Workaday Superstar

WORKADAY TIP #32: Use Efficient Communication Tools

I love Instant Messenger and Text Messaging.  While Cell Phones and Email are still great communication tools, IM and Text are faster and more efficient ways to push out quick pieces of information that are typically a sentence or two.

Instant Messenger:  A great personal and professional communication tool it allows me to ping a friend about happy hour or quickly check about a meeting with a co-worker.  Services like Pandion allow you to aggregate multiple Instant Messanger clients into one allowing you to IM all of your friend in one place!

Text Messaging:  I see Text as a more helpful personal communication tool.  If a meeting is running over I can text a friend about being late or use it as a way to share a funny anecdote without plugging up someone's inbox.

While cell phones can accomplish many of the same things, calls definitely take up more time.  It's pretty tough to call about one thing and not expand the conversation into more.  While it's great to chat with friends and family, if you don't have time for the additional chit chat, IM and Text will get the job done!

WORKADAY TIP #30: Look for Gift Ideas All Year

Were you finishing your shopping on the eve of Christmas this year? 

Avoid that in '09 by looking for gift ideas all year long.  I tear out clever gift ideas from magazines and catalogs all year round so when Mother's Day, my best friend's b-day or Christmas rolls around, I have a folder of ideas to choose from which insures I give a thoughtful gift rather than a gift card.  Plus, it saves me time so I don't have to wander the mall looking for a gift for that special someone.

WORKADAY TIP #19: Have Breakfast Together And Get More Done

So I used to think that if I could eat breakfast while I was getting ready in the morning, I'd save time.  What I've learned recently is having breakfast with your loved ones will actually save you time and you'll get to spend some quality time together in the process!

My beau and I have breakfast together every morning.  It allows us to touchbase and divide and conquer before we both begin our hectic days.  Who's picking up the dry cleaning?  Should go out of town this weekend?  What time will you be home?  Who's making dinner?

And most importantly we find out what each other has on their plate that day.  It prepares us for any bumps in the road that day and allows us help each other out if we can. 

It's nice when you can spend time together and still be efficient!

WORKADAY TIP #5: Use Your Commute

Don't think of your commute as a waste of time, look at it as an opportunity to get things done!  Here are just a few examples:

• Call your friends and family.  It's a great time to catch up or plan your next get-together.
• Caffeinate!  Pick whatever poison is going to give you that pick me up.
• Listen to news radio.  Get caught up on what's going on in the world.
• Put on lipstick.  Use the time to put on those finshing touches.
• Schedule any appointments and necessary reservations for the week.
• Or use it as a time to organize your thoughts for the day

And off the record, you may want to squeeze in a few text messages and emails at the stoplights to get a jump start on the day! Not that I am condoning such activity or anything...

WORKADAY TIP #1: Start a Blog

I know, I know, you are so busy - how could you possibly have time for a blog?  A blog will save you time.  Yes. SAVE YOU TIME.   A blog can replace the many calls you've been meaning to make, the mass emails you've been meaning to draft and the letters your been meaning to send.  A blog post can be a vehicle to share information with friends and family. 

I'm not suggesting that you should never call, email or mail letters to your loved ones but when you are busy, a blog post every once in a while can definitely save a few hours in your week!   Use it to share:

• Videos of your kid's first steps
• Photos from your family vacation
• Recipes from your last dinner party

Mobile blogging will save you even more time.  Post while you are waiting in line at the grocery store or picking up kids from school. A year from now you'll not only have stayed in touch with friends and family but you'll have a nice little digital scrapbook of your life for yourself!