The Productivity Pro

When it comes to time management, social media can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can help you make connections and expand your professional network faster than ever before. On the other hand, you can dump countless hours into social networking sites and see little return on the investment. Here are five things you can start doing right away to help you use social media efficiently and productively.

(C) 2009 Laura Stack. www.TheProductivityPro.com

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I asked readers to fill in the blank on our last monthly survey and received some great responses. There were tons of interesting answers, but it didn’t take long to start seeing some patterns.

(C) 2009 Laura Stack. www.TheProductivityPro.com

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Technology has given us so many options when it comes to keeping track of our to-do lists—Smartphones, web-based applications, desktop applications, PDAs—but figuring out the best system for you can be a real challenge (and a frustrating one at that).

Interestingly enough, even with all the technology out there, informal research (mine and others’) still shows that when push comes to shove, most people still fall back on good old-fashioned paper.  In fact, a lifehack.org survey shows that not only do most people use a paper to-do list, but that paper is more than twice as popular as any other method listed!

Why is that?

Because we’re human.

Listen on…

(C) 2009 Laura Stack.  www.TheProductivityPro.com

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The holidays are over, the snow doesn’t seem so pretty anymore, and we’re all ready to see some sunshine again.  This is the time of year when even on those really dreary days it’s important to remember that spring is right around the corner.  If you aren’t careful, it is much too easy to end up in a late winter slump, which can cause good sprits and productivity to go right down the drain.

Take heart!  Long days and beautiful weather will be here again before we know it.  And in the meantime, there’s plenty we can do to get the most out of short winter days and long winter nights.

Listen…

(C) 2009 Laura Stack

http://www.TheProductivityPro.com

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Let’s forget about 9:00 to 5:00 for a minute. We spend lots of energy making sure that we are efficient and productive during the workday. But what about AFTER the workday? Do you find yourself keeping your nose to the grindstone and working diligently throughout the day only to have it all unravel when you step through the door at home?

(C) 2009 Laura Stack.  All rights reserved.  www.TheProductivityPro.com

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Pretty much anybody you ask will tell you they’re pressed for time. There just aren’t enough hours to get it all done, yadda yadda yadda.  So we prioritize, streamline, and simplify.  You can improve your efficiency until you’re blue in the face, not to mention very tightly wound, but you still aren’t addressing one of the biggest time and energy wasters in your day: incoming information.  As my 12-year-old daughter, Meagan, would text on her phone: “TMI” (translation: Too Much Information).

If the 21^st century has brought us anything, it is WAY too much information. You can watch several channels full of cable news 24 hours a day. You can surf the internet on any topic until you can’t see straight. Most people could heat their home with the amount of junk mail they receive on a continuous basis.  Imagine the time and productivity lost just sorting though it all!

So why not join me and put yourself on a low-information diet? Make this the year that you say “NO MORE!” to the endless onslaught of time-wasting, productivity-eating, stress-inducing STUFF coming at you.

Listen below for a few ideas to get you started.

www.TheProductivityPro.com

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