Multi-tasking is the act of doing multiple tasks at the same time. Some are naturally skilled at this while some are better off doing one thing at a time. However, during these times when everything seems to move at 100 miles per hour, it is always an advantage to acquire this skill. For those who are newbies at multi-tasking, you can practice doing the following first:

While cooking. You can save time cooking by doing several things at the same time. If you are making pasta, you can start by boiling the water. While waiting, you can chop the other ingredients you will need. Or if you are making stew (which can take at least an hour to cook beautifully), you can
do the laundry or clean the bathroom.

While watching television. You can do several househould chores while watching television in the evening. You can vacuum the carpet, clear your bed, or even fold your clothes.

Sometimes we spend time on our butt while talking on the telephone. This might take a bit of practice, but you can use your computer at work while using the phone. You can purchase a headset to keep your hands free to do other tasks.

If you commute to work or to school, you can always use the time in a bus or train to catch up on some reading. If you drive, you can listen to audio books, may it be fiction, or something useful as a language-learning CD.

Tired? Stressed out trying to finish small tasks that seem to pile up day after day? Why not work smart instead of working hard? Here are some simple tips to help you make your work life a bit easier.

Use your strengths. Do not waste time working on things that you are not particularly good at. Be more productive by using the skills and strengths that you already possess. However…

Learn. If you find yourself lacking in some skills, then delegate a bit of your extra time to polish rusty skills. You can study on your own or you can formally enroll in a class.

Prioritize. We can never get enough of lists. Just list down the tasks that you need to do in a particular day. Rank them according to their priority – or which should be done first. If you’re not exactly a paper and pen person, you can always use what works for you – may it be technology, or if you have a good memory, then you can always store it in your mental planner.

Organize. The minutes  you spend looking for your stapler, or making unplanned phone calls can add up to an hour spent on more important things. Use a diary or a planner to keep you reminded of special dates or appointments. Keep your workspace clean and clutter-fee. Make sure you know where everything is. Write labels on drawers and cabinets if these could help.

Stop. Learn when to stop working. Pushing yourself too hard will only result to mistakes and more stress. People are more productive when they are not burning candles at both ends. Call it a day and get a good night’s rest. You’ll find that you have more energy to work the next day.

Do you spend at least an hour commuting from home to work? Make your time more productive whether you’re taking public transport or if you’re driving. Here are some tips that will show you exactly how:

Listen. You can do this if you are driving or if you are using public transport, as long as you have a CD player, or an MP3 player with you, no problem. Commuting is the perfect opportunity to listen to relaxing music so your mind and body are calm ad refreshed. Perfect way to start a busy day.

You can also try listening to a language learning CD. Or you can opt to listen to an audio book instead, if you have no time to read an actual paperback lately due to your busy schedule.

Or you can do the actual reading, if you’re using public transport. Bring a book you’ve been dying to read for a long time. You probably could only go through a few pages. But you’ll be able to finish the book eventually if you do it everyday.

If you have a laptop or a smart phone, you can also read your e-mail while you’re on the train or bus or cab. You can also converse on your cell phone. Remember to use hands-free if you’re driving. This will help you get rid of some work tasks even before you get to work.

Focusing on a task can be difficult especially if you have a lot of things going on in your mind. But if you are determined to be able to get everything sorted out and done, here are some tips to help you do exactly that:

First things first, stop whatever it is that you are doing. Grab a piece of paper and a pen. Find a place to sit where there is no distraction. Take a deep breathed and think about the tasks you want to accomplish. Make a list according to their priority. In the future, you can make a list before leaving work for the following day, or in the morning as the first thing you do when you come in to work.

Don’t forget to give yourself realistic deadlines. Consider your resources and the difficulty of the task. Set a deadline that you think is very workable. This way you can expect a better flow of work routine, giving you enough time to finish the task without stressing over it. Don’t be too hard on yourself.

Work on those tasks according to the order in your list. Focus on the task at hand and try not to think about anything else. You’ll find out that this will help you work faster. Better than doing everything all at once and finish nothing.

]]> http://www.lifespy.com/2009/focusing-on-a-task/feed/ 0 http://www.lifespy.com/2009/keeping-an-organized-cubicle/ http://www.lifespy.com/2009/keeping-an-organized-cubicle/#comments Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:56:45 +0000 Alex http://www.lifespy.com/?p=4742

Do you want to be more productive at work? Let’s start with organizing your personal work space – your cubicle!

Focus on your desk. If you can’t see your desk, then it means that it is full of clutter. Place your computer in the corner if you have a desk that splits in two connection sections that meet in a corner. This will free up the entire desk for other work. You can place your phone beside the computer if you have one.

Arrange files and documents so you have one side for incoming tasks and the other side for outgoing files and mail. This way, you won’t confuse which tasks are already done and which ones yo’ll have to do. You won’t have to spend time sorting through all the paperwork all the time.

Have a bulletin board propped or mounted on the wall behind your desk. You can pin a calendar and other important notes. You can also create a calendar for critical deadlines.

Buy dividers for your drawers so you can store supplies according to their size.

Organized doesn’t necessarily mean boring. Add a mug or a few knick-knacks such as small framed pictures of family and friends, just don’t overdo it.

For personal storage, reserve one drawer or a space in your drawer or cabinet for your personal effects.

