They’re too easy to ignore. They nag me only just enough to be annoying, not enough to help me to get stuff done. They put me in a grumpy mood.

Simply put, they don’t give me no satisfaction. I can see that there are just more items to get to, but I know that they’re never really going to stop. Life becomes a big monstrous hydra of tasks, where you cut off one head, cross off one item, and two more pop out.

Keep a “Done List”

Instead of a to-do list, I keep a done list. Every day, when I’m winding down my day, I do a quick mental scan of my day and write down what I got done. It may seem counterintuitive, but it helps me plan out my day, and gets me amped to kick butt and get stuff done.

How can things that are done be a productivity tool and why is this more powerful than a to-do list? It comes down to concreteness. All that stuff on your Done List? They’re done!

It’s a record of real results, not intangible goals or wishful thinking. And those results bring all sorts of positive feelings and energy because you’ve achieved something and you want to keep achieving something. You’ll find yourself riding that motivational wave of positivity to get stuff done the next day and the next and the next.

And if you fall off your board? That’s okay, just catch that next wave.

Keeping a done list helps me be more mindful of the journey from to-do to doing to done and beyond. It forces me to stop and recognize that I do get things done, with or without a to-do list.

It kills that feeling that the whole day whizzed past you in a blur. It allows you to take the time to celebrate your accomplishments and help plan better for future ones. Plus, if you are a fan of to-do lists, a done list is a great way to balance that practice to give you perspective, to connect the dots between your expectations and your results, and in the end, to make better, more effective to-do lists.

4 Simple Techniques for Keeping a Done List

It’s simple. Make sure you do 4 easy things.

1. Allow yourself a few minutes to reflect on your day. Jot down things you got done. Review them. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done. Repeat.

You’ll start to love thinking about what happened that day, and you’ll realize that you got more done than you might’ve otherwise given yourself credit for. A to-do list only gives you credit for stuff you planned on doing – a done list gives you credit for knocking down all the things that life brings your way.

2. Review a bunch of these and get a wider look at how you’ve progressed in days or weeks or months. Remember that a done list gives you the gift of perspective so that you can see where you’re coming from and better plan for where you think you need to go.

3. Don’t let your to-do tasks, whether they’re down on a page or in your head, dictate too narrowly what you write on your done list. Otherwise, you’re just crossing off an item or checking off a box again in another form. The beauty of the done list is their responsiveness to your actual day, so allow it to reflect a richer variety of things than what you thought you had to get done that day.

4. Strike a balance (that works for you) between general and specific. “I ran” is probably too vague and won’t help you in your reviewing phase. ”I ran 2.5 miles” will probably be much more helpful.

“I did the dishes today” may be too routine of a detail and might mean you’re struggling to put something in the done list just for the sake of it. But if you’re the kind of person who never does the dishes and all your roommates find it very annoying, then maybe “I rinsed dishes and emptied dishwasher” should be on your Done list. It all depends!

Conclusion

Motivation comes less from the tasks and crossing something off than from your inner direction and momentum. It feels more like you’re leading you instead of your list of tasks leading you. If you’re like me and to-do lists don’t work their magic for you, you don’t have to feel like an ugly stepsister of productivity trying to fit into a shoe that doesn’t fit: Try making a done list!

Do you have a to-do list? Or would you prefer working with a to-done list? Tell us in the comments.

Photo by Courtney Dirks.

Sponsor’s Note: This article was brought to you by Awesome Gig - Post A Gig, Be Awesome, Get Paid! Sign up today to buy an Awesome Job or sell a Freelance Job in Advertising, Graphic Design, Writing, Social Marketing, Web Design, and SEO!

to-do lists don\t work, why is life a to do list

Thankfully, I have pruned every one of them to a point where I can say that today I’m highly effective and at very healthy levels of stress.

However, in case you want to feel overwhelmed, guilty and stressed when starting your business or freelance practice in 2012, please pay close attention… hey, you may be practicing some of them already!

How to Make Sure You’re Stressed Starting a Business

1. Do it all yourself

Disregard your own key skills and never delegate. It doesn’t matter if you’re only really good at marketing or sales. Go ahead and build your online platform from scratch. Make any graphic design tweaks yourself. Get everything on your plate and start working on it. Outsourcing be damned.

2. Set unrealistic expectations

A great way to disappoint yourself is to set highly optimistic targets. As an entrepreneur, specially if you have an innovative product or service, the landscape changes every few weeks. Sometimes every few days. So set up short and medium term milestones that would require the stars to align. Friction (the gap between plans and reality) will always make its way in and guarantee Murphy’s law happens. Oh, and avoid branching out remediation plans for each possible failure scenario. Wait for something to crash first.

