Comments on: Top 5 Time Wasters http://www.productivity501.com/top-5-time-wasters/91/ Pieces of the productivity puzzle. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:02:23 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Helen http://www.productivity501.com/top-5-time-wasters/91/comment-page-1/#comment-131034 Helen Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:57:37 +0000 http://x.xeric.net/productivity501/?p=91#comment-131034 This article is very useful for those who feel that the time is not in their advantage. What is to do then? Well i guess that we can call it "time management". Those 5 time eaters are the most frequent ones and also important. In my case, for example, Internet browsing is the first thing on the list, because i sped a lot of time in front of the computer and at some point, i realized that i really need a plan to follow each day, so that my time spent on the Internet to be useful. This article is very useful for those who feel that the time is not in their advantage. What is to do then? Well i guess that we can call it “time management”. Those 5 time eaters are the most frequent ones and also important. In my case, for example, Internet browsing is the first thing on the list, because i sped a lot of time in front of the computer and at some point, i realized that i really need a plan to follow each day, so that my time spent on the Internet to be useful.

]]> By: Dianne http://www.productivity501.com/top-5-time-wasters/91/comment-page-1/#comment-130820 Dianne Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:22:02 +0000 http://x.xeric.net/productivity501/?p=91#comment-130820 Our recordable decoder has saved thousands of hours. Now we only watch the best programs instead of watching all kinds of rubbish waiting for the few good programs to come around. Further to Stephanie's comment - the worst is CSI Miami! I fast forward through the scenery (with its annoyingly fake color filters), Horatio standing around with hands on hips (always shot from the ground so that he looks taller than 4'2"), people walking through corridors, and searches for fingerprints and DNA (which are just a joke). You can easily get the program over in 15 minutes and not miss a thing! Our recordable decoder has saved thousands of hours. Now we only watch the best programs instead of watching all kinds of rubbish waiting for the few good programs to come around.

Further to Stephanie’s comment – the worst is CSI Miami! I fast forward through the scenery (with its annoyingly fake color filters), Horatio standing around with hands on hips (always shot from the ground so that he looks taller than 4′2″), people walking through corridors, and searches for fingerprints and DNA (which are just a joke). You can easily get the program over in 15 minutes and not miss a thing!

]]> By: Angela Esnouf http://www.productivity501.com/top-5-time-wasters/91/comment-page-1/#comment-130541 Angela Esnouf Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:39:35 +0000 http://x.xeric.net/productivity501/?p=91#comment-130541 I have to agree with all 5 of these. The commute is something most people don't consider changing, they seem to accept it as a necessary evil. I have to agree with all 5 of these. The commute is something most people don’t consider changing, they seem to accept it as a necessary evil.

]]> By: Mark Shead http://www.productivity501.com/top-5-time-wasters/91/comment-page-1/#comment-130526 Mark Shead Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:42:38 +0000 http://x.xeric.net/productivity501/?p=91#comment-130526 I once bought my brother a very nice illustrated dictionary. He loved it--at first. Then he hated it. Whenever he tried to look something up, he would get so distracted with other stuff that he forgot the word he was originally looking for. That is exactly what happens with the Internet. :) I once bought my brother a very nice illustrated dictionary. He loved it–at first. Then he hated it. Whenever he tried to look something up, he would get so distracted with other stuff that he forgot the word he was originally looking for. That is exactly what happens with the Internet. :)

]]> By: Frank http://www.productivity501.com/top-5-time-wasters/91/comment-page-1/#comment-130523 Frank Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:39:37 +0000 http://x.xeric.net/productivity501/?p=91#comment-130523 Thanks for sharing your management to top 5 time wasters. I like them all, especially Internet browsing. I find I wasted a lot of my time on it; For example, mostly I just wanted to search a piece of information or news, but hundreds and thousands of information came out, then I was attracted by other more interesting information. Several hours later, I even forgot what I was trying to find at the beginning. Setting a timer will be really a good way to help, I think. Thanks for sharing your management to top 5 time wasters. I like them all, especially Internet browsing. I find I wasted a lot of my time on it; For example, mostly I just wanted to search a piece of information or news, but hundreds and thousands of information came out, then I was attracted by other more interesting information. Several hours later, I even forgot what I was trying to find at the beginning. Setting a timer will be really a good way to help, I think.