]]> http://www.lifespy.com/2009/keeping-an-organized-cubicle/feed/ 0 http://www.lifespy.com/2009/learning-about-yourself/ http://www.lifespy.com/2009/learning-about-yourself/#comments Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:25:57 +0000 Alex http://www.lifespy.com/?p=4737

You would think that the person who would know you the best is yourself, but many people are clueless about themselves. A lack of self confidence and fear of the unknown coupled by several personal issues and complex can hinder an individual from learning more about himself or herself.

Why is this important? Because once you know your strengths, weaknesses, values, and principles you’ll find it easy to react and adapt to different situations. You’ll be able to come up with decisions that would be the best for you. So how do you do this?

List down your skills, talents, and what you think are stuff that you can be good at but have no chance to test and prove them. List also the things that you want to improve on.

Create goals which can help you further develop existing skills and learn new ones. Start with small ones and as you have more confidence on yourself and abilities, create bigger goals.

Dream bigger things for yourself. You’ll soon find out that the more you strive for better things for yourself, the more your confidence grows. The more your confidence grows, the better understanding you’ll have of yourself, because this time there is no fear of failure that would hold you back from getting what you want. Because you know you can get it.

Take control of your own life. Be more independent. This way you’ll be able to find out what you can and cannot do. Everyday, you’ll experience progress and challenges. You’ll win some battles and you’ll lose some. But this is just part of the learning process. Trust in yourself.

Being able to shave a few minutes off your tasks throughout the day makes a lot of difference. Those minutes can add u to an hour of extra time that can be used to more meaningful exercises – resting, or spending quality time with loved ones.

Plan your day. Most of the time we waste is because we always backtrack on tasks because we forget about them. A to-do list is the perfect tool to help you with it. You can also consolidate tasks or errands. For example, if you are going to one part of the city for something, perhaps you might consider doing all the errands that needed to be done there.

Try working on several tasks at the same time. You can watch your favorite TV program while vacuuming the living room. You can talk on the phone while organizing your desk. However, if you decide to do this, make sure that your presence of mind is in the tasks you are doing. If you’re stressed and you try to multitask, you might end up repeating one or two or all of them because you’re too distracted.

Turn off the television or the computer at home. When we get engrossed, we often spend hours in front of the TV monitor or computer monitor. When watching TV, decide what you want to watch beforehand and finish the show. Turn the TV off afterwards. When using the computer, allot yourself a specific number of hours (say, two) to check your personal e-mail and social networking site accounts. Turn it off once you’re done. Now you have more time for much needed sleep.

There is no such thing as too many time-saving tips for the busy parent. So as not to disappoint, here are more tips for parents, single or otherwise, to help them deal with their everyday tasks:

Acknowledge the power of lists. Lists will be your best friend if you’re a busy parent. A notebook or a planner with daily to-do lists will keep you reminded of the things you need to do. All you have to do is sit down for a few minutes before you go to sleep the night before. Update your list and tick them off as you finish tasks the next day.

Take a bit of time to write down your grocery and food staples. Make a list with the amount you usually buy and tape it on the fridge. Once a week, do an inventory. This way when you do go shopping, you’ll only buy what you need. This will save you both time and money.

Have a family calendar in the kitchen or the family room. Have everyone write important dates there – from birthdays to soccer practice. Every night, check the calendar and incorporate anything into your to-do list.

Get your children involved in chores. Kids be given responsibility depending on their age and maturity. You can have your children take turns in washing dishes, or taking the garbage out. Teach them to put away their toys after using them and if they have their own bedrooms, then they should take charge of them too.

Admit that you are only human. say not and don’t over commit yourself. Don’t forget to ask help if you need it too. The last thing a child needs is a stressed and frazzled parent.

Sometimes we work too hard on our goals that we forget to enjoy life more. But work shouldn’t be that hard. If you observe how you do things, you’ll find out that by modifying a bit of how we accomplish tasks, we can actually work faster and easier.

Start your day by making a list of what you need to do. Just ten to fifteen minutes of sorting out through your work pile or chores can make a big difference. You won’t have to go back and forth tasks only to find out that more important work hasn’t been done yet. By prioritizing, you not only finish work on time, but you will also have time to spare for pampering yourself a bit.

Invest some of your time into accomplishing tasks for long-term projects. You can break these goals into smaller ones that you can work on for over a period of time. Cramming can only bring stress and stress adds pressure to work. So why stress over something that you can avoid anyway?

Learn shortcuts. Invest in tools and software that can cut the time you spend on particular tasks. Databases or inventory software can help you search for files, folders, etc at work and even addresses and recipes at home.

Delegate. If someone or some people are available to help you with your tasks ( a co-worker in the office or your partner and/or children at home), then delegate them appropriately. Learn to trust in other people’s abilities and you’ll find out that a little of their help eases your responsibilities, which at times can actually be self-imposed.

Congratulations! You’ve stepped up the corporate ladder, but before you actually start stressing on more work, try to make your new space more comfortable and at par with your new needs.

Let’s start with the furniture. The company would probably provide the desk but you may actually have a say on the chair. Get something comfortable with a high back, and one that you can adjust the height. These can be used for privacy and for intimidation, whichever applies in particular situations.

Arrange your computer so that it sits to the side and not directly in front of you. This will help you keep your eyes on the “lay of the land.” It also eliminates communication barriers when people come in and talk to you.

Keep office supplies that you mostly need. Fill (and organize) your drawers with pens, post-it notes, pens, paper clips, and other things you might need to help you accomplish your tasks faster. This include books, magazines, and other reading materials which will be your resources while working.

Personalize your space. Add photos, framed pictures drawn by your kids, dust catchers, or anything that will make your office space more comfortable. This will help you motivate yourself for work and to de-stress when needed.