3. Make sleep a luxury – not a necessity

You will get plenty of sleep when you die. Why waste your life sleeping? Besides, you’ve got so much to do you can’t afford to get 7 hours of sleep, 4 or 5 is plenty. Creativity you say? Thinking outside the box? When you are sleep-deprived you’ll be safe from such happy clappy thoughts. You’ll be grumpy with your business partner and mechanical in your thinking. Soon you’ll start stressing over petty details. You’re doing great!

4. Adopt this mindset: Effort = Results

You’re an entrepreneur. Sisyphus has nothing to brag compared to your work ethic. Paretto?  He was a lazy wimp. The harder and longer you work, the better. Right? Surely toiling a 16 hour day will have a higher OUTPUT. Focusing only on the critical 20% that brings you 80% of the OUTCOMES your business needs… that´s nonsense theory.

Don’t be a wimp. Always finish everything you start and look at results as a by-product: It is raw effort that matters. To reinforce this virtuous behaviour, make sure your Spartan lifestyle is your source of pride and admiration amongst your peer group.

5. Discuss critical points with key people when you are exhausted

It’s simple: The more tired you are, the more important your topic of conversation should be. The chances of fights erupting rise exponentially. The consequences can be miserably stressful, make sure to try this out.

6. Stop exercising

It’s a waste of time. Treat your body like a machine, not a living entity that needs exercise and renewal. You listen to useful podcasts you say? Don’t make me laugh. All that time and energy you waste running could be used to tick another task off your infinite to-do list.

7. Steadily raise your daily caffeine intake

It’s your gasoline, and you are a machine, remember? My office has free coffee so we could all indulge in this legal drug. For particularly rough days you can top up with a big can of Redbull. Energy spikes and crashes will soon be part of your daily grind.

8. Work all the time

You are starting out, who is paying for those weekend treats? Are you cash flow positive already? Then get off your butt and back to work. Leisure must be earned and you’re not there yet. Your smart phone is your guardian angel: always by your side, never sleeps.

9. Friends, family and significant others are distractions

Your mother is not a valid test market. If it’s not a potential alliance, customer, provider or employee – it’s a waste of relationship time. For all practical purposes your “support group” is there for when you burn out. If you follow this list long enough, burn out you will.

10. Under no circumstances: never, ever meditate

Quiet time. Me time. Yoga. They clear your head and give you perspective on what really matters – a no-no for increasing your stress levels. In the same line, stop reading websites like ThinkSimpleNow, lest it bring you sanity. See your ambition rising? Great, it works!

Reversal

Mathematician Gustav Jacobi had a maxim to solve hard problems: “Invert, always invert”. I leave you with the task of figuring out how to become “joyfully balanced”. . .

Stressed? Let us know in the comments below what other stress tricks have worked for you!

Photo by bark.

10 ways to become stressed starting, starting your own business the stresses ?

I’ve found there are a lot of small things you can do once a day, once a week, or even once a month to boost your status from a 9-to-5 worker to keystone employee. Here’s how you can do it.

5 Ways How to Work Better At Your Job

1.  Do more

Problem: How many times a day do you get up to stand near the water cooler and catch passing conversations? Do you find yourself walking to the bathroom when you don’t actually need to go? Although sometimes we all need to clear our brain and get a stretch, you may also be avoiding doing work.

Do This Instead: Getting your work done a little earlier can open up time at the end of the day to help your boss or co-workers with last minute projects.

Solution: Cut your daily walks to the kitchen in half and aim to get all your work done a little early. This will free you up to take on a quick assignment. When your boss sees that you are proactive about taking on more work, you seem like an important player in the workday.

 2.  Be organized

Problem: You have a million things to do between work and home every single day. We expect our brains to hold it all neatly in place. Focusing on a spreadsheet when you keep reminding yourself to get a babysitter for this weekend inhibits you from truly focusing on work.

Do This Instead: When you write down your thoughts, due dates and obligations, your brain is free to focus on one thing at a time. This will allow you to put all your energy into the current project, thus getting better work done.

Solution: Thankfully, the wide world of technology has given us a wonderful gift called Widgets. You can download desktop items such as calendars, which will allow you to input due dates for the future. You can also keep a pad of paper next to your computer, and jot down thoughts as they come to your mind.

3.  Always keep learning

Problem: If you’re stuck in the same position for a long time, your mind tricks you into believing that you’ve learned all you need to know. Yet, our evolving world, heck our evolving Internet, has something new to teach you every day.

Do This Instead: Learn something new that pertains to your everyday job. This will almost instantly be put into use. You’d be surprised to find that learning something new may spark you to challenge yourself, which can elevate your work to a new level.

