Well, today's musing is seriously not too amusing at all!
Today I decided to practice what I preach and make sure I took some time out to look after my work/life balance and go for a walk! I've had a sore knee for some mysterious reason for about a week and I decided it's because I tend to sit in front of my computer all day and don't get enough exercise! You know - use it or lose it! I think my muscles are turning to mush because I'm not exercising and the more I don't use them, the mushier they will get until I will be a big spongy ball of mush! So, off I went, envelope in hand to post a letter, hardly expecting to even raise a sweat - just to get the old muscles moving!
I figured that seeing as I haven't done much exercise at all for the last six months, I should start with a few short walks before I get back into anything more serious. As I was only going to the post office round the corner, I just went as I was - wearing my lovely new black leather boots (mistake No1 - not putting on runners...) It had been raining in the morning, but there was a gap in the clouds, so I took off just as I was (mistake No 2 - not taking an umbrella...)
Anyway, there I was enjoying the autumn weather - looking at all the pretty autumn leaves as they fluttered to the ground (mistake No 3 - not watching where I was walking...) and BANG, I slipped!! Down I went, like a sack of potatoes! My right hip took most of the impact! Of course this happened right in the middle of the road, so I had to get myself up and get off the road.
I'm not actually sure what exactly happened, one minute I was walking along and the next I was sitting in the middle of the road. I think that perhaps I stood on one of the lovely (but slippery) autumn leaves on the road, my boot slipped, the dickie knee collapsed from under me and down I went! What a comedy of errors.
It hurt, but there was nothing else for me to do but get up, keep going, post my letter and then turn around and head back to the office. Of course, on the way back it started to rain again, so there I was, getting soaked through and trying to limp on both legs (which is actually very tricky!) I must have looked quite strange lumbering along in the rain.
Do you know the really funny thing though, I'm actually glad I went out for that walk, even though I now have a sore knee, a sore hip and a sore wrist! At least I feel alive, not mushy and the fresh air did my brain a world of good!
I might have tomorrow off from taking a walk depending on how sore my hip is, but I'm not going to stop looking after my work/life balance - and getting some form of fitness is at the top of my list! I'll just make sure I'm dressed appropriately and watch where I'm going next time!
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
Monday, 18 April 2011
Expect the unexpected
Good Monday morning to all!
I have to go out to see a client today and before I leave, I need to finish revising my To Do list. I had made my list on Friday afternoon before leaving the office and then at 4:30pm, the unexpected happened! A call from a client needing me to come in to their office and help them out.
Which made me remember one of the most important things about having a To Do List - always anticipate those unexpected events which will throw your carefully laid plans into turmoil. Because no matter how well you plan your day something always seems to happen to change the shape of it. In fact, if I ever plan a day out and it goes the way I planned, then I'm usually completely thrown. The unexpected for me is when things go according to plan!
A great way to plan for the unexpected is to realise that things will happen which you couldn't predict and allow extra time in your day for that. So for example, if you have an 8 hour working day and you have 8 x 1 hour tasks to do (just to make it simple), then whatever you do, DONT put all them on your task list for today! Because as sure as you do, the phone will ring, someone will send an urgent email, that easy task will require extra research and before you know it, you've only ticked off five things.
So plan carefully, be REALISTIC in what you can achieve in a day and you will save yourself a headache... and you'll tick off everything on your list. And when things do change, don't beat yourself up about it, just have a look at your next few days and make new plans.
I must dash - have a great Monday and see you next time.
I have to go out to see a client today and before I leave, I need to finish revising my To Do list. I had made my list on Friday afternoon before leaving the office and then at 4:30pm, the unexpected happened! A call from a client needing me to come in to their office and help them out.
Which made me remember one of the most important things about having a To Do List - always anticipate those unexpected events which will throw your carefully laid plans into turmoil. Because no matter how well you plan your day something always seems to happen to change the shape of it. In fact, if I ever plan a day out and it goes the way I planned, then I'm usually completely thrown. The unexpected for me is when things go according to plan!
