"A busy schedule can leave you rushed off your feet at work ..."
Read the rest of the article at the Telegraph Online.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/technology/smartthinking/6408167/Time-to-be-smarter-in-business.html
Time management solutions for busy people - organise your business, your life and have fun.
Tips For Busy Working Mums
Before she even gets to work, the average working mum has already spent two hours sorting out herself, her children, her home and her other half before leaving for the workplace - according to a recent survey by Stylist magazine.
The research found that eight in 10 working mothers feel they have “already done a day’s work before they even arrive at the office” and more than half of those without children think the same.
Streamline your early morning routine to make life easier on yourself and those around you.
The research found that eight in 10 working mothers feel they have “already done a day’s work before they even arrive at the office” and more than half of those without children think the same.
Streamline your early morning routine to make life easier on yourself and those around you.
- Have a planner pinned up so you know who's meant to be where when ... and of course check it every day.
- Put things away at the end of the day so you know where to find them the next morning.
- Keep gym kit, dancing kit etc all together, so you're not searching around for it when the children are off to school.
- Order your shopping online - saves hours traipsing round the supermarket aisles.
- Plan your meals - a weekend roast can be made into stew > risotto > pasta meal > soup. You'll also know what you're eating when.
- Batch cook - make enough for more than one meal at a time - freeze the rest for later when you don't have time to cook.
- Get the rest of the family to help out - Mum doesn't have to do everything. Keeping rooms tidy, putting things away, getting dressed - even helping out with household chores.
Do You Take A Lunch Break?
According to a recent survey by the Spar store group - workers are taking even shorter lunch breaks.
Due to the recession, workers are taking an average of 35 minutes for lunch with many taking less than 20 minutes for their break, if they're not skipping lunch altogether.
Not only are companies benefiting from the extra half hour or more from their employees but this will only add to the stress and pressure in the long term.
Having worked in the corporate world for many years, I know what it's like to only take as long as you need to grab a sandwich and carry on working while eating it at your desk! Sometimes it's a because you've just got too much to do, sometimes it's because you don't want to be seen taking a 'long' lunch break.
Frequent breaks are necessary to maintain productivity and keep working efficiently. Not only do you need time to refuel and that means more than 5 minutes to grab a sandwich but taking a break will get the energy levels going again. If you've been working really hard and running on adrenalin, you need the time to relax.
Not only do you need to make sure you take your lunch break but take regular breaks throughout the day - you'll feel better for it and work more productively.
If you're struggling to fit everything into the time you have available, look at ways of working smarter.
Enjoy your lunch.
Due to the recession, workers are taking an average of 35 minutes for lunch with many taking less than 20 minutes for their break, if they're not skipping lunch altogether.
Not only are companies benefiting from the extra half hour or more from their employees but this will only add to the stress and pressure in the long term.
Having worked in the corporate world for many years, I know what it's like to only take as long as you need to grab a sandwich and carry on working while eating it at your desk! Sometimes it's a because you've just got too much to do, sometimes it's because you don't want to be seen taking a 'long' lunch break.
Frequent breaks are necessary to maintain productivity and keep working efficiently. Not only do you need time to refuel and that means more than 5 minutes to grab a sandwich but taking a break will get the energy levels going again. If you've been working really hard and running on adrenalin, you need the time to relax.
Not only do you need to make sure you take your lunch break but take regular breaks throughout the day - you'll feel better for it and work more productively.
If you're struggling to fit everything into the time you have available, look at ways of working smarter.
Enjoy your lunch.
Saturday Times Article: "It's never too late to learn how to be punctual"
A few of my time tips appeared alongside Emma Cook's article on being late and being a busy Mum.
Read the full article on Times Online.
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/body_and_soul/article6867652.ece
Read the full article on Times Online.
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/body_and_soul/article6867652.ece
Top Tip For Working With Journalists
One tip I was given several years ago, at one of Joanne Mallon's workshops that I've never forgotten, was "If a journalist contacts you respond immediately".
Journalists are nearly always working to tight deadlines (maybe they could use some time management!) - they need something submitted within a few hours or a couple of days if you're lucky, so be ready to respond. If they leave you a message or send you an email - get back to them as soon as you can or they'll have moved on to the next available person and your opportunity will have been lost.
Magazines are often planning what goes into print two or three months in advance, so you many be responding in the Summer to something that goes in to the Winter editions. I've recently submitted an article which won't be out until December, even though the deadline was two weeks ago. Newspapers often print more quickly - especially if they're looking for comment on current news.
I get called every couple of months and I'll always call them straight back or if they email me and there's a contact number, I'll call them rather than just reply by email. It's resulted in many of my articles being published in national publications. Not all of them always make it - copy changes and articles get dropped but the opportunity is there if you take it.
Journalists are nearly always working to tight deadlines (maybe they could use some time management!) - they need something submitted within a few hours or a couple of days if you're lucky, so be ready to respond. If they leave you a message or send you an email - get back to them as soon as you can or they'll have moved on to the next available person and your opportunity will have been lost.
Magazines are often planning what goes into print two or three months in advance, so you many be responding in the Summer to something that goes in to the Winter editions. I've recently submitted an article which won't be out until December, even though the deadline was two weeks ago. Newspapers often print more quickly - especially if they're looking for comment on current news.
I get called every couple of months and I'll always call them straight back or if they email me and there's a contact number, I'll call them rather than just reply by email. It's resulted in many of my articles being published in national publications. Not all of them always make it - copy changes and articles get dropped but the opportunity is there if you take it.
Prima Magazine: "Squeeze An Extra Hour ..."
The November issue of Prima magazine features one of my time tips in the article "Squeeze An Extra Hour Out Of Every Day".
I only found out about it when @businessmum Tweeted that her tips were in Prima and it reminded me to check if mine had made it ... and they had, although I think my original article was for Prima Baby!
I only found out about it when @businessmum Tweeted that her tips were in Prima and it reminded me to check if mine had made it ... and they had, although I think my original article was for Prima Baby!
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