What are your best time management tips?

[Janiece Young]

What are your best time management tips?  I need all the help I can get.

[Cindy Clark]

The best time-management tip I can tell you about is to make it a goal to stop procrastinating!  More time is wasted thinking about what needs to be done, worrying about what needs to be done, planning what needs to be done, ad finitum.  If you think about something that needs to be done, but you are busy doing something else at that moment, quickly jot it down.  Then, either do it next or, if it needs a bigger time slot than you currently have, put it in your calendar for a specific time/date.  That way you can quit wasting time thinking about it because you know it is slotted to be done.

 

Another thing, don't forget that you need balance: play time, rest time, exercise time, meal time, friend time, spiritual time - whatever, and schedule those right in there with the work time.  It was suggested to me once that I designate a different color ink for personal time, work time, etc., and that way, at a glance, you can tell if your life is getting out of balance.

 

FWIW - Cindy

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

I just know I have a schedule that I always follow with work.  I don't really think about time management.   The only issue I really have is working out and actually working on the computer; always struggle and feel guilty if I want to take the time to go work out.  This is more during the week, though, not on the weekend.

There are over 85 reporters in the firm I work with, and I was told I have the quickest turn-around of my work than anyone; usually about three days.  I think that's because I don't have any children and hate having work on my desk, so I want it out of here as soon a possible.

Cindy's right, though, that you do need to take time for yourself.  On the weekends, I try not to work past 3:30 or so and the rest of the day is mine.

[Martha R]

As far as being a court reporter, the biggest time management tip is get a scopist!    

[Cindy Clark]

Darn it!  That's what I should have said!   LOL

[Martha R]

I met an attorney who works out on a stationary bicycle with a desk for a laptop on it.  She said she uses it all the time while she does paperwork or computer work.  Sounds interesting.

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

I would love to see what that looks like and how to set that up.  That's a great idea to be able to work out and work at the same time.  Wonderful idea!!

[Martha R]

http://www.amazon.com/FitDesk-Compact-healthy-computing-gaming/dp/B...

http://www.amazon.com/Trek-TD-01-TrekDesk-Treadmill-Desk/dp/B002IYR...

Scroll down.  This is interesting.  He made his own.  I think the Schwinns are good bikes

http://www.brainhandles.com/techno-thoughts/technology-life/recumbe...

[Martha R]

Here is another one you can add to your machine.  I don't know how you could do it on an elliptical but maybe a treadmill.

http://www.amazon.com/SurfShelf-Treadmill-Desk-Laptop-Holder/dp/B00...

http://www.airdesks.com/Laptop_Treadmill.asp

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

That is so cool.  I just showed my husband.  He said to get it.  Talk about "time management."

I wonder if that cheap Amazon recumbent bike would do the trick.

[Cindy Clark]

I showed it to my hubby, too!  I love it, and I must have one!  I love multitasking, don't you?  LOL!

[Rosalie DeLeonardis]

Biggest procrastinator here, especially when it's a dense depo, but 98.5 percent of the time I get my work in on time.

[Bill Parsons]

A best management tip for me was how to keep all the important papers and notes for several jobs separated wtihout the chance of misplacing and losing some of the important papers and notes.

I would buy jumbo size Hefty zip-lock bags to keep all the documents and notes for each separate job all together  to avoid misplacing and losing any important papers or notes.

Also at hearings I would make a folding chair into a table by placing my stenotype machine case and another bag on top of the folding chair.  Thus, I always would have a makeshift table next to me to place my seating chart and other job papers on.

Also I always use a Radio Shack amplifier on all jobs so I can hear soft voices or voices at the end of a table.  I have used as many as three Radio Shack amplifiers placed in different parts of huge rooms or auditoriums.

Bill

 

 

Bill