A great way to plan for the unexpected is to realise that things will happen which you couldn't predict and allow extra time in your day for that. So for example, if you have an 8 hour working day and you have 8 x 1 hour tasks to do (just to make it simple), then whatever you do, DONT put all them on your task list for today! Because as sure as you do, the phone will ring, someone will send an urgent email, that easy task will require extra research and before you know it, you've only ticked off five things.
So plan carefully, be REALISTIC in what you can achieve in a day and you will save yourself a headache... and you'll tick off everything on your list. And when things do change, don't beat yourself up about it, just have a look at your next few days and make new plans.
I must dash - have a great Monday and see you next time.
Friday, 15 April 2011
A wedding
Yesterday, my friends daughter got married. I went along to the church ceremony for a 'sticky beak' - you've just gotta love a wedding!! She made a spectacularly beautiful bride and her three sisters looked absolutely stunning in their bridesmaids dresses. I've never seen my friend so happy and so excited as she arrived at the church before her daughter.
During the service, the priest naturally enough talked about love and he said that in 20, 30, 50 years time they will be married to each other for a different reason than the reason they were getting married today. What he meant by that was that their love and respect for each other would grow and change over the years, as the different events in their lives would shape their feelings for each other. It was a lovely message.
It got me to thinking about how you go about achieveing that and part of it would have to come down to time management. That may sound a bit simplistic and to be honest it probably is, but when you look at it, there's some truth in it!
It's really all about work/life balance. Let's face it, if you spend too much time at work, you're not going to be spending time together and over time you can easily drift apart. If you have good time management techniques at work, then you can get out of there on time and spend time where you really want to be - together.
Planning is the key to great time management and a planning a wedding is a great preparation for your life ahead. You have to plan and prepare a huge range of people and events: from the bridesmaids and groomsmen; the church and priest; the guest list; invitations; the reception centre, including table settings, music, food choices, colour scheme (will it match the colour scheme of your wedding party); the cars; who will look after the presents; thank you notes; the honeymoon; not to mention the hardest thing of all - the seating arrangements at the reception!... and the list goes on!
If you can plan a wedding, then making a plan for your day at work will be a piece of (wedding) cake. When you plan your day at work, make sure you take into account interruptions which may occur. If you have a day of meetings, only put a couple of things on your To Do List. Be realistic about what you can achieve in a day and dont stress about what cant be done, but plan to do it another day. Then go home and enjoy yourself, safe in the knowledge that because of your great planning, everything will get done.
Have a good weekend with your loved one and dont stress about Monday!
During the service, the priest naturally enough talked about love and he said that in 20, 30, 50 years time they will be married to each other for a different reason than the reason they were getting married today. What he meant by that was that their love and respect for each other would grow and change over the years, as the different events in their lives would shape their feelings for each other. It was a lovely message.
It got me to thinking about how you go about achieveing that and part of it would have to come down to time management. That may sound a bit simplistic and to be honest it probably is, but when you look at it, there's some truth in it!
It's really all about work/life balance. Let's face it, if you spend too much time at work, you're not going to be spending time together and over time you can easily drift apart. If you have good time management techniques at work, then you can get out of there on time and spend time where you really want to be - together.
Planning is the key to great time management and a planning a wedding is a great preparation for your life ahead. You have to plan and prepare a huge range of people and events: from the bridesmaids and groomsmen; the church and priest; the guest list; invitations; the reception centre, including table settings, music, food choices, colour scheme (will it match the colour scheme of your wedding party); the cars; who will look after the presents; thank you notes; the honeymoon; not to mention the hardest thing of all - the seating arrangements at the reception!... and the list goes on!
If you can plan a wedding, then making a plan for your day at work will be a piece of (wedding) cake. When you plan your day at work, make sure you take into account interruptions which may occur. If you have a day of meetings, only put a couple of things on your To Do List. Be realistic about what you can achieve in a day and dont stress about what cant be done, but plan to do it another day. Then go home and enjoy yourself, safe in the knowledge that because of your great planning, everything will get done.
Have a good weekend with your loved one and dont stress about Monday!
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
How do you manage your interruptions?
Did you know that the average person gets 1 interruption every 8 minutes, or approximately 7 an hour, or 50-60 per day! The average interruption takes 5 minutes, totalling about 4 hours or 50% of the average workday. 80% of those interruptions are typically rated as "little value" or "no Value" creating approximately 3 hours of wasted time per day or 690 wasted hours (or around 86 working days) per year!
