Displaying All Posts tagged with work flow

How to Deal with Organizational Change

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As a professional writer, I value the input of editors whom I trust. When I get a good editor who knows my work, I usually do my best to keep him or her happy. I try to build a great professional relationship with my editors, and I do my best to make it lasting.

I’ve had one editor for the past year at my job whose opinions I really respect. His knowledge of writing is unsurpassed, and, perhaps even more importantly, how he talks about my writing truly impresses me. He just seems to get me; he always knows just how to offer his suggestions and criticism, and he does so in a way that respects my own work. In a sense, we make a good writing team. Read More



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How to Stay Focused, Effective and Stress-Free

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Until recently I was going in to the office to work Monday to Friday, 9 to 5. But over the past few months for a variety of reasons, I’ve slowly cut back my in-office time and now I pretty much only work from home. There are a lot of benefits to this, such as working in my pajamas, making hot lunches and more time with my wife — who also works from home. There are also a lot of challenges including household distractions, a flexibility that leads to procrastination, and household chores and errands somehow manage to take up more of the day than they used to.
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Do You Get More Done Working Alone or Around Others?

Do You Get More Done Working Alone or Around Others?
The idea of working all alone seems pretty tempting: nothing to distract your thinking process, no stress from the jerk on the cell phone.  Just quiet.

Too quiet.

Sometimes my mind gets distracted by the silence – I find myself wondering where everyone is.  So, like some other people who work from home I put on the television.  Sometimes that does the trick, but at other times I just really wish there were some people around.  Not co-workers, not people I know, but just (quiet) people as background noise.  I worked from a café the other day and I got so many things done, so many ideas just popped up in my mind.  The ambient noise was a catalyst of sorts.

What about you? Are you more productive at home, working alone, or when you’re around others? Read More



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Monotasking: Focus on One Thing at a Time

Monotasking: Focus on One Thing at a Time

No matter how much you have piled up on your desk, and regardless of how bad-ass a multitasker you are, you can only do one thing at a time. Remembering this is one sure-fire way to increase your productivity, ease your mental load and knock things off your to-do list with efficiency. Read More



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Productive Working Hours: What Are Your Best Work Times?

Productive Working Hours: What Are Your Best Work Times?

Although most offices operate on 9 to 5 (or 8 to 6) working hours, not all workers work best on this timetable. Night owl workers prefer to burn the midnight oil, working late into the night when there are no distracting coworkers and their brain is at its sharpest.

I, on the other hand, prefer to follow regular business hours (roughly 9-6), so I’m available for dinner or drinks when my cubicle-dwelling friends get out of work. Plus, I like that feeling of accomplishment when the clock strikes noon and I can strike a bunch of items from my to-do list and break for lunch. When I’m still tethered to my computer at 7 or 8 at night, I feel antsy and unproductive (though I’ll do it if that’s what it takes to meet a deadline).

What about your working hours? What are your best work times? Why? Read More



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Awesome Links #2: Balanced Living, Productivity Apps

Awesome Links #2: Balanced Living, Productivity Apps

Today’s dads seek better work-life balance

In honor of Father’s Day, this article takes a look at how the new fathers of the day are meeting the responsibilities of the role both at home and at work.

App demo: Round the Clock

The Unofficial Apple Weblog gives us a sneak peek at an app called Round the Clock.  What this productivity app for all of Apple’s line of mobile devices (iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch) does is present all of your calendar information as a pie chart – and that’s just for starters.  It’s kind of like having a digital Muji Chronotebook at the ready.  It may not be for everyone, but the video is worth a look.

Freelancer’s Wishlist – Father’s Day Edition

Dads aren’t the easiest to shop for – I know, I’m one of them.  But sister site FreelanceSwitch has thoughts on what could be a solid (or solid-state) gift for the “freelance father” in your life!

Manymoon: Free Social Productivity, Project Management & Task Management

Fan of Google’s web apps?  Then Manymoon has a productivity solution that could be what you’ve been looking for…and it’s free.  Definitely something to check out if you (and your team) rely on having stuff in the “cloud.”

Lemonade: The Movie

This movie touches on what we’ve talked about in terms of  “dream jobs” here at WorkAwesome, but it also takes it a step further.  What if you were given a chance for a clean slate because you found yourself without a job altogether?  A pretty inspirng film – and fairly short as it clocks in at just over half an hour. Read More



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Are Traditional Offices Dead?

Are Traditional Offices Dead?

Today Seth Godin posted his thoughts on the state of the “traditional office.”

