To end my 4 part series, I wanted to share my quick list of tips with you. In case you missed the rest of the series, you can read part 1 here, part 2 here and part 3 here. Remember that doing several little things throughout your day can also improve your productivity. You can pick and choose which ones you would like to try. Best of luck.
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To end my 4 part series, I wanted to share my quick list of tips with you. In case you missed the rest of the series, you can read part 1 here, part 2 here and part 3 here. Remember that doing several little things throughout your day can also improve your productivity. You can pick and choose which ones you would like to try. Best of luck.
I hope you enjoyed this 4 part Series. I hope you continue to enjoy your summer.
Joan Burge
This blog was created from our Monday Motivators series. Monday Motivators is a weekly note offering practical ways to create a new mindset, change behaviors, develop positive relationships and thrive in the workplace with energy, effectiveness, and excellence.
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To continue my series on better managing your day and work, today I am focusing on information overload. I’m sure you can relate. If you missed the prior parts of this series, you can read part 1 here and part 2 here.
There’s just too much information out there! In fact, information processing accounts for half the gross national product—and most of it ends up on paper that someone has to read. You don’t have to fall prey to information overload. You just have to be more selective about the information you choose to take in. Here are five steps to becoming a picky information consumer.
Step 1: Don’t read everything that comes to you. You simply can’t absorb everything you think you need to know. Once you admit that, you’ll be better able to prioritize, delegate or ignore the information that comes your way.
Step 2: Assess your information sources. Take some time to decide which action, Web site, report or professional association information that isn’t of the highest quality.
Step 3: Scan for information. When you open a publication, look through the table of contents first. Scan for topics and article summaries. Choose only articles or reports that you need to read. Don’t waste your time on information just because it’s mildly interesting to you. Stick to what’s important.
Step 4: Use your highlighter. Once you commit to reading an article, underline any information you want to refer to later. Throw out any article or report where you haven’t highlighted any passages.
Step 5: Be an example. If you don’t want to get bogged down by long e-mails or voice messages, keep your own short. Let others know that they should keep their information as concise as possible—and mention it to them nicely when they don’t.
Wishing you great success applying these steps this week!
Joan Burge
This blog was created from our Monday Motivators series. Monday Motivators is a weekly note offering practical ways to create a new mindset, change behaviors, develop positive relationships and thrive in the workplace with energy, effectiveness, and excellence.
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In case you did not read part 1, I am writing a 4-part series around the topics of managing your day and time. I promise to keep these short and to the point.
#1: Early in the day, clarify your top 5 priorities for the day. Instead of thinking about the 10 things or more you have to do today, narrow your list to your top 5 priority items that you must get done today. This will help you feel like you have control vs. feeling like you are being controlled by everything that pops up. And at the end of the day, you will feel good about your accomplishments.
#2: Focus on the task at hand. One way to get things done and off your plate is to stay focused. Stay in the “flow.” This is what makes the difference between those who make great strides in their work and those who just run in circles throughout the day.
#3: Reducing information overload. I will give you tips on how to do this in next week’s Monday Motivator.
#4: Ask others for specific deadlines. This helps you prioritize your workload.
#5: Recognize the time of day you are most productive and tackle the projects that consume the most brain power. For me, I am most productive from 6:00 am – 2:00 pm. At work, if at all possible, I work on the items or projects that consume my greatest cognitive abilities. Then later in the day, I focus on smaller items that don’t consume as much of my brain power. By doing so, I am highly effective and move through my work much faster.
#6: Establish some quiet time throughout the day. One way to gain control is to just stop. Pause for 5 minutes. Revisit your Inbox, to do stack or list and then begin.
#7: Plan ahead. A great way to get a jump on your day is to plan the night before. In other words, before you leave the office, organize and prioritize your work for the next day. This way when you arrive at your office the next day, you can hit the road running.
This blog was created from our Monday Motivators series. Monday Motivators is a weekly note offering practical ways to create a new mindset, change behaviors, develop positive relationships and thrive in the workplace with energy, effectiveness, and excellence.
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I have been in the business world for 47 years now and one thing that never changes is managing our workload and setting priorities. Everyone I talk to is trying to keep up with the accelerated pace of business and change. At Office Dynamics, we always seem to be in a flurry of activity throughout the year but certain seasons are busier than others. Plus we always have to be thinking 6 – 12 months out because of being in the training industry.
Regardless if this is your really busy season or not, I would like to offer you some of my greatest tips. I will do this in a 4 Part Series of Monday Motivators. Other topics I will address over the next 3 weeks are: Control Your Day and Get Things Done; Reducing Information Overload; Build Structure out of Chaos. I promise to keep these Motivators short and to the point since your time is precious.
Managing your time is about . . .
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