Thursday, September 27, 2012

Time Management

From a young age, we were all told at one time or another to "Use our time wisely". Sadly, the importance of that message doesn't become apparent for most until it is too late, usually in college. The further you get into your college career, the more work you are going to get. It might not seem like a lot, but it will most likely be time consuming. Since these days everyone seems to be on the go, and in a rush, I bet you were wishing that you had taken that advice as a kid. 

However, if you haven't needed to time manage for some reason, here are a couple tips that'll make all those daunting tasks seem a little smaller and definitely more manageable. 

Tip One: Make a list of things you need to do
Tip Two: Organize your tasks in order of longest/hardest to easiest/shortest
Tip Three: Focus on one thing at a time (If you lose motivation you can go to one of the shorter tasks for a bit and then go back to the first thing)
Tip Four: Isolate yourself from distractions.
Tip Five: Take breaks! (This is one of the most important tips I can give you. If you don't take short breaks during your work process you are going to wear yourself out, and that is never good. Your work will suffer, trust me!)

A to do list with four options and pencils
Time Management can help you through that to do list!

If you follow these steps, it'll help you stress less about big projects, and heavy workloads that life can toss at you sometimes. We'll leave off with a quote today.


Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort. 

  -Paul J. Meyer

Friday, September 21, 2012

Being Specific Lowers Stress

Speed limit sign that says twelve and a half
Now that's specific!

We've all worked for someone who wasn't the most specific person, and you'd get confused because his instructions were so general. You end up asking a lot of questions and they get frustrated. What if I told you that could all be avoided if the person giving the instructions were a little more clear in telling you what they wanted? Now I understand that sometimes you know exactly what a person means when they tell you what to do, and there is no need for them to go into such detail. But even in that situation, by telling you what exactly to do and where, you'll remember it a whole lot better.

So remember, when giving instructions, it's always good to be specific. Tell the person exactly what you mean and what you want done so that they don't come back with a million questions, or end up doing the wrong thing. Pretty simple and it'll save you a lot of hassle.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Easily Courteous


“Courtesy is a small act but it packs a mighty wallop” 
         
           -Lewis Carroll


Being courteous please and thank you
Always remember to use these four words when asking for something.


Common courtesy is not something that is easily found in people these days. As Lewis Carroll said, it can be a small act, but have a pretty big impact. If you have read my previous posts, you'll know that I like to look at and appreciate the little things in life, and this is definitely one of them. 

Sadly I am stuck in a place where people don't usually realize what they are doing, a college dorm room. My next door neighbors play their music loudly at late hours, which I don't care about on weekends, but during the week when I have an 8am class? No bueno. For some reason, the new freshman that have arrived this year are obsessed with the volleyball court that is outside my window. They play every night from about 8-12. Now, dorm quiet hours start at 10pm, but most people obviously don't respect that. I know I didn't last year but that is because I had a room where I didn't share a wall with anyone so I could be loud and what not without any complaints. I suppose what I am trying to say is that if you are not in your own house that isn't connected to someone else's (duplex, apartments, dorms) then be aware of how much noise you are making. I guarantee that your walls aren't sound proof, and your neighbors will love you for it. 

Another example of being oblivious to those around you happened this very morning. I was sleeping in because it's Saturday, and I can do that. My roommate however got up earlier than me and he was getting ready. When he was brushing his teeth, he woke me up with how loud it was. His mouth was literally an amphitheater. It's not that hard to brush your teeth quietly in all honesty. I don't know, I guess some people don't take notice to their surroundings, and I feel bad for those people. Because if you do not take notice of the things around you, you are walking blind, and will not notice the beauty of life.