Solution: Refresh yourself and your work. Frequently visit the blogosphere, and see what’s new. Subscribe to new websites and converse with others in your field.

4.  Shut off the clock

Problem: When you step outside the doors of your office, you forget to turn off work and turn on life. When you hold onto stress from the day before the problems will keep compounding. This can restrict your ability to produce new, good work every day.

Do This Instead: As with anything in life, if you carry around the stress of an outside factor you can’t enjoy the simple pleasure of having a good dinner, or watching a show you DVR’d. Have some evening time to yourself and dispel your stress from the day; this will leave you fresh for a new day of work.

Solution: Shed your work clothes as soon as you get home. Put on something comfortable and slip into home life and out of your office mindset.

5.  Get to know your co-workers

Problem: Without someone to vent to, work problems can inhibit your ability to create successful work. When you are frustrated with work problems, you lose the drive to always do your best.

Do this Instead: Even if you only chat during the day at work, misery loves company. In the best sense of the phrase, making work friends will ease irritations.

Solution: Get the morning stress out of your system at lunch, for example, so you’re freed up to take on the new tasks of the afternoon. Getting through the last wee hours of the day can be tough. A good employee works smart straight through until the end, and this just might be your one way ticket to 5pm.

Here you go then. Five neat tips on how to work better!

In a scary job market, we all want to keep our jobs. Prove why you are a valuable member in the office. Make simple tweaks to what you normally do every day and see the biggest difference.

Got more ideas? We’d love to hear your tips on how to work better in the comments!

Photo by lululemon athletica.

how to work better, hoe to work better, how do you become better at work, how to be better at work, how to do better at work, how can i do better at work, how to work better with co-workers, jot down your weekly work, keep better work, To work better

Getting back into the swing of things can be quite jolting. Did you know post holiday blues cause about 25 percent of Americans to be depressed for a few weeks after the holidays? How can you combat the blues on the job?

Let’s look at some great ways to put a ‘hitch in your get-along’ once you get back to work.

1. Find your motivation to go back to work.

You should start here, so that you can build momentum before you get back into the office. Here are some ways to get motivated to work:

• Prepare the night before work – Sitting out everything you need the night before, such as keys, an outfit, and even by reviewing your work to-do list can help you feel ready when you wake up — rather than starting your day off in as a frazzled mess.
• Eat awell-balanced breakfast – Your day really starts here. It can help you cognitively as well as help you get that holidayweight off.
• Do some physical activity – This does not have to be running or lifting weights, but do something that gets you in a positivemind-body balance.

2. Organize your desk and email.

One thing that can be very overwhelming upon your return is all the email that is waiting for you. Here are some ways to alleviate this stress:

• Get rid of spam – You can start by immediately trashing all the spam — and for the future go ahead andput filters in place to keep it from getting to you in the first place.
• Tackle high priority items – Take care of these right away so you can get it off your plate and can move onto other things.
• Prioritize your emails – Make folders or color code by importance and place the emails in their proper places. Then, when you come back to your emails, start with the high priority items and work your way through them.

3. Think about what you can look forward to.

Start thinking about what you want to accomplish in the New Year in the early days when you join work and get yourself revved up to take action to meet some career goals. Now is a great time to decide where you want to go with your career, and start putting acareer action plan in place to give you some new goals to look forward to.

4. Reminisce the holidays.

If you are down because you love all the family time you get to enjoy around the holidays, put some pictures on your desk that you took during that time. You won’t miss them and probably beat the after holiday blues.

5. Look forward to something new.

Here are some things you may have coming up that you can get excited about:

• Birthdays and special events – Maybe it’s your co-workers birthday, or perhaps someone in your office — even you — may be receiving an award or recognition for something soon. Use that time to celebrate with co-workers to beat the post holiday blues!
• Concerts – Book some concerts throughout the year and you will have something to look forward to while you are working hard all week. Wear your new clothes you got during the holidays and display the things that you received for the office in your workspace!
• Sporting events – You can do this on your own, or even see if it is something that your co-workers would be interested in. Maybe they would want to go in on a season ticket package together for the office, and you could have a competition for the seats weekly.
• Vacation – Plan your next vacation away from work so that you know you will have some restful downtime again in the near future. Sometimes, just taking time off and relaxing at home is just what you need. Take a look at your schedule and vacation time and use it where you need it most.

6. Take time out of each day for yourself.

Take a step outside on your break and think about all the things for which you are thankful. Many people feel let down after the holidays because the holidays just didn’t meet their expectations in some way. It will raise your spirits to think about what you do have!

–

Are you ready to put the holiday season behind you and look forward to a new year in your job? Share your tips below on how you beat the post holiday blues.

