Reclaim Your Schedule In 2015: 7 Tips - InformationWeek

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Comments
Reclaim Your Schedule In 2015: 7 Tips
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KevinRCasey
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KevinRCasey,
 User Rank: Moderator
1/5/2015 | 4:55:00 PM
Re: Communication Management
Thanks for the input. Sounds like you've found an approach that works for you.

Curious if anyone out there who doesn't have the option to turn IM off entirely has any advice (in addition to the tip here on making status messages meaningful in your office) on keeping it from being a constant interruption.
KevinRCasey
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KevinRCasey,
 User Rank: Moderator
1/5/2015 | 4:43:14 PM
Re: Take your time and use it
I still use pen and paper regularly for organization/scheduling/to-do lists. I prefer it. (And I'm not that old.) While I'm not sure I can explain why, pen and paper keeps me focused and eliminates some of the inefficient stuff that would creeep (or surge) in if I went entirely digital. I do think one reason why speaks to the task (instead of time) management tip, in that it naturally points me more toward tasks (ie actually getting things done) versus time (which can be frittered away in all sorts of ways.) -Kevin
Somedude8
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Somedude8,
 User Rank: Ninja
1/5/2015 | 2:58:50 PM
Communication Management
As a programmer, I find the cost of changing gears to be massive. There are studies that say it takes about 15 minutes to get back to where you were after being interrupted nad having to change gears. When having those 'busy' days, at the end of the day, I feel like I have been busy busy busy, but maybe wrote 2 hours worth of code. And its kind of a trap too, because it feels like I took care of people, handled everything that came my way, and I feel like I was good little busy bee. But its an illusion, I really didn't get much done at all.

I worked at a place where the main DBA had people streaming in to his office all day, asking for this and that. He was very well liked, and a very sharp guy. He didn't get jack donem and had to work off hours a LOT just to get any work done at all.

For me, communication management is the key to being productive, and relatively sane. IM? I don't use it. Turned off ICQ in the late 90s and never went back. Another thing that helped a LOT was turning off the email notification sound. There is still a little mail icon of course, but it turns out that the sound stressed me out big time, and made me lose focus. I still get to most emails within a few minutes, but can do it at more strategically sound times.

Reducing communication overall has helped a lot too. Over the last couple years, I have placed a dramatically higher emphasis on low maintenance clients. The difference between low and high maintenance clients is massive. I find it highly preferable to have a low maintenance client that may pay a little less and not have as much work for me over a high maintenance client, regardless of how well they might pay.
Michelle
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Michelle,
 User Rank: Ninja
12/31/2014 | 11:57:58 PM
Re: Lunch
I agree. I think walking to an outdoor spot to eat within reach of the sunlight would also be good.
Michelle
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Michelle,
 User Rank: Ninja
12/31/2014 | 11:56:51 PM
Meaningful status messages
I have found status messages are helpful. People really do try to leave me alone when I mark my status as busy. Unified communication is only as good as its ability to help employees get stuff done.
vnewman2
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vnewman2,
 User Rank: Ninja
12/31/2014 | 1:55:00 PM
Re: Take your time and use it
@freespirit - I do.  I am partial to jotting things down - for some reason it helps me remember them better.  In fact, that is how I used to study in college - by rewritting partial segments of my notes from class.
freespiritny25
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freespiritny25,
 User Rank: Ninja
12/31/2014 | 12:09:59 PM
Re: Take your time and use it
Do any of you use pen and paper when planning your time or mapping out your schedule? I still tend to use my pen and trusty planner.
freespiritny25
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freespiritny25,
 User Rank: Ninja
12/31/2014 | 12:08:29 PM
Re: Lunch
Laurianne, Unfortunately, most of us are guilty of eating lunch at our desk. It's unfortunate that unrealistic deadlines impede on us walking around or going out to eat for lunch, even when we do fairly well with managing our time. Sometimes, the deadlines we are given are not practical without working through lunch or working after hours.
freespiritny25
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freespiritny25,
 User Rank: Ninja
12/31/2014 | 12:04:21 PM
Re: Lunch
Managing tasks, not time is a good tip. I like to do checklists I get satisfaction from completing tasks and checking them off of my list.
Laurianne
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Laurianne,
 User Rank: Author
12/31/2014 | 10:25:12 AM
Lunch
Many of us are gulity of eating lunch "al desko" as a rule. The getting up to walk advice is sound.
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