5 Ways to Stop Wasting Time with Email

Being part of the world as we know it sometimes forces one into certain habits.  Our grandfathers would be ashamed, our great-grandfathers would wonder, “wtf is email?”  And yet, many of us - including myself - allow ourselves to be sucked into the trap of email UNproductivity.

I’d like to cover 5 methods I’m using successfully to stop wasting so much valuable time dealing with emails.  There’s bound to be at least one that will help you become more productive.

1.) Unsubscribing from Newsletters and Lists
This could be a topic all it’s own - on top of that, I could go off on a rant about how I seem to always get an email stating how I’ve successfully been unsubscribed, when I swear I just clicked a box saying stop sending me emails.  Ugh.

Most of us who are interested in a wide variety of topics across the web typically end up on dozens of email lists at some point.  Some of these are from newsletters we initially wanted information from, some of them are from purchases we’ve made, or social networking sites we joined — but in my case, almost 90% of what comes in from these email lists is total junk to me.

My tip:  Take a week or two to simply open up all these emails as soon as you see them, click unsubscribe, and be done with it.  Most emails are simple to unsubscribe from, and if they’re not, they’re probably illegal emails.  I think you’ll be surprised at how much your inbox clears up from Read more

Starting a Gratitude Journal

What exactly is a gratitude journal? A gratitude journal is a journal that you are only allowed to write positive thoughts into. If you can, everyday, write in your gratitude journal at least five things that you are grateful for that day, and usually before bedtime, so you can go to sleep thinking positive thoughts about the day that has just passed.

The things you could be grateful could range from the courteous service at the car wash, the help of a friend, to the love of a family member, to the hand of god rocking you gently, anything counts really. Of course, writing in your gratitude journal is much easier after you have had a great day. If you have had a bad day, you still have to write five things down that you are grateful for. It’ll be a lot tougher, but you still have to find some and write them down. Read more

5 Minutes Daily for Stress Management

I have a million favorite expressions when it comes to being stressed out, but I wouldn’t bother naming all of them. When it comes down to it, I think it comes down to how we work - or even relax for, that matter - that triggers stress. Ever been stressed even when you’re well relaxed and bored? I know I have.

Since errors are unavoidable in life, it is important to find ways to decrease and prevent stressful incidents and decrease negative reactions to stress. Here are some of the things that can be done simply - since life is basically a routine to follow like brushing your teeth or eating breakfast. You can do a few of them in a longer span of time, but as they say– every minute counts.
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Ten Steps to a More Managed Life

Learning to successfully plan your time and follow the plan is the most important key to structuring our life. But many people resist the idea of tracking their time. Maybe it seems like just “another thing to do” in an already harried schedule. I urge people who feel this way to try this system for one month. I tell them that if it doesn’t work, pitch it. Most people I have worked with are willing to make the one-month commitment, and over 90 percent continue to use the system.

Let’s get started with your own system to take control of your life and your time. As you glance through this section, you might be tempted to skip a step or two. I caution you that this is like a recipe. Skipping one step is the equivalent of leaving out an ingredient. For maximum success use all the ingredients.

Step One: Take stock of how you currently use your time. Perhaps the most tedious of all the steps is to figure out exactly where your time is currently going. The balance wheel provided an overview of where you are. If possible, try to get even more specific. Many time management experts suggest carrying a Read more

What Is Your Time Worth?

Growing businesses are finding outsourcing is becoming a regular necessity to keep up with increasing demands. Over the past few years, a new resource has emerged and is gaining momentum as the word spreads; that is, the services of a Virtual Assistant (VA)

With the advances of technology, it is becoming easier for businesses to outsource some of their administrative tasks, without the need of having a person in house. No need to provide a desk and computer. A VA is able to provide administrative support to businesses all over the world. Distance is never an issue. VA’s communicate with their clients by email, telephone, fax, instant messenger or file transfer.

So what is a Virtual Assistant? Since 1996, more than 5,000 professionals around the world have become Virtual Assistants. A Virtual Assistant is an independent business owner who works from their Read more