Tag Archive for: being more productive

7 Ways Your Job Could Be More Balanced

balance copyYou’re sitting at your desk with a long list of tasks in front of you. It’s only 10 a.m., but you’re already set up for an un-productive day because all you can focus on is the dishes sitting in the sink at home. Maybe you forgot to make lunch for yourself. Or worse, you forgot to make lunch for your family. We all have to find a work-life balance. But just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. Getting some help and cutting down on menial tasks allows you to use your brain and time for more productive endeavors.

Time that isn’t spent benefiting the company is time and money wasted, so many employers actually invest in different ways to keep their employees happy and working hard. Sometimes productivity requires creativity, and these 10 companies took that to heart when developing these awesome policies for employees:

  1. netflix-logoNever thought 9-5 could work for you? Employees at Netflix don’t work a set schedule. They are instead given a list of tasks to complete and their performance is judged based on how well they complete those tasks.
  2. Asana-logo (1)Can you only work standing up or in an office that is totally feng-shui? At Asana employees are given $10,000 to customize their workspace.
  3. evernote_logoI’ve loved Evernote even more when I found out that the company sends a cleaning service to each employees’ home twice a month. Imagine the time you would save if you never had to worry about going home to vacuum!
  4. Facebook_LogoGone are the days where you have to make the choice between working and raising a family. At Facebook, employees are given $3,000 annually to help cover child-care expenses.
  5. airbnb-logoAre you a vegan who loves Tupac in the San Francisco Bay area? Well then pass the Kale Mary! Airbnb provides healthy meals with fun music-themed menus so all employees can eat together!
  6. JibJabLogoForget about separating your darks and lights if you’re employed at Jib-Jab. This fun company does their employees laundry for them!
  7. new-google-logo-knockoffIn addition to the many perks Google offers employees, now friends and families of employees can reap the benefits too. Is your daughter visiting you at work today? Take her to lunch at one of Google‘s 16 in-house cafes, all free to employees and guests.

 

Livescribe3 Pen Digitizes Your Notes In Seconds

livescribe1One of the biggest complaints people have about switching to digital list making is that they really enjoy writing notes down on paper.

I agree completely and that’s why I haven’t totally made the switch myself, I use both. When I take meeting notes on a phone call or in a meeting I usually end up taking a photo of my notes and uploading the photo to Evernote for later use. Then if I misplace my paper notes I know I have a backup that is searchable. There are also some notes just don’t translate to digital well — like if you’re drawing a seating chart or map.

But fear not, now you don’t have to give up your handwritten notes! Some techie geniuses at Livescribe have solved this problem with a pen that transcribes everything you write onto your mobile devices. Sounds like the coolest thing ever, right? Yeah — I thought so too. The company sent me a pen so I could check it out for myself and tell you all about it.

How Does It Work? Read more

App Makes Life Easier and Delivers On Demand

wunWhile I love my to-do list, sometimes it gets really overwhelming to try to accomplish so much in one day. I’ve posted about limiting your to-do list before, but sometimes it just is not possible to cut your list down. That’s why I love apps where you can outsource your errands!

Unlike TaskRabbit which allows you to hire someone to assemble furniture or deliver groceries, the Wun-Wun app exclusively offers deliveries. With this app you can have anything you want delivered to you anywhere in Manhattan!

Sign up with a credit card and phone number and with a few taps one of their 200 helpers is on his way. Most deliveries are free (the app itself costs $0.99) but restaurant and coffee deliveries cost $20.

Just for fun, here is a list of ways you can use the Wun-Wun app:

1. Have someone else do your grocery shopping while you binge-watch “Breaking Bad”
2. Have wine delivered to your apartment while cooking for a dinner party
3. Have deodorant delivered while at the gym
4. Have your picnic brought to you in Central Park
5. Have medicine delivered to your door when you’re home with a cold

The best part is you never have to pay cash (or leave your couch) and the tip is included. The possibilities are endless really. Once you start outsourcing your life — you’ll find that you have much more time to do the things you really love!

wun2
Wun-Wun via The App Store $0.99

Four Ways to Refresh Your Closet For Fall

Clothes rack

Clothes rack (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

To me, fall means leaves changing color, pumpkin-flavored everything (including M&Ms, they’re new!) and that exciting moment when it’s finally cool enough to wear my favorite blazer. If you’re like me and you have limited closet space (thanks NYC,) reincorporating those fall sweaters into my wardrobe means cleaning out my summer clothes to make extra room.

After you’ve regained some precious closet real estate, take advantage of the time it takes to put away all your fall clothes and try a modern technique to be more efficient with your time and closet space. Check out this list of tips and tricks that you can try when reorganizing your closet for fall. Who said productivity couldn’t have style?

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How to get “Unstuck”

You know when you have a really difficult decision to make or a project to start and you just can’t seem to get it? Procrastination can be a debilitating thing and leave you stuck for too long. I recently got turned on to a life-changing (and free!) app called “Unstuck.” This amazing iPad app is like having a life coach in the palm of your hand! It can help:

  • set goals and make plans
  • make decisions
  • get help overcoming obstacles
  • deal with major changes
  • find motivation Read more