The Office Gal

Several things lead me to becoming a more productive individual. Organizing my office, organizing my time, and finding useful tools to manage both my family and work, together. Sure, these were quick things that I could do now to help with productivity, but in the long run, how do I make the change effective and a continuing habit?

I stumbled upon an article among the blogosphere, Become More Productive Through 7-Day Challenges, published on TheRatingBlog.com. Alan is right on the mark when he discusses the difference between a 30-day challenge and the article series he will soon launch on the 7-day challenge. For me, 30 days is too long and I become bored with not seeing the immediate results. A 7-day challenge will let me know right away if it is a plan I can stick with or not. Why waste 30 days to know within 7?

Alan’s series will last over 3 weeks and within each week, he will present 9 challenges for you to accomplish over the next 7-day period. Sound like something you can do? Well, I am willing to try to experience a better level of productivity. Take a stroll over to Alan Johnson’s The Rating Blog and review the 7-day challenge. Take a walk on the productivity side!

Once you begin your 7-day challenge, come back to The Office Gal and let us know how it is going!

Popularity: 6% [?]

Stylish doesn’t mean the running out and purchasing the most expensive (ugly) furniture from a store that can’t be pronounced. Stylish can be quaint, fun, decorative, and… vintage? Yes, vintage is good. It can bring character and charm to an otherwise boring 3 foot x 3 foot cell.

Among those quaint little nooks on the WWW, I found a little spot from the east coast that offers perfect, forgotten little treasures that are sure to spark the right atmosphere within a drab office. Hey! Wake up your spot with ambiance from another time or culture. Begin to create your story with a forgotten piece that you can bring to life.

From a mixture of wood and ceramic creating a beautiful simple, single flower holder, to a vintage tea set that would be charming for the perfect mid-day break, there is not any possible way for you to walk away from Three Potato Four and one) not fall in love with the simplicity; and two) not have purchased something, or many somethings while visiting.

And yes, you did read that correctly, Three Potato Four is the name of the quaint Virginia on-line store and again the name alone seems just right. Perfect in every way for you to find the right piece to spark the atmosphere and character of your office. Time to tell your own story. Stop by and find the right fit for you.

Popularity: 27% [?]

Being a fairly simple, one-person team when it comes to writing, I need to really focus on how to keep my productivity up when reviewing future topics; I tend to wander around the web, looking for nothing in particular. That is my first reason to look into a time management tool. My second reason; keeping track of the sites and blogs I should be on to make sure that I am using my time productively while I am visiting.

As I am opening up my newsletter from Business Week, I stumble onto an article, You Don’t Have to Ditch the Day Job by Tony Wright. Although this particular article has nothing to do with this post, the author - Tony Wright - does; particularly his on-line startup, RescueTime. A new time management tool that looks into how I use my time on-line, RescueTime is exactly what I need it to be; my babysitter of both time and the web to help me manage my time to be more productive.

Now of course I love that it is a free download. No reason to not try it, right? Once the tool is downloaded, RescueTime feeds to the on-line ‘dashboard’ and shows me: each site I have visited and the amount of time spent at each (in easy to use time allotments). I can view by day, week, month, or year, and even have the ability to tag sites so that I can view productivity in a clearer format.

Yes, I downloaded it. Yes, I am still processing. Yes, I am happy so far. I have really been able to look at the sites I visit and narrow down their use into my grand scheme and see how to take that time and split it up. I also know when I am most productive and can better fill that time actually utilizing the web best to get my blogs out there.

For the loaner like me, this application is a great tool and will keep me on track, but don’t you managers out there fret. RescueTime Business is on the way. Very much the same tool as the one-man team, with the business application, managers will be able to track employees time and where it is spent. Can be a useful tool for the employee that seems to never get anything done.

Popularity: 11% [?]

It doesn’t look it from standing in the door way, but your office could be dirty sick and could make you sick right along with it. Germs are everywhere, we all know this. There is no way to avoid them, but we can do out best to reduce them and try to keep ourselves a bit healthier in the meantime.

According to a germ study conducted in 2001 by Charles Gerba of the University of Arizona, the top five spots most contaminated with germs in an office setting are: phones, desktops, water fountain handles, microwave door handles and keyboards. Gross! The most touched items within your office are also the most germ-ridden items.

Don’t freak out. These are items that are easily overlooked in an office. Even in larger office settings where a cleaning team is already in place, these items may still only be cleaned once per week. Take it upon yourself to keep a healthy office.

Always keep antibacterial wipes available. Use these wipe to clean your desk top, telephone, and keyboard. This will help you to contact on spreading germs, especially if you have come down with a cold. You can avoid spreading those germs back to you, or anyone else for that matter. I suggest as you leave your office for the day, pull out a wipe and wipe away. One a weekly basis wipe down chair and desk handles - things you touch once in a while, but still carry germs.

Use hand sanitizer. Is someone sick in your office? Do you think you are coming down with something? After touching door knobs, or someone else’s keyboard or phone, use the sanitizer.

Wash your hands, especially after using the bathroom and before you eat. Remember, your hands have touched your keyboard and phone most likely prior to eating. Wash your hands.

Wash drinking glasses, mugs, and utensils. Don’t leave these items in the sink for someone else to take care of them. They are your items, you wash them, that way you know they are clean.

Vacuum your area. If your office has cleaners that vacuum nightly or weekly, you may not feel the need to do this. If you work in a small office that cleans themselves or has a cleaner monthly, Vacuum at least twice a week. Food has fallen on the floor, dust settles, plus who knows what has been tracked in, vacuum.

Smart point: if you work in a cubicle with those lovely fabric walls, vacuum those as well. People never think about the dust and germs that settle on the cubicle wall. Just like carpeting, cubicle walls attract it all too.

Get some office plants. Seems silly to write this after everything else, but plants will help clean your air and can also just liven up your office space.

And last but not least if you are sick, stay home. I know, easier said then done, right? I have been known to be bad on this point. Realize that if your are sick, going into a not-so-healthy environment will not make you better and will only make others sick.

Are there any points you would like to add on how you make your office a bit healthier to work in? Leave a comment and let us know.

Popularity: 43% [?]