I hold the man in pretty high regard (he was listed as one of my examples of “really productive people”), and I even took part in this Monday’s Worldwide Linchpin Meetup Day. While not everyone will agree with his ideas, he puts them out there no matter what.

He raises some really great points, including how one can be more productive if they work from wherever they choose.

So, do you think the traditional office is dead?  Do you think there’s a place for it in today’s society? Read More



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Which OS Do You Use?

Which OS Do You Use?

With Microsoft closing in on its Windows XP support end date (and the fallout from the recent Help Centre flaw being broadcast all over the web), PC users are either looking to Windows 7 or sticking with XP “support free” as this transition takes place.  Because we know no one is using Vista, right?

Macintosh OS (also known as OS X and OS 10) users have been “treated” to a new operating system approximately every two years now.  Linux users are having new “distros” developed at a breakneck pace as it gains popularity – but it is still has the smallest market share out there.  (I’m unaware of any standalone productivity applications developed for the OS – web applications seem to be the only option.  If any of our readers know of any, please enlighten me!)

With support ending for what was likely the most widely-used operating system, it brings to the forefront the following:

What OS do you use and why?

Let us know in the comments. Read More



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Musical Motivation

Musical Motivation

“I love rock ‘n roll” – Joan Jett

I hear you, Joan.

Not everyone loves rock ‘n roll, but I do.  Actually, my musical tastes range from jazz to rock to classical and several genres in between.  It all depends on the mood.  If I’m driving down the highway, I’ll pull out a great rock tune and if I’m curled up with a good book I’ll throw on some light jazz or classical.  My tastes seem to have me covered.

When I’m trying to get stuff done, I need the same kind of motivational kickstart.  Rock will do it sometimes, ska might do it another time.  Sometimes silence is my muse’s best friend.  Music can play an integral part in how my day goes.

What about you?  Does music get you moving? What kind of music?  What artists?  Let us know in the comments. Read More



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Some Great Dropbox Tips and Tricks

Some Great Dropbox Tips and Tricks

We recently touched on how Dropbox could be (and, for yours truly, is) an effiicient and effective means to share files across multiple platforms.  Seems as if we’re not alone in this.

Sister site AppStorm expands upon how the service can be used to share files by offering 15 tips and tricks…plus there’s a chance to win a $100 credit giveaway if you leave your very own tip in the comments at AppStorm!

15 Awesome Dropbox Tips and Tricks with $100 Credit Giveaway Read More



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3 Ways To Get Unstuck

3 Ways To Get Unstuck

Sometimes you just get stuck.

Whether you’re a writer and you…just…can’t…find…the next thought or you catch a glimpse of the sunny skies outside your office window and you start to daydream, it happens.  The biggest step to moving ahead is to get “unstuck.”  Here are a few quick tips on how to get your mind on track and get back to the task at hand:

1. Indulge

Just go with it.  If you can’t stop thinking about next weekend, then don’t.  If you can’t get that next sentence on that report, then don’t.  Distract yourself, but do it productively.  Pick up the phone and make plans for the weekend.  If that next sentence won’t come out, then start to write about something else – make plans for what’s to come, perhaps.  Sometimes you have to indulge in what’s got you stuck before you can get out of it.  It’s like quicksand: the more you fight it, the quicker you’ll sink.

2. Insist

You can go the opposite way of indulging and insist you push through what’s on your plate.  It’s not the most pleasant way to go, but the short-term pain leads to long-term gain.  Think about what’s beyond the task at hand; that’ll help you get done what you need to now so that you can get to where you need to be next.

3. Inquire

Start asking yourself questions.  Does this “getting stuck” happen often?  Does it happen with just this type of work, or with a lot of what you do?  Sometimes searching for the answers to these initial questions will give you a lot of scope as to what really lies beneath.  Sometimes it’ll just get you moving again.  Sometimes it’ll get you moving on.

Do you have strategies that you put into practice when you get stuck?  What do you do to get unstuck?  Let us know in the comments. Read More



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World Cup Productivity Watch

World Cup Productivity Watch

Except in the United States (for the most part), the World Cup is a huge deal.  My brother, for example, works for an American multinational in Brazil and the company had to bring in TV sets for workers to watch games lest half the office be out sick on game days.  It’s just the way it is there – we love football – and foreigners doing business with Brazil just need to adjust.  But if you’re the person trying to get some information from my brother while he and his co-workers are watching a game, you might get frustrated.  Who cares if they’ll make up for the work later, you need the numbers now!

So, is the World Cup affecting your work?  If so, how are you dealing with it? Read More



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