Photo by CarbonNYC.

post holiday blues, post holiday depression, after holiday blues, how to beat post holiday blues, post holday blues, post holidays blues, post-holiday depression work, tips for beating post holiday depression, ways for companies to beat the post holiday blues, whats there to look forward to when starting your first full time job

I was once able to write only in cafés. I loved the experience because I had my favorite drink, Wi-Fi access and most of all, a nice clean wooden table all to myself. Many people told me they found it quite an expensive way to write and work. Though I understood their reasoning, I’m sure a lot of people would understand my preference once they saw the appalling state my work desk at home was in.

It was a huge mess! Papers, electronic cables, books and DVDs were scattered all over my desk. Working with a desk like this was a real efficiency killer. How could anyone work when there was barely enough space for your laptop or PC?

The lack of space wasn’t the only problem. I tried working on the bed in front of my desk, but the sight of the mess was a huge distraction. Seeing it made me think of other tasks that I had to do, which included organizing it.

This caused me to lose my focus at the current task while it increased my stress level at the same time. The presence of several unread books and brand-new DVDs on my desk also frequently sent my mind wandering to the thoughts of doing other less productive activities. Soon, I realized I couldn’t go on like this.

Change of Plans

The once cost-free writing was becoming expensive. So when I had to tighten my budget and say goodbye to regular visits to my neighborhood café, I decided to start tidying my desk. Decreased expenses, minimized distractions and more space weren’t the only benefits of an organized work environment, though. Don Aslett, author of the book, The Office Clutter Cure, says that one of the biggest losses from messy work environments is respect.

There is the assumption that people who have untidy workspaces have also lost control of their lives. I couldn’t agree more. After all, what would you think of your doctor or bank teller if they had untidy desks with instruments and bills strewn around? You’d probably think: If these professionals couldn’t tidy up their desks, then they probably can’t do their jobs properly!

In fact, I’ve been embarrassed to ask family and friends over out of the fear of them seeing my desk. It might give them the impression that I’m not taking care of myself properly. For those working in the office, what kind of impression do you think you’ll be giving your bosses and colleagues when they see your messy desks? They would probably think you couldn’t handle your job or the promotion they were considering you for.

So if you have a messy desk, start organizing your workspace with the following steps:

1. Clear everything out and start cleaning your desk.

I like starting out with a clean slate. Remove all items from your desk and put them into a pile for sorting. This is also the best time to start cleaning. Use a damp cloth, duster or any other useful tool to wipe off any dirt or dust from your desk.

The result of a clean and shiny desk is like the light at the end of a dark cave, enough to push anyone to continue with this tidying process. After this, you can place basic items like your PC or laptop and desk lamp back on your desk. Make sure the wires of these appliances pass through the back of your desk to avoid tripping over any of them.

 2. Sort, then keep or throw.

Alas, I found this the bloodiest part of the process, especially with the mountains of papers that I had. Despite that, I found this step incredibly beneficial because I was able to get rid of a lot of junk.

The first thing you should do is to sort your items into different piles, one each for your papers, pens, etc. Next, start going through them and decide whether you should throw or keep them. Try to be reasonable while deciding. Do you really need that takeout menu from a restaurant that closed down five years ago?

As for your office supplies, test your pens to see which ones have run out of ink. Throw out supplies no longer useful, like that broken ruler you had lying around.

3. Classify and store your files.

Classify the papers that you’ve decided to keep according to time. Documents that you need for current work should be kept in your desk. Place them into different folders categorized according to the document’s nature or whether they are incoming or outgoing. Files not for immediate use can be stored in cabinets.

I prefer to keep my documents stored in plastic file cabinets like these:

4. Putting things back.

It’s always good to visualize how you want your desk to look like before putting any other items back. While doing so, remember that it’s better to put your documents and supplies within your reach. However, it’s also good to leave enough space between your items so that they won’t look too congested.

Place your supplies in desk organizers or other space-saving holders to maximize free space. Also, remember to not put any distracting items like books and other entertainment materials back to your desk!

 5. Start personalizing!

You’re practically done! Now is the time to add some color and pizazz to your workspace by personalizing it. Display some picture frames of yourself and your loved ones. You can also add a few decorations like a small toy to make your desk look livelier.

It’s not an easy process, but it’s worth it once you start having a desk that’s more conducive to work.

Now that you have clean and tidy desk, just remember that maintenance is the key. Don’t procrastinate organizing your desk regularly or you might end back where you were at the start.

How do you manage a tidy desk?

Photo by zoovroo.

desk tidy, tidy desk, how to keep your desk tidy, things to do with your pc tidy and upgrade, how to keep tidy our offices, papers and pens on desk, what to have on your desk, how to keep desk tidy, awesome work desks, why we need tidy desks

Every animal has its fair share of parasites…including human beings.

