Ultimate Multitasking 6 Secrets For To-Do Mojo

Ultimate Multitasking 6 Secrets For To-Do Mojo Ultimate Multitasking: 6 Secrets For To-Do Mojo Did you know the human brain evolved to multitask? Doing more than one thing at a time is natural. Were always doing it, though most of us don’t notice or recognize it for what it is. As a way to get work done, save time and increase productivity, multitasking was once touted as a sure path to success. In recent years, however, theres been an anti-multitasking backlash. Many people have come to see it as piling distraction upon distraction and actually lessening overall productivity. It doesnt have to be that way. Learn to handle things one a time when thats the best approach, sure. But learn to multitask when the time is right and youll find yourself sailing through your to-do lists at home and at work. Here are some tips: Take large tasks one at a time. Wait. What? That doesn’t sound like multitasking at all, does it? The simple truth is, some tasks demand your full attention. Do them first so they arent looming over your schedule while youre trying to accomplish everything else. The idea is to keep your mind free from the stress of pending tasks by getting the big ones out of the way first. Even if you can’t complete the task in the time set aside for it, once youve started it you’ll be more likely to return to it. Then you can group less critical tasks together and get your multitasking groove on. Never do two major tasks at once. Effective multitasking means having one major task that requires focus and critical thinking at a time. The beauty of multitasking is in how you manage the smaller tasks that youre doing simultaneously. If you take on two big things at the same time, theyll compete for your mental resources, swamp your brain, and leave you as unproductive as ever. Ditch the extras. Procrastinating may not always be a bad strategy. If youre facing a gazillion tasks, do yourself a favor and eliminate (or postpone) the ones that arent important. The first draft of your to-do list shouldnt have anything that isnt truly important. Assignments from your boss and imminent deadlines make the cut; something that can be bumped to another date shouldnt be allowed to hamstring your plan for productivity today. Group similar tasks. Put related tasks together to reduce your workload. For instance, if your major task is to give a multimedia presentation at work and a related minor task is to create printed collateral for the people at the presentation, you should treat them as one project. Writing your presentation notes naturally leads to writing the text for the handouts, so those tasks can be completed at the same time. Resist distractions. When self-restraint fails you, find substitutions. If youre tempted to hop on Facebook for the 10th time today, hop on an industry blog instead. You get the momentary diversion without entirely shifting your focus from your work. Dont let your email be a distraction; check it at designated times throughout the day, not constantly. People expect a predictable response from you, not an immediate response. Keep your brain busy while youre running errands. You know how people say their best ideas come to them while theyre in the shower? While youre devoting time to things that have to be done, your brain can be put to work on other things. Some of your daily tasks will require your time but not much mental energy. Were talking about driving to work, grocery shopping or walking the dog. Thanks to smartphones and earbuds, you can catch up on news, listen to a podcast or call a friend to say hello. Or while your body is on autopilot, this could be a great time for your brain to work through a complex problem. Just because youre doing your grunt work doesnt mean your creativity and problem-solving skills have to be put on hold.

11 Things To Negotiate Besides Salary

11 Things To Negotiate Besides Salary Arranging pay and can be a frightening discussion however the sooner you vanquish the ability, the better. Remember that the objective of an arrangement is to arrive at an answer that benefits the two gatherings. Regardless of whether it's your joy or monetary security, you reserve the option to advocate for what you merit. While compensation is one of the most widely recognized exchanges you'll experience, just 39% of individuals will request a more significant pay. This could be because of an absence of certainty or a desire to abstain from hearing no. If you trust you are being come up short on and underestimated, do some exploration on comparable positions and the worth you bring to the organization. Notwithstanding compensation, there are numerous different advantages on the table. From telecommute adaptability to having a progressively exact activity title, these discussions could hugy affect your prosperity. There are numerous monetary advantages to haggling also. Why address the asking cost on month to month lease if the market esteem and practically identical houses are a lot of lower? This infographic from Self Lender features 11 things you can haggle to carry more investment funds and incentive to your life.

