Think Americans are the only ones concerned with long hours? Check out http://www.worksmart.org.uk/workyourproperhoursday/ “Over five million people at work in the United Kingdom regularly do unpaid overtime.” Sheesh, if we in the United States could only be so lucky to have such a low number. They believe there are five main reasons why people do unpaid overtime, so take the quiz and find out if you’re a “Stay Late Sheep,” a “Beast of Burden,” a “Cat Herder,” a “Chaos Theorist,” or a “Desk Junkie.” We have National Leave the Office Earlier day, and the United Kingdom has Work Your Proper Hours Day! According to the site, February 21 marks the day when the average person who does unpaid overtime finishes the unpaid days they do every year and starts earning for themselves. … [Read more...]
Employee Obesity and Productivity
I just read a white paper by Leade Health called "Employee Obesity is Number One Factor in Productivity Loss." The organization is of course trying to get businesses to sign up for its "health coaching" program for weight management, which I'm sure has merit, BUT...is obesity REALLY the number one factor in productivity loss? I mean, come on! More than useless meetings? Hundreds of emails every day? Co-workers "dropping in" to chat? Surfing the Net and doing personal business? Those things affect all of us, regardless of our shape and size. The paper cites research that a Body Mass Index (BMI) at risk (>27) yields an average productivity loss of 5.79 hours per week in absenteeism, disability costs, and worker productivity, which is even higher than productivity loss related to … [Read more...]
Productivity Tips Offered by Readers
I'm looking for information on cool, hip, useful, inventive, fresh, efficient products, processes, and services to help average Americans save time and money. Please comment with tips, Web sites, examples, press information, photos, how you’re using it, etc., for possible inclusion in an upcoming story. Here's one submission from a reader to get your creative juices flowing: << Laura, I've started making my own list of time savers (some of which inspired by your first book): 1. Ordering groceries via www.Freshdirect.com the last Saturday of each month. 2. Ordering sundries/household items and pharmacy item via www.drugstore.com the last Sunday of each month. 3. Get laundry picked … [Read more...]
Productivity, Tendonitis, and Treos
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...]
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...]
Does less sunlight affect your productivity?
Now wholesale jerseys Shop: wholesale nba jerseys wholesale nba jerseys cheap jerseys cheap mlb jerseys that spring is two days wholesale nfl jerseys wholesale nfl jerseys away, I’m cheap jerseys looking Mia… forward to Active a I wholesale nba jerseys 2016 boost wholesale nfl jerseys in cheap nfl jerseys type Post Student cheap nfl jerseys productivity. Sophie When 11 Daylight Saving Time wholesale mlb jerseys begins on April 2, we should see greater employee productivity across the wholesale mlb jerseys board as more wholesale nba jerseys sunlight cheap jerseys free shipping returns. wholesale jerseys The cheap nfl jerseys lack of sunlight cheap mlb jerseys in during winter months is lead taking its … [Read more...]
