Sometimes you need to slow down to speed up
By Alex Strzetelski
Working through the day small business owners, sole proprietors and just plain busy individuals are often heard to say “where does the time go?” or “I don’t know if I’m coming or going.” At that moment in time these sayings are, generally, a thought of frustration. Depending upon how one might look at the issue, however, they are sure signs of two things; you are busy, which is a good thing in some respects, and that you are over scheduled which can be good and bad.
Building in Productivity
In many instances, these “frustrations” just continue along as your blood pressure rises. Becoming “cross” with family and friends is an all too often occurrence and you just do not feel comfortable with how your personal and professional life is going. When you get to this point you know that things are about to “tip” in one way or another. You need to find some way to become more productive and efficient (check out www.asimplelifeforyou.com for some ideas.)If the fruits or your labor are not reaped in one form or another what is the point? If you are to grow and reap the rewards as a person and business you need to find a way to slow down a bit.
As odd as it may sound, slowing down a bit and giving yourself some “me time” may actually solve many of these potentially harmful issues. The issue then becomes, how? Productivity and its assumed rewards can be found in many ways. Taking some of the time constraints off of your shoulders is the primary, and initial, step to take.
In past posts we’ve mentioned Virtual Assistants as a possibility when considering productivity as you go about your day. However, if you would rather not lose that control to a person why not incorporate some of the wonderful technology that a person, somewhat similar to you, has come up with to build their productivity into some “me time.”
Software opportunities
As just about all of us know, software comes in many forms. In many of the cases dealt with here we are looking at communications as a way to free time and build productivity. In this vein a relatively new service called Skype may be an answer for you. This communications tool, at its most basic, is an inexpensive way to get your communications needs to work for you and not against you. The service offers free online phone, messaging and video service to world-wide members that are trying to communicate with other members. It also offers reasonable rates for communications between members and non-members on-line and off-line world-wide.
The “me time” and productivity aspect shows up in the fact that the user doesn’t need to be on-line or at the terminal to use the service. The service can be used through your desk top or Wi-fi but the real benefit comes in the hundreds of third party programs that the service offers. If you are taking some “me time” to read a book or mull over a new dimension of your day or business there is likely a program offered that will let you keep in touch without being in touch, unless you want to be. The best part is, if the person on the other end is a member it will not cost a cent (NOTE: today there are approximately 9 million subscribers on line for the service at any one time and the service is free to sign up for. Certain services do cost but, generally, if you are a member you can use the service for free, for most options)
If you are engaged in a global business or have family overseas the advantages of this communications ability become apparent. It is, however, the third party developers that really lend the power. There are so many of them, all in similar circumstances to you, that a specific program is likely targeted toward your productivity needs or “me time” wants.
The Rewards of “Me Time”
Sure you might say, “more time, like that’s going to happen.” Well it can if you look for it in the right places. And according to a Visa USA/SCORE survey 46 percent of you in small business are looking for it. Half that number would like to further pursue their passions and 32 percent of those surveyed would use it to further their businesses.
Taking the “me time” and stopping every now and again can give perspective on the business and where you want your life to be and go. It’s sort of like waking up in the middle of the night with an answer to a question you couldn’t quite get in the middle of the day. Freeing up that “me time” is the same concept; to help build productivity and the rewards that go along with it. Whether you use a program such as Skype or a Virtual Assistant to get there is only a means to the end, but it is there if you look for it.
Be sure to check out www.asimplelifeforyou.com
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Monday, July 2, 2007
Try Osmosis when Relaxing
Just let it ooze in
As you go about integrating the balance part of your work/life balance program think about not thinking about it. Your goal after all is to feel better about what, and how, you are going about your daily life. Incorporating elements of a balance into the day slowly is how you’re most likely to get where you need to be.
Finding “real” relaxation
As you slowly find time, by taking little steps here and there, you can begin to offer yourself opportunities for relaxation. Finding that activity, or lack there of, lets you discover what fun was, is and can be. The thing is, however, there needs to be a slow progression into what this strange thing called relaxation and fun can be. If the fun activity is a hard and fast scheduled event then is it relaxation or just another thing to do on the old “to do list?”
If the event or activity needs scheduling, like a softball game, try to allow some time on either side of the game or practice. This way you’ll be “sliding” into the event rather than going straight to it from a meeting or errand. Let the relaxation just sort of seep in from the edges without you really knowing that it is happening.
Timing the relaxation
The whole point of this endeavor is to strike a balance; you don’t want to get too carried away with this relaxation thing. You may come to enjoy it a bit to much and reality will eventually pop up and kick you. But, given the option of being able to manipulate things a bit, try to get that ball game or practice lined up against a regular daily activity that is going to happen anyway.
Thursday dinner might be an example. Put your phone on message forwarding for a few hours around “fourish”, do some slow stretches/yoga/down a few beers before the game, pop in a premade dinner on real low heat (see Finding Time with Food) and off you go to the game or practice to return to a ready meal with the family (of course scheduling does show up here on the game timing but you get the idea.) Remember, relaxation is the aim. Go about this process in an easy manner. No rushing allowed. This is why “fourish”, no time limit on the stretching and no phone. After dinner you can turn the thing back on and get your phone fix.
