Monday, April 09, 2012

Limit Computer Usage for Good Time Management

Intuitively, I know limiting computer usage is good for time management. I have even read about this often in my reading on time management. Some time management systems suggest only doing email at specific intervals.

Thursday I had a network glitch so had no computer for the first few hours. I was amazed at how organized my office is. I plowed through a pile of paper that needed dealing with. I got organized. I feel good for it.

So why don't I limit my computer use? Part of me prides myself in being crisp - fast to respond. Part of me likes to be "caught up" and having emails unread does not seem caught up. Part of me prides myself on handling volume.

But this short involuntary experiment has proven that limiting computer usage can actually be great time management.

So yesterday, again, I did not log in for half a day. Again - high productivity.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I have been enjoying gardening. Moving lots of dirt and mulch but now my back is sore. Perhaps I need to read about preventing back injuries.

Not even many weeds yet.

The weather is so crazy that I have planted lots of things like beets, beans, peas, spinach etc. Going to try to see if I can get 2 crops in a year. Normally, I would not plant for at least another month.

I am already enjoying sorrel, parsley, chives and asparagus. Nothing seems healthier to me than eating my own organic produce within minutes of harvest.

3 Comments:

At 2:02 AM, Anonymous Impreza Coilovers said...

Yes, so true. Computers can be distracting, and can really eat up a lot of time.

 
At 1:42 PM, Anonymous Ted @ Luck Shop said...

Only hesitation is time sensitive items need addressing as soon as they come in and if you are away from the computer you can miss things. Other than that, I agree that stepping away and taking care of things "off-line" does get things done!

 
At 2:57 PM, Anonymous Alex Revai said...

Looks like I missed this particular blog topic. Most likely I wasn't at my computer. :) Yet, the world didn't come to an end.

My email signature reads like this:
"Email doesn't follow me 24-7.
If you need to get hold of me urgently,please call: xxx-xxx-xxxx"
(That's my Cell number)

Instant emailing, messaging,BBM-ing, tweeting, facebooking, SMS-ing, whateverelse-ing IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE!

The only message you send to people, when responding to everything immediately, is that you don't have anything else to do.

Don't misunderstand: I'm not against being responsive, customer service oriented and, I'm not anti-social either.

I just want my priorities and hard commitments completed (by the deadline). It's all a matter of training and discipline. It's training yourself (and others!) that just because the electrons travel with the speed of light, we don't have to work at that speed.

 

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