Whales for example, accumulate algae and barnacles around various areas on their rubbery skin. These parasites live off the whale, and if it weren’t for smaller fish that feast of these parasites, the whale would eventually get covered by them.

We may not have barnacles, or algae growing on our bodies, but people are plagued by their own parasite. In a given day, you only get so much energy.

And “energy vampires” that act like parasites draining our energy and this absolutely destroys your productivity.

To make things worse, we don’t have any “smaller fish” that come along to remove these parasites. If we were whales and our energy vampires were barnacles and algae, we’d literally look like a humongous swimming coral reef.

Your Lack of Productivity Is Not Because You Have No Energy.

In many cases, it’s not that you have no energy to get through your day – you’d be astounded at how much energy you have available for productive use.

It’s just that you may have to feed so many energy vampires, that you have none left for yourself when they’ve had their fill.

In this article, I’m going to introduce some of the most common vampires that suck your daily supply of energy away, and what to about it.

Energy Vampires #1

I call it the First Hour Thief. The most critical part of your day (as far as energy and productivity goes), is your first waking hour after a night’s rest.

Most people roll out of bed, moan and groan about how they don’t want to go to work, and then IMMEDIATELY check their email, where they get forced into solving OTHER people’s problems all day.

By the time all is said and done, you’ve already established a negative, unproductive tone for the day.

Instead, start the day with a powerful morning ritual so that you frame the context of your day in a positive way.

When I wake up, I DON’T check email. Instead, I put on my headphones and start listening to something uplifting IMMEDIATELY.

Often, it’s a list of prerecorded affirmations.

I start slow, and I work my way up gradually to something more intense… I might pick up the pace with the Youtube video “I am a champion speech.”

Then perhaps some killer pump up music…

I did this every day for about 7 weeks over summer, and by the time I got to the music, I’d be so pumped up that I’d usually go for a spontaneous run outside… sometimes I’d still have pajamas on… sometimes barefoot!

And this coming from the most grumpy morning guy in the world… stands testament to the power of controlling your thoughts right from the start of your day!

Energy Vampires # 2

Inner conflict is one of the BIGGEST “gas-guzzling” mental activities; it can rob you of an incredible amount of energy and productivity. Inner conflict happens when you have mixed feelings about something – anything.

If you’re thinking about breaking up with your former sweetheart, but you’re too scared to do it, know that there’s an added cost to your indecision: you’re burning a massive amount of energy every day, and it’s hurting your productivity.

I promise.

Really inner conflict can come from virtually anything, but one of the big characteristics of inner conflict, is that it drains your energy, and distracts you from your main goal, and you can’t help it…

The key to overcoming inner conflict (and increasing your focus and productivity), is to strive for inner peace daily.

Yoga, exercise, and breath work, are great places to start.

PS. What’s the fastest way to create more inner conflict and thus destroy your productivity?

By LYING.

Keep that in mind the next time you start keeping secrets.

Energy Vampires #3

We evolved on wild open plains and vast jungles, and today, clutter has become a huge obstacle to our productivity.

Humans are very territorial animals. We get more strongly attached to things than you might ever suspect, and every physical possession that you own occupies it’s own peace of real estate in your mind.

Have you ever seen or heard of a really rich person who simply miserable because of the stress they have to endure just to keep track of all of their “stuff”?

When you detach from your physical possessions it frees up an incredible amount of space in your mind for more productivity.

A great way to do this is to get rid of half your stuff!

Every time I move, I try to give away half my stuff. This is hard to explain without trying it yourself, but the benefits for productivity?

AMAZING.

What are your thoughts about energy vampires? Leave a comment in the box below.

Photo by SuperFantastic..

energy vampires, hidden energy, kill productivity, energy vampire, energy vampires people, corporate email is killing productivity, am I an energy vampire, main things that kill productivity, kill the energy vmpire in your life, what\s something productive and energetic

You read blogs and e-mail newsletters to keep abreast of latest trends in your industry. You read both free and paid e-books and even pay for an e-course to acquire new skills. You are so “social” that you use Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Google Plus to network and get tips from the gurus in your field.

Whether free or paid, there’s no denying that information overload is a burden. How can you learn anything if there’s too much noise over the Internet? How do you navigate through the web so can acquire the information you need and ignore useless stuff?  Here are some tips to make the most use of online learning.

1.  Focus on what you need to learn now

The fastest and most effective way to learn a particular skill is to focus on something that you need to apply now and not something which you perceive will be useful three years down the road.  If your life, business or career depends on it, there’s a high incentive for you to learn it ASAP.