The big idea behind relaxation
What you’re really trying to accomplish here is to decide what really makes you relaxed, happy and content. If it’s opera, try this same idea with a glass of wine and dinner with that special somebody. Take a long bath before the dinner, in place of the stretching idea. But, the real big thing is to not make it a real big thing. Think of the process as a piece of chocolate. It crunches at the beginning but after it softens up a bit it oozes with pleasure. Don’t make time to ooze, just let it find you around the edges and relaxation will find you whether you like it or not.
As you go about integrating the balance part of your work/life balance program think about not thinking about it. Your goal after all is to feel better about what, and how, you are going about your daily life. Incorporating elements of a balance into the day slowly is how you’re most likely to get where you need to be.
Finding “real” relaxation
As you slowly find time, by taking little steps here and there, you can begin to offer yourself opportunities for relaxation. Finding that activity, or lack there of, lets you discover what fun was, is and can be. The thing is, however, there needs to be a slow progression into what this strange thing called relaxation and fun can be. If the fun activity is a hard and fast scheduled event then is it relaxation or just another thing to do on the old “to do list?”
If the event or activity needs scheduling, like a softball game, try to allow some time on either side of the game or practice. This way you’ll be “sliding” into the event rather than going straight to it from a meeting or errand. Let the relaxation just sort of seep in from the edges without you really knowing that it is happening.
Timing the relaxation
The whole point of this endeavor is to strike a balance; you don’t want to get too carried away with this relaxation thing. You may come to enjoy it a bit to much and reality will eventually pop up and kick you. But, given the option of being able to manipulate things a bit, try to get that ball game or practice lined up against a regular daily activity that is going to happen anyway.
Thursday dinner might be an example. Put your phone on message forwarding for a few hours around “fourish”, do some slow stretches/yoga/down a few beers before the game, pop in a premade dinner on real low heat (see Finding Time with Food) and off you go to the game or practice to return to a ready meal with the family (of course scheduling does show up here on the game timing but you get the idea.) Remember, relaxation is the aim. Go about this process in an easy manner. No rushing allowed. This is why “fourish”, no time limit on the stretching and no phone. After dinner you can turn the thing back on and get your phone fix.
The big idea behind relaxation
What you’re really trying to accomplish here is to decide what really makes you relaxed, happy and content. If it’s opera, try this same idea with a glass of wine and dinner with that special somebody. Take a long bath before the dinner, in place of the stretching idea. But, the real big thing is to not make it a real big thing. Think of the process as a piece of chocolate. It crunches at the beginning but after it softens up a bit it oozes with pleasure. Don’t make time to ooze, just let it find you around the edges and relaxation will find you whether you like it or not.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Letting Go of the Day-to-Day
Gaining control by letting go
Getting bogged down in the mundane aspects of day-to-day life is the easiest way to become mired in the “small stuff.” If a sole proprietor or individual constantly try’s to “micro manage” their activities the end result becomes a drop in productivity and not getting anything accomplished for that day, week or even month. Although there are a few areas where productivity and micro managing do take a back seat to work/life balance, productivity is the way to move forward. In many instances (such as taking the kids to a Saturday soccer game or having a glass of wine with the spouse) day-to-day activities do improve productivity and work/life balance. There are, however, many other areas where this is not the case.
I’ve Always Done It This Way
Getting into a routine can be a good thing for a family getting their day going. Getting into a routine for a small business or individual can be the death of productivity. The routine is a good way to turn out product on an assembly line but, in most startup companies today, it can have a negative impact on creativity and the aforementioned work/life balance. If an individual is used to spending half an hour answering routine e-mail, first thing in the morning, their mind becomes mired in that action. For most people, this generates a stopping point which makes it harder to move on to more productive activities. This process might also be equated to an individual sitting down to a second cup of coffee and their Blackberry after they get the kids off to school.
Ultimately, the individual is starting their day all over again after they finish this routine task. The general result is productivity taking a dive as the individual works to get back into a productive mentality. Although figures are not available on the composition of typical e-mail, it would seem that saying that a majority of the mail is simple or unrelated mail that somebody else could just as easily return is valid. Outsourcing to a Virtual Assistant could be a solution to answering these e-mails and other smaller day-to day tasks after they become acquainted with your operation/life. Ultimately, this lets you, as the creative person, go about increasing productivity or generating a work/life balance for you and your family.
Breaking the Mold
What is really going on is that the business or life you have created is at a point where it needs to evolve in a way that keeps you moving in the desired direction without becoming stagnant. In order for productivity and work/life balance to be optimized you need some help. Not to the point where a full or part time employee is needed but somebody that can help to structure a few elements to let you keep to the core elements that enabled the project to succeed in the first place. Outsourcing these elements is a means to a certain evolution of the work/life balance building process.
Extending the example from earlier, a virtual assistant might be able to confirm appointments for the next day while you are pursuing the day’s appointments. The idea being that instead of being stuck behind a desk or coffee table you are working on another aspect of your business or life. Productivity is increased and, hopefully, some time has been freed so that you can take some time for yourself or, in the case of a self proprietor, your business concept in general .