]]> By: Stephanie Calahan (@StephCalahan) http://www.productivity501.com/top-5-time-wasters/91/comment-page-1/#comment-130510 Stephanie Calahan (@StephCalahan) Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:07:30 +0000 http://x.xeric.net/productivity501/?p=91#comment-130510 LOL! Yup. It all depends on the show and the number of ads that are sold into the slot of course. Last October I was asked to be on the strategy builder production team for Extreme Maker: Home Edition. I was amazed in our briefing meetings when they told us that they would shoot over 600 hours of footage and break it down to 28 minutes of actual show. LOL! Yup. It all depends on the show and the number of ads that are sold into the slot of course. Last October I was asked to be on the strategy builder production team for Extreme Maker: Home Edition. I was amazed in our briefing meetings when they told us that they would shoot over 600 hours of footage and break it down to 28 minutes of actual show.

]]> By: Mark Shead http://www.productivity501.com/top-5-time-wasters/91/comment-page-1/#comment-130505 Mark Shead Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:43:25 +0000 http://x.xeric.net/productivity501/?p=91#comment-130505 A 60 minute show is only 20 minutes long? No wonder I don't enjoy watching TV! A 60 minute show is only 20 minutes long? No wonder I don’t enjoy watching TV!

]]> By: Stephanie Calahan (@StephCalahan) http://www.productivity501.com/top-5-time-wasters/91/comment-page-1/#comment-130501 Stephanie Calahan (@StephCalahan) Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:22:02 +0000 http://x.xeric.net/productivity501/?p=91#comment-130501 Love the list. Here is how I manage some of them: Television – We DVR almost everything. Easy to take an hour long show and shrink it down to 20 minutes by fast forwarding through commercials! Commute – I use this time in a number of ways (mind you I am not in an area with heavy traffic most of the time. If I was, some of these would be eliminated) I use quiet driving time as great strategy time. I am always working on new product or service ideas. My phone has a recording function, so I record my thoughts and then review them later. The focus time is precious for me. I also do what you suggest by listening to recorded teleseminars and catching up with family. I used to use this time to talk to clients or prospects, but found it to be inefficient for me because I could not take good notes. Internet Browsing/Twitter Time -- I set a timer for how long I want to spend on the net in general or Twitter. By setting the timer, I am making a commitment to myself to not get distracted. In fact, I frequently finish up right before the alarm goes off! Being Tired - So True! For years I was taught to "push through" my tired feelings. I have learned that is one of the worst pieces of advice I have ever received. When tired, rest. You will get MUCH more done when you are rested and focused and your end results will be much better too. Lack of Skill – Unless it is an area of your business that you must know, find someone with the skill to do it for you. Don’t know how to delegate out work? I found a great free resource here from one of my Twitter friends: http://bit.ly/VAStrat To your success! Stephanie Productive & Organized - We'll help you find your way! (TM) Love the list. Here is how I manage some of them:

Television – We DVR almost everything. Easy to take an hour long show and shrink it down to 20 minutes by fast forwarding through commercials!

Commute – I use this time in a number of ways (mind you I am not in an area with heavy traffic most of the time. If I was, some of these would be eliminated) I use quiet driving time as great strategy time. I am always working on new product or service ideas. My phone has a recording function, so I record my thoughts and then review them later. The focus time is precious for me. I also do what you suggest by listening to recorded teleseminars and catching up with family. I used to use this time to talk to clients or prospects, but found it to be inefficient for me because I could not take good notes.

Internet Browsing/Twitter Time — I set a timer for how long I want to spend on the net in general or Twitter. By setting the timer, I am making a commitment to myself to not get distracted. In fact, I frequently finish up right before the alarm goes off!

Being Tired – So True! For years I was taught to “push through” my tired feelings. I have learned that is one of the worst pieces of advice I have ever received. When tired, rest. You will get MUCH more done when you are rested and focused and your end results will be much better too.

Lack of Skill – Unless it is an area of your business that you must know, find someone with the skill to do it for you. Don’t know how to delegate out work? I found a great free resource here from one of my Twitter friends: http://bit.ly/VAStrat

To your success!
Stephanie

Productive & Organized – We’ll help you find your way! (TM)

]]> By: Yodz Insigne http://www.productivity501.com/top-5-time-wasters/91/comment-page-1/#comment-125781 Yodz Insigne Mon, 10 Aug 2009 04:07:19 +0000 http://x.xeric.net/productivity501/?p=91#comment-125781 Wow, these are also my time wasters, especially doing things that I don't have enough knowledge or skill - definitely eats up my whole day. Thanks for the list. Great post. Wow, these are also my time wasters, especially doing things that I don’t have enough knowledge or skill – definitely eats up my whole day.
Thanks for the list.
Great post.

