Go on a ‘Fake-ation’ and Get More Done

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vacationThe week before you go on vacation is filled with excitement, tension and anxiety as you rush to get all your work done before you go. For some, that last-minute panic is the only thing that can inspire them to get completely caught up on your work. So why not use the “vacation feeling” to get more done? If you want to catch up on your back log at work just act like you’re going on vacation so you can stay laser focused.

Here are some ideas to get you going:

Clean up & Close up – Make a list of everything you need to get done. Think about all the odd jobs you haven’t gotten around to finishing. If you know there’s something you’ve been putting it off, best to get it over and done with and then you really can relax over the weekend. Read more

Are You Addicted to Saying “I’m So Busy?”

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busy“I’m so busy?” It’s an excuse, an apology and sometimes a greeting.  Did you know that this “go to” saying might actually be making you less productive? We often attribute our busyness to being as sign of the times, that in this technological age we are all working longer hours and taking on more responsibilities. But were our predecessors really any less busy? Without modern luxuries like a dishwashers and microwaves, previous generations had as many time consuming tasks as we do.

So what can you do to stop yourself saying “I’m so busy” and feeding the frenzy?  Here are 3 ideas: Read more

Instant Gratification Apps

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shake shackWe live in a society where quicker is better and right now is best. With the popularity of services like Amazon, Netflix and iTunes, having things brought to us in a snap is becoming more and more common. To satisfy our need for “instant gratification” there are some apps that will bring you what you want, when you want it! Most are start ups, and designed for people who work long hours and don’t have the time or energy to check things off their to-do lists themselves.

I’m a big fan of outsourcing and here are some of my favorite apps for this:

wun wunWun Wun – This app allows you to place an order from restaurants, groceries, and liquor stores and they will deliver it to you in under an hour for free. I recently used it when I was craving some Shake Shack, but I didn’t want to have to trek the 22 blocks to get it. I timed it and the delivery guy arrived in 50 minutes, and the food was great. The other delivery services in NYC like Seamless and Delivery.com don’t service this restaurant, so it was the perfect solution for my burger craving. Just a heads up – their messengers’ work for tips. So be generous with your tipping.

Available in – New York and the Hamptons.

UPDATE: This app has changed — full details here. Read more

4 Newsletters That Are Worth Opening

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browseI’m a naturally curious person so I’m constantly in search of the “next best thing.” I’m always signing up for unique newsletters, podcasts, programs, apps, etc. Some are great and others… not so much. But wouldn’t it be nice to cut to the chase and just know what will be worth your while? However, it could be difficult to create your own newsletter if you have a business, luckily there are places similar to MyCreativeShop that might be able to help you with templates that could give you a start for your newsletter.
Here are the top 4 newsletters that I absolutely always open and check out, no matter what the subject line: Read more

Limit Your Options And Get More Done

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29/52 choice paralysis

(Photo credit: maclauren70)

We often think that the more choices we have the better. That’s the whole idea behind bigger supermarkets and larger malls – more choices. But is that really what’s best for us?

For example, if you’re a bridesmaid picking your dress can be a fairly daunting task, especially if the bride has told you to wear whatever you like. You know very well that she’d be unhappy if you really did wear whatever you like so you second guess every option. But if the bride narrows it down to a specific color and designer — the choice suddenly becomes much easier.

This concept is called decision fatigue – the central premise being that the more decisions we make the less likely we are to make good decisions. Once you accept that fewer choices are better you can start being more productive and improve your judgement.

Follow the items on this list to limit your options: Read more