MAJOR TIME SAVERS TO INCREASE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY: Part I

1. Carry Work When Traveling


If you really want to stay in control of your workload or jump ahead, carry work materials when you’re on the move. This time saver is one of the most effective time management techniques you can possibly use. Before jumping, whenever you leave your home, office, ship, or football field to go anywhere, take a briefcase, bag, or backpack with work materials and laptop with you. Don’t leave without something (including your American Express card—ya never know what will pop up), but don’t take everything, especially any vertebrae-breaking, cartilage-tearing monster course textbooks or complete dissertations.

SAMPLE OF TASKS 
Today, as you travel to almost every destination, wait time will be involved. During that travel, you could complete the following 20 tasks:


• grade papers

• edit term papers or essays

• edit thesis chapters

• respond to e-mails from students and colleagues

• read articles for an article or chapter you’re writing

• write a section of an article or book chapter

• edit a manuscript

• write a review for a journal manuscript, grant proposal, or book chapter

• write a course lecture or student activities

• write an agenda for an upcoming meeting

• write the minutes from a past meeting

• write a letter of recommendation for a student or colleague

• write your letter of resignation

• write pink slips to whack your staff

• add a few items to your “to-do” list

• write a blood curdling murder mystery

• plan how you’re going to spend your federal stimulus check

• read The Chronicle of Higher Education for job options

• write a blog

• revise your profile on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn


You may have noticed that about 65% of those tasks require writing. That seems to be a significant component of our job description. Estimate your wait time to decide how much and what type of work to take. Depending on how you travel, your work opportunity will vary. Several travel options will be examined in the next blog.



COPYRIGHT © 2009 Ronald A. Berk, LLC & Coventry Press