Let’s say you are a marketing executive who wants to use social media to increase the popularity of your company’s products. So focus on just reading and subscribing to blogs/industry newsletters on social media marketing. Enroll in an e-course or even get some one-on-one tutorial. Just focus on getting the information that you need and ignore the rest.

2.  Store and classify possibly-related stuff

If you read something which is sort of relevant or something that you might need in the near future, put them in a file which you can access anytime. This ensures that you don’t lose important data but at the same time keep you in focus on what you are working on at the moment.

I suggest that you get a free account from Evernote where you can keep and tag all the stories, blog posts and newsletters that you received for future reference.

3.  Edit your RSS feed

If possible, limit your RSS subscription to about five to ten blogs. You don’t need to follow everyone. With so much information in the Internet, blogs belonging to the same niche usually mimic each other and dish out the same information. So pick a blog which most resonate with you and serves your interest – it doesn’t matter if it’s not among the most popular blogs.

Unsubscribing is for me an act of liberation as I get to shut out the noise without having to lose my focus on what I want. At least once a month, I check my RSS feed and unsubscribe from blogs which I believe are boring and useless.

4.  Apply online learning

You can’t become an expert in something just because you read all the posts, articles and books about the subject.  You need to apply what you learned and see what works. So set aside time, about one to three hours a week, absorbing and applying the information that you acquired.

For example, I’m currently enrolled in an e-course on SEO copy writing. So on weekends or when I come home from work, I read the modules, look for keywords and practice writing optimized blog posts.

5.  Rinse and repeat

Learning – online and off – is a lifelong process. And it will take more than reading a few blog posts and enrolling in an e-course. You need to read and apply the same thing over and over again until it sticks and help you build your expertise.

–

How do you apply online learning in your day to day life? Share your stories in comments.

Photo by br1dotcom.

make the best of it, make the best out of it, best out of it, online learning, making the most of online learning, to make the best of it, how to make the best of learning, make the best out of, making the best out of it, make the best of it or out of it

In fact, influenza is actually an Italian phrase, influenza difreddo, meaning “influence of the cold.”  So, while we may be in the midst of welcoming the cooler evenings and chances to cuddle up in our warm wooly sweaters and sit by the fireplace, it’s also now the time to gear up for a fight against getting sick and decreasing our productivity this year. 

Healthy Tips to Prevent the Flu

Catching flu can easily decrease our work for more than just a few days.  It can wipe out our immune systems and leave us dragging for weeks, along with being more susceptible to other colds and viruses.  If this just doesn’t fit into your schedule, here are some tips to follow to stay healthy and productive all fall and winter long.

Eat Well, Sleep Well

Perhaps the number one way you can take care of your health and well-being during these months when the flu is running rampant is to sleep & eat well.  Sleeping well will ensure that your body has time to reboot, recharge and keep your immune system powered up.  Eating a well balanced diet will give you the nutrients, minerals, vitamins and energy your body needs to keep going and to fight off any flu virus that might try and get in.

Eat extra vegetables like dark leafy greens and brightly colored red and yellow vegetables to give your body an extra boost.  Eating yogurt on a daily basis is also known to lower your cold susceptibility by up to as much as 25% by boosting your immune system.

Plan Ahead

Planning is more important than ever during this time of year in order to eliminate stress.  Fall tends to be a major gear up time in the office, with a big push after the sometimes “lackadaisical summers.”  Compound that with the upcoming rush of holidays: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve, and the tendency is to build up stress, whether consciously or unconsciously.

The more planning you can do, in terms of on the job and off the job, the better chance you give your health.  So start planning now for things like Thanksgiving travel plans, holiday menus, gifts, etc.  It may feel like it’s way too early or that you’re just making your plate worse now for no reason, but it will actually help relieve underlying stress you aren’t even aware of.  And, when holiday season actually hits, you’ll be that much less stressed!

Make Work Environment Comfortable

Most offices feel overly cool during the fall and winter months.  Feeling cold makes you tense and will stress your body more to overcompensate as it tries to keep itself at normal body temperature.  You will also have a very hard time feeling relaxed.

Bring in a small heater to regulate your body temperature; it can also increase your comfort level by releasing tension and making you feel more relaxed.  A footrest that puts your feet at an angle and heats at the same time will warm, soothe and relieve tired legs.  When you are relaxed, your immune system actually produces more chemicals to fight off infections.

Use Humidifiers

Humidifiers are often used during these months because it tends to be the driest time of year.  Humidifiers are also beneficial in preventing the flu and colds, as low humidity makes the nose dry and more susceptible to infection.

However, if your office is running a humidifier or if you have one at your personal desk, make sure to clean it regularly.  They can harbor mold and bacteria that can become airborne and compromise your immune system.

Disinfect!