The Hourglass Solution

The Hourglass Solution What's Next for Baby Boomers? Jeff Johnson, PhD., and Paula Forman, PhD. Composed The Hourglass Solution, a book that gives Baby Boomers a manual for the remainder of your life. Baby Boomers have battled during this monetary downturn; they were more profound under water than different ages, and are making some intense memories discovering trades for the high pay occupations they lost. Many are confronting significant way of life changes, moving in with relatives, scaling back to little homes, or turning out to be one-worker families without precedent for an age. Indeed, even Baby Boomers who are working are experiencing an emergency, as per the authors. This age (to be completely forthright: this is my age) is living longer and in preferable wellbeing over any past generation. We are characterized by our extreme hopefulness (at times, verging on forswearing) that may have been founded on the way that we believed we had unlimited oversight over the decisions in our lives. This was the original that could decide to get hitched or pick practically some other way of life: living together, remaining single without disgrace, and a hundred varieties in between. We could pick when or whether to have children. Women could decide to have a requesting vocation and raise a family; it used to be an either/or decision. All this decision gave us a sentiment of boundless prospects when we were youthful. However, we're not, at this point youthful (outwardly, at least.) We're in our fifties and sixties, and feeling that the world has changed drastically. A portion of the social securities that offered importance to life are separating or changing forever. During this downturn, numerous individuals lost positions, which is normally one of the characterizing jobs in our lives. Marriages are stressed under cruel financial conditions, and childrearing obligations are twisting down. In this advanced age, network associations like clubs and even chapels are seeing forcefully lower participation and attempting to go after consideration and members. We are feeling less associated than past ages. As indicated by Johnson and Forman, feeling caught in our decisions is one of the main sources of sadness in Baby Boomers. The MacArthur Foundation led a drawn out examination they called Midlife in America. The investigation got some information about their wellbeing, propensities and viewpoint as they face the second 50% of their lives. One college alumni gave this reaction to the inquiry: What are your expectations for the future? She stated, To have the option to settle on decisions… Not to be in a position where you need to accomplish something since you must choose between limited options. Many of us can relate. Johnson and Forman utilize the hourglass allegory to depict this squeezed feeling for Boomers. They state that we're encountering an elevated level of tension, feeling caught by our decisions up until this point and seeing constrained choices for our future. We are caught between maturing guardians who are having medical issues and progressively subordinate kids hit hard by the recession. We are confronting the possibility of raising our grandchildren. we can't cut back or move on the grounds that our homes are submerged or in a market where deals are low. Yuck. In the wake of perusing that section, you'd be discouraged as well, regardless of whether you weren't previously. Fortunately Johns and Forman have guidance to assist Boomers with investigating their choices for making another life. They can do it; they've done it at each phase of their lives, they compose. We don't need to feel stuck; we can sneak past to what the creators call More prominent Adulthood, where we have options about how we need to live. And the very demonstration of picking, they state, will fortify us and rouse us. If youre a Baby Boomer, what do you think?