These interruptions can come in the form of the phone ringing, an email arriving in your inbox, or someone popping in to your workspace to talk or ask a question. Of course, there are many other things which can interrupt your day, but these are the three most common.
If you're trying to finish something important, turn on your voicemail, you can let technology be your friend and take a message for you - just make sure you get back to the caller as soon as you're finished your task.
You can put a sign on your office door, or at your workspace explaining that you're busy - maybe give them a time to come back and talk to you - you know "Genius at Work.. I'll be free at 11:30am". I once met a lady who would put on a really daggy, colourful, flowery hat that she had bought at an op-shop and all her staff knew that if she was wearing the hat, then she was working on something important and they should come back later!! She said it worked brilliantly! You dont have to go as far as buying a silly hat, just find something that works for you.
You should always have your email notifications turned off so that you're not distracted by them arriving. Only check your inbox three or four times a day and handle each email once, either responding immediately or tasking for later.
Have a great day and feel free to email me with any questions on info@c2admin.com.au. And if I dont answer your email straight away - don't take it personally, it probably just means I'm working on my next blog :)
These interruptions can come in the form of the phone ringing, an email arriving in your inbox, or someone popping in to your workspace to talk or ask a question. Of course, there are many other things which can interrupt your day, but these are the three most common.
If you're trying to finish something important, turn on your voicemail, you can let technology be your friend and take a message for you - just make sure you get back to the caller as soon as you're finished your task.
You can put a sign on your office door, or at your workspace explaining that you're busy - maybe give them a time to come back and talk to you - you know "Genius at Work.. I'll be free at 11:30am". I once met a lady who would put on a really daggy, colourful, flowery hat that she had bought at an op-shop and all her staff knew that if she was wearing the hat, then she was working on something important and they should come back later!! She said it worked brilliantly! You dont have to go as far as buying a silly hat, just find something that works for you.
You should always have your email notifications turned off so that you're not distracted by them arriving. Only check your inbox three or four times a day and handle each email once, either responding immediately or tasking for later.
Have a great day and feel free to email me with any questions on info@c2admin.com.au. And if I dont answer your email straight away - don't take it personally, it probably just means I'm working on my next blog :)
Monday, 11 April 2011
It's all in the mind... a poem by anonymous
If you're having any challenges in your business or your personal life, maybe this inspirational poem will help you keep on going We've had this poem hanging in the bathroom for years - it's a favourite of my husbands!
If you think you are beaten, you are
If you think you dare not, you don't
If you like to win, but don't think you can
It's almost certain you won't.
If you think you'll lose, you've lost
For out in the world you'll find
Success begins with a fellow's will
It's all in the state of mind.
If you think you are outclassed, you are
You've got to think high to rise
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man
But sooner or later the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.
Have a great week :)
If you think you are beaten, you are
If you think you dare not, you don't
If you like to win, but don't think you can
It's almost certain you won't.
If you think you'll lose, you've lost
For out in the world you'll find
Success begins with a fellow's will
It's all in the state of mind.
If you think you are outclassed, you are
You've got to think high to rise
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man
But sooner or later the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.
Have a great week :)
Thursday, 7 April 2011
Welcome to my first Blog!
I have decided to take the plunge and start blogging... feel free to wish me luck! :)
I welcome you to visit my website to see what I'm about and to leave any comments as to what you would like to know regarding administration in the workplace, the Virtual Assistant industry and my favourite thing in the world - time management!
Here's my first time management tip - every day before you leave work, have a look at what you have scheduled for the next day - pre-planning is the key to being organised before you even walk in to your office!! You'll come in and know what it is you need to do for the day and BANG! you're straight into it and on your way to a productive day.
My day tomorrow is starting with a meeting, followed by some (boring but necessary) bookwork, before working on a presentation I will be doing next month. Preparation and planning! Woo hoo - almost cant wait to get out of bed and I'm not even in it yet!
Have a good night - see you again soon.
oh - and feel free to visit my website at : http://www.c2admin.com.au/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)