It may not be the most popular thing at work to be the biggest germaphobe, but it could be the easiest thing you do to keep yourself healthy.  Most flu is caught by direct contact from touching a surface touched by someone sick.

Coughing and sneezing are widespread this time of year and all it takes is touching a surface that’s contaminated with airborne droplets.  Keeping your desk and common areas disinfected will greatly reduce your likelihood of getting sick.  Wash your hands regularly and any time you come in contact with common surface areas.

Exercise

Exercise is an easy (relatively!) and all natural way to boost your immune system.  It is capable of increasing those precious virus-killing cells in your body, and while it may not keep you from getting the flu altogether, if you do get it, chances are those higher levels of killer cells will shorten the time and intensity you suffer.

Give Up “Tough”

If you do happen to get the flu, forget the “tough it out” motto that would tell you to get yourself into work and just make it through.  Not only will you most likely increase the length of time you’ll need to recover, you’ll put your co-workers in jeopardy of getting sick as well.  Take the appropriate time to stay home, rest and get fully recovered before heading back into the office.  Your work and your office pals will thank you.

–

Got more tips to keep the flu away? Share with us in the comments.

Photo by Elliot Stokes.

how to keep the flu away, keep the flu away, ways to keep the flu away, fall sick season, tips on keeping the flu away, how to keep a flu away, keeping flu away, keeping flu systems away, keeping away the flu, keeping the flu away

Procrastination is something that affects people of all ages. Many college students put off studying for an exam or writing a paper for as long as they can, and then they have to pull a ridiculous all-nighter to compensate. Office workers set aside boring paperwork and avoid it until their bosses demand it at the end of the month, making them spend extra hours in the office for no good reason.

This type of behavior is not only unhealthy, but it also negatively affects the quality of your work in most cases.

Procrastination plagues us all, and in today’s world it is especially pronounced. Have you ever sat down at your computer to get some work done, but instead, ended up spending four hours commenting on your friends’ Facebook statuses and watching funny Youtube videos? With so many distractions begging for your attention on the Web, you need to be more adamant than ever these days about avoiding procrastination.

Remedying this behavior is of the utmost importance, not only for the sake of your time and sanity, but also for the sake of your success. Not getting your work done on time and handing in sloppy work to your teacher or your boss after you’ve rushed to get everything done last minute does not speak kindly of your work ethic or your ambitions. Procrastination can even affect your personal life. How many times can you cancel a movie date with your significant other because of work that has piled up without annoying them?

Procrastination is just like any other problem in life — you need to first admit that you have the problem before you can fix it. And once you admit your problem, you must remain steadfast in your intentions to change your ways.

Here’s what you must do if you want to nip your procrastinating ways in the bud, once and for good.

Weigh the Pros and Cons

This is the simplest and easiest way to get rid of your procrastinating habits. Once you sit down and see what you gain and what you lose from this behavior, it should be clear as day that procrastination is not doing anything to make your life easier or better.

The only pro of procrastinating is that you are not doing any work – you are relaxing. However, that does not negate the fact that this work needs to get done. When you are not doing the work, you are not actually freed from the work; you are just avoiding it and putting it off for another time. So, this pro of procrastination is not really much of a benefit, outside the temporary satisfaction of relaxation and not doing work.

What you might not realize is that the less you procrastinate, the more time you will have to relax. The cons of procrastination heavily outweigh the pros. When you are putting off doing work during the time in which you are supposed to be getting work done, that means that you are not only wasting that time, but you are also cutting into your relaxation and enjoyment time, which will now have to be used to get this work done.

Sitting in the cubicle and reading Twitter posts all day might seem more fun than working, but now you are going to have to make up that time. So even though it seems that you have more time to relax when you are procrastinating, the truth is that the more you put off things, the less free time you actually have.

Get Organized

Now that you have realized that nothing good can come of this, it is time to get organized and change your ways. Whether you have regular working hours or you are a student, you have a schedule. Make sure that you are aware of this schedule and map out your obligations. If you are working 9 to 5, get all of your work done in that period.

If you have two hours to study after classes, make sure that you use this period of time to study. Recognize when it is that you should be working and then make sure you are ready to work at those times.

Make a Plan

Once you are aware of what portion of your day should be allotted for getting work done and what part of the day should serve as your free time, now you have to make a plan for the constructive use of your work time. Making lists is a very good thing to do. Map out all of the obligations that you have for the coming week.

Once you have all of these tasks on paper, take a look at them and figure out how much time you will need to do each of them. This plan serves as a reminder and it should be followed as closely as possible. By now, you should be fully aware that sticking to this plan is what you need to do in order to improve the quality of your work and the quality of your life as well.

