WAYS TO MAKE YOUR WORKDAY EASIERfrom LifeHacker.com
Make a dinner date. Ever wonder why your co-workers who are parents get out of the door on time every day like clockwork? It's because they've got to pick up the kids at daycare by a certain time. If you feel like you've got all day to get things done, you're more likely to get sucked into stuff that's not that important. But a deadline will light a fire under your butt and keep your eye on the clock.
Write down the first thing you have to do tomorrow morning and put it on your keyboard before you leave the office. The best time of the day to get things done is first thing in the morning, so make it easy on yourself. Every evening, before you leave the office, write down the single most important task you've got to get done the next day. Leave it on your desk, with any support material you need to work on it, so you can get rolling first thing. Also don't check your email in the first hour.
Decide NOT to do one task on your to-do list and cross it off. Chances are there are a few you can cross off right this moment because they're not worth doing after all. If you've assigned yourself busywork that isn't that important, simply opt not to do it—that's the fastest and lowest-effort way to get it off your plate.
Edit that email you're writing down to less than five sentences. No one likes to get long-winded email, and email is not the appropriate place to have extended conversations. The shorter your email is, the more likely you are to get a response. If your message has to be longer, pick up the phone and call instead.
Cut someone off. When chatty Cathy's yapping your head off, or that passive meeting leader is letting things go off the rails in the conference room for too long, speak up. Don't be rude, of course. A polite but business-like, "Can we get back to the agenda?" or "I hate to cut this short, but I've got an appointment."
Book a meeting with yourself. If the hours of your day keep getting stolen by meeting requests and drive-by interruptions, box out an hour or so every few days specifically to regroup and get organized. Literally enter the meeting with yourself on your calendar, and if you need to get away from your desk, book a conference room as well.
Master the art of the qualified yes. Instead of automatically saying yes unconditionally to incoming requests, qualify it. Ask for more information like the deadline or requirements. See if it's something that can be put off till a later date or done by someone more available or better-suited.
Block out distractions and set a timer. When your brain is frozen in a solid block of paralyzed procrastination around a task and you're letting yourself get carried away by distractions like email and instant messenger, it's time to take out the big guns. Turn off your email and IM client, grab a kitchen timer, set it for 10 minutes, and work until the beep. Then, take a break. Wash, rinse, and repeat.
Here Are Five Strategies For Surviving These Tough Economic Times
1. Don't Buy What You Can't Afford. We all want that designer sweater, leather handbag, or cute sports car, but most of us just can't afford to make the purchases. There's a simple solution to this dilemma. If you can't afford it, don't buy it.
2. If You Can't Pay Cash, You Probably Can't Afford It. Buying something you can't afford now, especially when the economy is unsettled, can double the pain of paying later. For example, if you purchase a $450,000 home today and the market goes into a slump and devalues your home by $200,000, you will be paying the bank twice what the home has come to be worth.
3. Paying Interest on Anything Makes Somebody Else Rich. When you pay interest on a purchase, you are overpaying for that item for the luxury of getting to use it now. For example, if you buy a car for $25,000 with a loan at 7% interest for five years, in the end, you will pay almost $30,000 for the car.
4. If You Are in Debt, stop Spending Money. Getting yourself further it debt doesn't help your financial situation. Making a realistic budget in this case is the key to success. Once you know how much you're actually spending on those daily trips to the grocery store and coffee shop, you'll be able to find room to cut costs realistically.
5. Don't Count on Somebody Else to Save You. In times of economic uncertainty, people often think the government will be able to help them, but unfortunately this is often the time when the government has the least amount of money and freedom to help its own citizens. Start saving now for that eventual rainy day, and prepare an emergency fund for yourself.
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