soft enough that you … [Read more...]
Get your files organized for tax time
While you're already pulling receipts, statements, and records to prepare for tax time, take the time to get organized! Remove bank and credit card statements, utilities, investment, and any financial records related to this tax year. Put in a white archive box (you can get from any office supply store) and label the lid with the year and put it in your basement, attic, or closet. Then make new hanging files for the next tax year. If you get into the habit of pulling and replacing file folders at the beginning of each year while you're doing taxes, you will keep your files neat and purged. Half-way through the year, also do a second purge by going file by file and removing anything outdated or that you haven't used in a year and add it to your current year's … [Read more...]
Procedure to install a newsreader and subscribe to a blog
I’ll share a simple procedure to install an RSS newsreader, so you can subscribe to blogs and news feeds and receive them direct to your desktop! No more corporate firewalls to worry about! No more newsletters going into your spam folder! You receive exactly what you want to see. This is the productivity wave of the future, so you may as well figure it out, and I’ll make it easy for you: 1. Download the free Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1. 2. Run a Windows Update http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us 3. Select Custom 4. Select Optional Software updates 5. Select the option to install .NET Framework 1.1 … [Read more...]
Changing poor productivity habits
Changing poor productivity habits Dixie Sanner writes an article in the Washington Business Journal called Time Smart: Too busy? Trick is habit (re) forming. (See it at http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2006/02/27/smallb2.html?hbx=e_sw). In it, she outlines a 5-step process in changing your habits: 1. Pinpoint the habit you want to change and analyze it. 2. Describe what you'd like to do instead 3. Develop a new routine that will help your new habit take root 4. Be consistent 5. Ask for help All really good advice. But the article doesn’t do much to give you specific ideas on new routines (step 3). If we really want to be “Time Smart,” which habits should we change? Perhaps the article should have focused on one specific bad habit and … [Read more...]
Does less sunlight affect your productivity?
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Register for National Leave the Office Earlier day!
Register NOW UIT cheap jerseys cheap mlb jerseys to participate in the wholesale mlb jerseys wholesale NBA jerseys Shark 2nd annual wholesale NBA jerseys National Leave the of Soundcloud lighting cheap NFL jerseys to Soda|Sodium Office cheap NBA jerseys Mining LAUNCHED! wholesale nfl jerseys wholesale nfl jerseys Earlier day, Friday, June Germany cheap NFL jerseys ???? cheap NFL jerseys cheap jerseys Miami Dolphins Jerseys ??????? wholesale nfl jerseys 2, 2006! I created this holiday, which is listed in Chase’s annual events, to encourage people to reduce the number of hours at work through productivity initiatives. You are pledging to wholesale MLB jerseys Botany only work UNA cheap jerseys up Bethlehem … [Read more...]