]]> By: Martin S. http://www.productivity501.com/top-5-time-wasters/91/comment-page-1/#comment-125752 Martin S. Sun, 09 Aug 2009 20:55:54 +0000 http://x.xeric.net/productivity501/?p=91#comment-125752 This is a #&$^# good list. More people should read this. Further info on these particular time wasters would be great for readers of this blog, I think! :) This is a #&$^# good list. More people should read this. Further info on these particular time wasters would be great for readers of this blog, I think! :)

]]> By: PJK http://www.productivity501.com/top-5-time-wasters/91/comment-page-1/#comment-7376 PJK Wed, 03 Oct 2007 05:11:07 +0000 http://x.xeric.net/productivity501/?p=91#comment-7376 Interesting article. I thought I'd share my personal solution for #1 and #3. At the beginning of each season, I look at all the new shows that are outlined in the TV Guide and decide which ones I'm going to watch. I have two (occasionally three) VCRs that I use to tape things and at least one that I designate for "watching" tapes. (The VCRs are in different rooms attached to different TVs). At the beginning of each week, I make sure the shows I want to record are new ones and I check to see if there's anything special or unusual that I also want to tape. A few years ago I created a table with time slots, so I just print out the taping schedule for the week and make sure all the VCRs are set. I've labeled my blank tapes (1, 2, 3, A, B, C, A1, A2, A3, etc.) so I just make a note in the box of what tape those particular shows are recorded on for the week. Now whenever I want to watch TV (which is usually only when I'm exercising, ironing, folding laundry, grading papers, etc.) I can go straight to a show I've taped and fast forward through all the commercials. Also, since I can rewind and pause, it's easier to multi-task without worrying about missing something important. As far as internet browsing, that's more of a problem for me, especially with cool sites like this one ;-) Seriously, though, I read one article, which points me to another one, etc. So to make sure I don't get "sucked" in, I set a timer for 15 minutes. When the time is up, I go back to being productive. I randomly treat myself to these 15 minute internet breaks throughout the day, and the timer helps keep me on track so that I don't lose all track of time. Interesting article. I thought I’d share my personal solution for #1 and #3. At the beginning of each season, I look at all the new shows that are outlined in the TV Guide and decide which ones I’m going to watch. I have two (occasionally three) VCRs that I use to tape things and at least one that I designate for “watching” tapes. (The VCRs are in different rooms attached to different TVs). At the beginning of each week, I make sure the shows I want to record are new ones and I check to see if there’s anything special or unusual that I also want to tape. A few years ago I created a table with time slots, so I just print out the taping schedule for the week and make sure all the VCRs are set. I’ve labeled my blank tapes (1, 2, 3, A, B, C, A1, A2, A3, etc.) so I just make a note in the box of what tape those particular shows are recorded on for the week. Now whenever I want to watch TV (which is usually only when I’m exercising, ironing, folding laundry, grading papers, etc.) I can go straight to a show I’ve taped and fast forward through all the commercials. Also, since I can rewind and pause, it’s easier to multi-task without worrying about missing something important.

As far as internet browsing, that’s more of a problem for me, especially with cool sites like this one ;-) Seriously, though, I read one article, which points me to another one, etc. So to make sure I don’t get “sucked” in, I set a timer for 15 minutes. When the time is up, I go back to being productive. I randomly treat myself to these 15 minute internet breaks throughout the day, and the timer helps keep me on track so that I don’t lose all track of time.

]]> By: waldo http://www.productivity501.com/top-5-time-wasters/91/comment-page-1/#comment-905 waldo Thu, 21 Jun 2007 12:56:21 +0000 http://x.xeric.net/productivity501/?p=91#comment-905 Here's an interesting experiment: what if you measured your top 5 time wasters during the day, not in an effort to minimize them, but just to see how much time you spend feeding the beast? You could do the same thing with the top 5 time savers. Here’s an interesting experiment: what if you measured your top 5 time wasters during the day, not in an effort to minimize them, but just to see how much time you spend feeding the beast? You could do the same thing with the top 5 time savers.

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