Finding the Dams
All of this is well and good, but where do the day-to-day productivity dams exist that are taking up your time unnecessarily? In your assessment you should be careful not to think that an activity is unproductive. A daily commute, for instance, can lead to increases in productivity because there is a certain amount of “me time” to think about your day (and of course you never talk on the cell phone when you drive, right?)
Instead, try thinking of it in terms of what you could be doing and if somebody else could be doing what you are currently doing better and more efficiently. Check out www.asimplelifeforyou.com for some ideas on finding those areas. Perhaps there are quite a few FAQ’s involved in your day. Could your web site or an outsourcing service deal with them better? Perhaps Juniors’ birthday party might be better planned by a children’s party planner. Often these folks are right in front of you. You are just not seeing the trees through the forest to reverse the analogy.
Don’t Be Afraid
As an individual or sole proprietor it is easy to get caught up in the “I” mentality. Only “I” can do that part of the project. In reality, you are not the only person that can get the job done. You are just afraid to lose control of what you have built, professionally or personally. The fact is, you have already lost control by getting bogged down in the day-to-day. You have lost the big picture that productivity and work/life balance offer. If you think about some of the mundane aspects of your daily life and how outsourcing them may help, you will have the time you need to take a step back and look at where you are and where you could go.
Find more tips on creating time at www.asimplelifeforyou.com
Getting bogged down in the mundane aspects of day-to-day life is the easiest way to become mired in the “small stuff.” If a sole proprietor or individual constantly try’s to “micro manage” their activities the end result becomes a drop in productivity and not getting anything accomplished for that day, week or even month. Although there are a few areas where productivity and micro managing do take a back seat to work/life balance, productivity is the way to move forward. In many instances (such as taking the kids to a Saturday soccer game or having a glass of wine with the spouse) day-to-day activities do improve productivity and work/life balance. There are, however, many other areas where this is not the case.
I’ve Always Done It This Way
Getting into a routine can be a good thing for a family getting their day going. Getting into a routine for a small business or individual can be the death of productivity. The routine is a good way to turn out product on an assembly line but, in most startup companies today, it can have a negative impact on creativity and the aforementioned work/life balance. If an individual is used to spending half an hour answering routine e-mail, first thing in the morning, their mind becomes mired in that action. For most people, this generates a stopping point which makes it harder to move on to more productive activities. This process might also be equated to an individual sitting down to a second cup of coffee and their Blackberry after they get the kids off to school.
Ultimately, the individual is starting their day all over again after they finish this routine task. The general result is productivity taking a dive as the individual works to get back into a productive mentality. Although figures are not available on the composition of typical e-mail, it would seem that saying that a majority of the mail is simple or unrelated mail that somebody else could just as easily return is valid. Outsourcing to a Virtual Assistant could be a solution to answering these e-mails and other smaller day-to day tasks after they become acquainted with your operation/life. Ultimately, this lets you, as the creative person, go about increasing productivity or generating a work/life balance for you and your family.
Breaking the Mold
What is really going on is that the business or life you have created is at a point where it needs to evolve in a way that keeps you moving in the desired direction without becoming stagnant. In order for productivity and work/life balance to be optimized you need some help. Not to the point where a full or part time employee is needed but somebody that can help to structure a few elements to let you keep to the core elements that enabled the project to succeed in the first place. Outsourcing these elements is a means to a certain evolution of the work/life balance building process.
Extending the example from earlier, a virtual assistant might be able to confirm appointments for the next day while you are pursuing the day’s appointments. The idea being that instead of being stuck behind a desk or coffee table you are working on another aspect of your business or life. Productivity is increased and, hopefully, some time has been freed so that you can take some time for yourself or, in the case of a self proprietor, your business concept in general .
Finding the Dams
All of this is well and good, but where do the day-to-day productivity dams exist that are taking up your time unnecessarily? In your assessment you should be careful not to think that an activity is unproductive. A daily commute, for instance, can lead to increases in productivity because there is a certain amount of “me time” to think about your day (and of course you never talk on the cell phone when you drive, right?)
Instead, try thinking of it in terms of what you could be doing and if somebody else could be doing what you are currently doing better and more efficiently. Check out www.asimplelifeforyou.com for some ideas on finding those areas. Perhaps there are quite a few FAQ’s involved in your day. Could your web site or an outsourcing service deal with them better? Perhaps Juniors’ birthday party might be better planned by a children’s party planner. Often these folks are right in front of you. You are just not seeing the trees through the forest to reverse the analogy.
Don’t Be Afraid
As an individual or sole proprietor it is easy to get caught up in the “I” mentality. Only “I” can do that part of the project. In reality, you are not the only person that can get the job done. You are just afraid to lose control of what you have built, professionally or personally. The fact is, you have already lost control by getting bogged down in the day-to-day. You have lost the big picture that productivity and work/life balance offer. If you think about some of the mundane aspects of your daily life and how outsourcing them may help, you will have the time you need to take a step back and look at where you are and where you could go.
Find more tips on creating time at www.asimplelifeforyou.com
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