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: 11% [?]

No, Jott’s not just any random number to be calling, Jott is the number to call for basically hands free emails, texting, sending yourself reminders, creating lists, and making the appointment to get the doggy groomed, that one I seem to always forget about.

I can honestly see your puzzled look. Jott acts as a voice recorder for you. You dial the Jott number, tell Jott what you want to do - reminder, email, etc, and your voice message is then converted to a written message and sent how you requested. Viola! Office on the go. But not just an office; Jott includes all corners of your life, family too!

Exactly the right tool for the tons of busy people running around which is everyone. Jott is your personal assistant to help take the message right now.

If you are like me, sometimes you might not always have a piece of paper and a pen handy, with Jott there is no need for me to have it handy. Now with kids I do always have the cell phone, so I could call up Jott and leave myself a note about something specific that I saw, or just as a way to remind me to get TP on the way home.

It is a reassurance to some to be able to have an on-the-go-office just in case the paper and pen get lost. Check out Jott and see if the service is right for you.

Popularity: 25% [?]

Poor personal and professional scheduling is something many of us have issues with. When is the sales meeting at work? When does Caitlyn have her soccer practice? What time is my hair appointment? We have all suffered from the forget syndrome that lurks within the deep reaches of our brain, but thankfully there are a select few out in the world that have recognized scheduling issues within their own daily lives and struck out to create the ultimate one-size-fits-all planner.

Enter: The BusyBodyBook and Joan Goldner.

Seeing her own need to blend her entire life - work and family - Joan Goldner created a simple weekly grid form that allows for a column for every member of the family, with clear side by side and coordinating access to what everyone is doing at one time. There are no scheduling conflicts, no flipping back and forth, and all of the appointments are in one easy to remember location for the entire family.

The BusyBodyBook is made by a mom, but not just for moms. The planner will fit any lifestyle from parents that - stay at home, work at home, work in a corporate office, or even the professional without children just wanting the best tool for organizing time.  

 The BusyBodyBook Format

You can purchase the BusyBodyBook planner in either a spiral bound book or a refrigerator pad. You have two choices with the spiral bound, either the calendar year or the academic school year.  

The spiral bound gives you a page to create your to-do list and any notes that need to be taken, as well as 5 roomy columns to keep track of daily events. Uses for the spiral bound planner don’t just stop at family scheduling. The planner can also be used for school, life goals, business projects, and even an exercise log. The ideas are limitless.

The fridge pad is a great option for larger families which gives you 2 more columns, for a total of 7 columns to schedule your day and still gives you the added to-do list to keep you on track. This option would also be a great tool for the office as a group calendar to hang within your pods, either as a schedule tracker for members of the team, or a project tracker.

Joan was right on track when creating The BusyBodyBook. There are just so many features that make it the attractive fit within your life - ease of use, plenty of space, complete scheduler, organizer, tracker - I am surprised not everyone has one already!

Order your BusyBodyBook here.

Popularity: 19% [?]