Reward Yourself

Sticking to the plan is made easier by giving yourself rewards for reaching your goals. For example, you are a blogger and you need to write two blogs today. You know that it takes you two hours to write one blog, so you will need four hours of continuous work to finish what you have to do for the day. If this is the case, set aside five hours.

Finish one blog post, then reward yourself with an hour of off time for surfing the Web and relaxing. In this off time, call a friend and ask them if they want to grab a drink at the bar in three hours. Now you have obligations, a plan and a reward looming in the distance once you have finished. Get the second blog post done in time to meet your friend, and then reward yourself with a night out.

–

By realizing the benefits of getting work done on time, making a plan, completing your work on time, and then reaping the rewards of your hard work in the end, you are conditioning yourself to expel procrastination from your life forever. Now get back to work.

How do you deal with procrastination? Share your tips with us.

Photo by SuperFantastic.

cons of procrastination, productivity procrastination, the cons of procrastination, why your should not procrastinate, Are You Relaxing – Or Just Procrastinating?, annoying procrastinator, procrastination work ethic, procrastination in personal life, procrastination has become the biggest problem in college students due to facebook many students put off assignments until the last minute or get distracted while they are doing their assignments and sign onto facebook, procrastination is my only obligation

Is there a better way to work? Yes. Enter coworking.

Coworking takes freelancers, indie workers, and entrepreneurs who feel that they have been dormant or isolated working alone at home or who have been migrating from a coffee shop to a friend’s garage or languishing in a sterile business center — to a space where they can truly roost.

“We can come out of hiding,” a coworker tells us, “and be in a space that’s comfortable, friendly, and has an aesthetic appeal that’s a far cry from the typical cookie-cutter office environment.”

What Makes Coworking Better

For many, it might be puzzling to pay for a well-equipped space teeming with other people, even with the chance of free coffee and inspiration. You might ask yourself, “Well, why pay for a place to work when I’m perfectly comfortable at home and paying nothing?” Or, “Isn’t the whole point of telecommuting or starting my own business a chance to avoid ‘going to the office’?”

Coworking may sound like an unnecessary expense, but let’s consider what you get from being a part of the space.

At its most basic level, coworking is the phenomenon of workers coming together in a shared or collaborative workspace for one or more of these reasons: to reduce costs by having shared facilities and equipment, to access a community of fellow entrepreneurs, and to seek out collaboration within and across fields. Coworking spaces offer an exciting alternative for people longing to escape the confines of their cubicle walls, the isolation of working solo at home, or the inconveniences of public venues.

The benefits and cost-savings in productivity and overall happiness and well-being reaped from coworking are also potentially huge. Enthusiasm and creativity become contagious and multiply when you diversify your work environment with people from different fields or backgrounds. At coworking spaces, members pass each other during the day, conversations get going, and miraculously idea-fusion happens with everyone benefitting from the shared thinking and brainstorming.

Differences matter. Coworking hinges on the belief that innovation and inspiration come from the cross-pollination of different people in different fields or specializations. Random opportunities and discoveries that arise from interactions with others play a large role in coworking.

Coworking and Google

To see this in action on a large scale, think about Google. Google made the culture of sharing and collaboration in the workplace legend. It deployed “grouplets” for initiatives that cover broader changes through the organization.

One remarkable story of a successful Google grouplet involved getting engineers to write their own testing code to reduce the incidence of bugs in software code. Thinking creatively, the grouplet came up with a campaign based on posting episodes discussing new and interesting testing techniques on the bathroom stalls. “Testing on the Toilet” spread fast and garnered both rants and raves. Soon, people were hungry for more, and the campaign ultimately developed enough inertia to become a de facto part of the coding culture. They moved out of the restrooms and into the mainstream.

Keith Sawyer, a professor of psychology and education at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, has written widely on collaboration and innovation. In his study of jazz performances, Keith Sawyer made this observation, “The group has the ideas, not the individual musicians.” Some of the most famous products were born out of this mosh pit of interaction — in contrast to the romantic idea of a lone working genius driving change. According to Sawyer, more often than not, true innovation emerges from an improvised process and draws from trial-by-error and many inputs.

Unexpected insights emerge from the group dynamic. If increasing interaction among different peer groups within a single company could lead to promising results, imagine the possibilities for solopreneurs, small businesses, and indie workers — if only they could reach similar levels of peer access as those experienced by their bigger counterparts. It is this potential that coworking tries to capture for its members.

–

Do you agree? Let us know if you’ve experienced coworking and if so, how did it go? 

Read Part II of the series here.

Photo by Werkheim.

coworking disadvantages, sharing, search terms coworking, most creative coworking environments, creative work spaces shared equipment, advantages and disadvantages of co working, coworking and more, coworking and coinhaabited space shairing in schools, collaborative work space suck, co-working experiece