Archive for May, 2010

Over the past few weeks, I think I have been living at my computer for way too many hours each day.  This has caused me to develop kinks, knots and pains where I usually don’t have them.  Have you experienced carpal tunnel issues or pain from hunching over the computer keyboard?

I think my knots and shoulder/back discomforts have been building over time.  I have not been willing to do anything about it though, until it got bad enough that it affected my work and productivity.  I’m now paying more money to restore myself back to my previous health than I would have paid in preventative time and money. I’m really kicking myself for letting it go so long.  There is a saying that talks about how people spend their health trying to get wealth and then gladly spend all of their wealth trying to get back their health. What I needed to do all along was to just take more breaks to get up and get moving.

I think that many of us do that with our skills on the job. We allow the technology to pass us by without seeking training or taking time to learn the new software skills until it starts to affect our work or productivity.  We make sure that we get the job done, even if we have to do it the long way because we don’t know the software well enough to work efficiently. We pay in terms of late nights and frustration, when all we needed to do was to take a few breaks to get some training and learn the technology.

If a corporation is allowing their employees to work like this, they are doing them a disservice. How much better and happier would employees be if they had updated technology skills to get their jobs done faster?  Wouldn’t it be great if customers were served more efficiently and clients had their needs met with fewer technology barriers?

I know it is hard to think about how you can take a break to get training, but if you think about the long-term, it is well worth it! Get up and get moving into new technology skills!

I have a confession to make.  I used to be VERY organized. I kept up with most everything and rarely missed sending a card for birthdays, anniversaries, etc.  Even my computer pictures and files were all easy to locate.  Now, a three-foot, cute little boy has knocked me off of my organization pedestal. He’s worth every gray hair I’m getting, though! 

Have you ever said to yourself, “Where did I put that file?  I know I saved it right where I could find it?”  I have said that to myself more that I’d like to admit over the last year and a half.  I now spend time with my son instead of spending the extra time getting organized each day. 

Over the past couple of months, I have gone over some of my hints and tips for file management.  Thankfully, those are helping.  I’m spending about 10 minutes a day and am keeping up with the important items on my computer. 

Do you know and practice file management techniques? If not, it might be time to invest a few hours with a trainer to go over some keyboard shortcuts and file management tips to help you get the ball rolling to get organized.

If your position/job is like mine, I open, save, file away, and archive many files daily.  I also process emails, too.  Why not have us develop a custom class with Outlook and file management tips all rolled into one session.  What kind of a value can you put on being able to look and find your files or emails exactly where they belong? 

Think about how much time you spend locating files and emails each day and then give us a call to set up a custom session.