How to Earn while you learn

How to Earn while you learn by Michael Cheary There’s no doubt that learning something new can do wonders for your career… But although most of us are already aware of the various benefits of studying, unfortunately not everyone has the time â€" or money â€" to follow through and make it part of our daily lives. Well, at least, not on the surface.To help you find a way to fit studying around your finances, here are some of our top ways on how to earn while you learn:ApprenticeshipsIf you’re looking to break into a brand new industry, an apprenticeship could be for you.Not only is it a great way of building up your experience and getting your foot in the door with a company, it’s also the perfect opportunity to earn a regular salary whilst you learn.There are many different types of apprenticeship to choose from (depending on your previous experience) and, contrary to some popular misconceptions, they’re available in just about every industry â€" with opportunities available in everything from health beauty and hairdressing, through to IT and engineering.So no matter what industry you’re in, and how old you are, an apprenticeship could be the perfect option for you.Why choose an apprenticeship?Seven reasons you should start an apprenticeshipInternships/Work ExperienceThink interns don’t get paid? You’d be surprised.Most internships provide at least the National Minimum Wage, especially if you’re performing the role of a worker. And, unlike apprenticeships, they generally don’t involve a long-term commitment to the course.So even if you’re role isn’t working out, you will have the flexibility to find another internship somewhere new without worrying about losing any credits towards your qualification.Similarly, certain work placements and work experience positions come with some form of payment, whilst also allowing you to learn-the-ropes of a brand new role.Just make sure you always check this when you apply â€" even if it’s just to make sure your costs a re covered.Internships: What you need to knowHow to get work experienceFlexi-TimeStudying doesn’t necessarily mean you need to start from scratch.In fact, you could even stay working in your current positon, as long you can set aside some time to keep on top of taking a course.One way you could do this is by asking your employer about the possibility of working more flexible hours (also known as ‘Flexi time’). This could involve working shorter hours (e.g. by halving lunch breaks), starting and finishing earlier, or even working from home during the week to cut down on your commute.These days many employers are surprisingly accommodating, especially if you can prove the changes will improve your morale, productivity and work-life balance.And if your qualification will benefit the company? It’s pretty much a no-brainer.Five benefits of flexi time workingHow to achieve a work-life balanceAppsYou might already have the time it takes to learn something new. All you need is to st art utilising it more effectively.In this case, tech is your new best friend. For example, there are a number of different apps out there which could help you improve your knowledge in a new area, or even provide you with the confidence you need to take studying more seriously.It could be learning to code on your commute, or picking up a new language on your lunch break. Whatever it is, finding just five or ten minutes a day could make all the difference.Whoever said train journeys had to be boring?Five ways using tech every day will make you more intelligentOnline learning If you do have a little more time to learn, why not try taking an online course?Aside from being much more affordable and much less time consuming than you might think, many even result in real qualifications which could help you move your career forward.And because they’re offered as distance learning courses rather than something to be taken in the classroom, they can all be studied at your own pace â€" allow ing you to fit them around your current commitments.That way you can still earn your regular salary â€" whilst also gaining a new skill that could actually change your career.Freelancing OK, so you’ve built up a decent set of skills. Now it’s time to put them into practice.Working as a freelancer, contractor or consultant will allow you to share your expertise and experience, without committing you to a regular 9-to-5 role.And as you’ll effectively be managing your own workload, that will leave even more time to dedicate to a course. With the best part being that your ad-hoc income will effectively allow you to self-fund.There are plenty of sites out there to offer your services. You could even combine it with a well-paid part-time position, if you still need some sort of regular income. So why not put yourself (and your skills) to the test?Your new qualification (and your bank balance) can thank us later…Freelance work: What you need to knowFive of the best paying part-time jobsTop tips to earn while you learnReady to start studying? Here are some of our top tips to earn while you learn:Think about your outgoings â€" Consider rent, bills and other expenditure. How much can you realistically live on? And can you afford a drop in hours?Work out a budget â€" Once you know your outgoings, think about what’s left over. Can you afford to put money into a course? And how much do you need to earn to cover the basics?Search for a course â€" A qualification doesn’t have to cost the earth â€" or even take that much time. See what discounted and free courses are out there, and work out whether you can fit them around your role.Make the most of technology â€" Podcasts. eBooks. There’s a wealth of available material to help expand your knowledge in a new area. So there’s no need to cut your earnings completely to get started.Try freelancing â€" If you have a service you can offer, see if there’s a market for it. Even just a few jobs a week could be enoug h to fund your studies â€" not to mention bring you an additional wage.Supplement your income â€" Freelancing isn’t the only way to boost your finances. Starting a blog, tutoring, or even renting out your spare room are all excellent ways to supplement your income â€" and all allow you to earn while you learn.Six ways to supplement your incomeWant to learn while you earn? View all available courses now.