Tips & Tricks Busy Professionals Can Use to Simplify Their Lives

Compliments of Ribary & Associates, LLC

www.tiaribary.com

October 2008

SIMPLE WAYS TO "CREATE" MORE TIME. WORK SMARTER DURING THE DAY AND HAVE MORE TIME TO ENJOY YOUR LIFE!

Fall often marks the start of the busy season. School and activities are back in session, holidays are approaching, and schedules are filling up fast. While outdoor temperatures drop, people move inside and get down to business. How can you do more with the time you have? Below are strategies you can easily implement to "add" precious minutes to your day. Work smarter and you'll have more time to play at the end of your work day!

• Use your high productivity time to accomplish the must-do’s for the day. My new favorite line is “do first things first.” I repeat that to myself when I find I am getting distracted from what I really need to be working on. When is your brain most alive? Use this time wisely and you'll accomplish more.
   

• Schedule like-minded activities together.  Take the time to plan the order you perform your tasks. This can lead to higher productivity, take the guesswork out of what you should be doing next, and can save you time and gas when it comes to running errands.
   

• Use your calendar and task list to prioritize your days so you stay focused on your highest priorities. It’s easy to get sidetracked by day to day activities and interruptions. However, if you’ve got your schedule and tasks laid out, it’s much easier to reel your attention back in where it’s most needed.
   

• Limit distractions such as your email and phone to times when you won’t need to concentrate. Every time your mind must switch gears, you are wasting precious minutes.
   

• Give yourself a break. Believe it or not, allowing yourself to take a break will increase your productivity (assuming you make it back to continue your work). Do more with the minutes you have by making sure your mind and body are refreshed. Something as easy as a brisk walk, or a 10 minute cat nap can do wonders. If you find yourself working in circles or doing mundane, non-productive tasks, that is a good indication that you need a short break.
   

• Ask for and accept help! None of us can survive in a vacuum, and we certainly cannot create a successful, fulfilling business without a little help now and then. Think about those in your family and network willing to help you. Make the space within yourself to accept that help graciously. You’ll be doing them and yourself a great favor. It feels good to help others! Let those willing to be in service be of service to you.

I am excited to share that I am part of the Expert Sellers Panel for the Women Entrepreneurs of Oregon October meeting. In this changing market buyers are thinking twice about how they spend their precious funds. How can you be sure your sales remain constant or even improve in this market? Attend the October WEO meeting and learn how I, and other successful business owners, are ensuring business success. I'd love to see you there. For more information click here.

Wishing you endless success,

upcoming events and information

EWomen Network: Accelerated Networking Luncheon. Turn Your Passion Into Profit: Package Your Talent, Leverage Your Time, and Get the Clients You Want.  Presented by Kathie Nelson of Connectworks. October 8th 10:00am. Click here to register.

BNI is offering a business education training seminar on October 8th at 7am. Click here for details.

Women Entrepreneurs of Oregon: Crunch Time Selling: Savvy Seller's Share Secrets. Please join Tia on October 14th at 5:45pm. Location is Kell's Irish Restaurant & Pub. Click here for more information.

Are you tired of starting from zero every month, wondering when your business will reach real momentum? Consider the Path To Profitability Retreat with Heart of Business. October 17th - 21st. They teach great stuff! Click here for details.

Money Wi$e Women Conference: November 1st from 9:00am to 5:00pm at Portland Community College - Rock Creek Campus. This is an all-day conference that features 3 keynote speakers and 12 breakout sessions taught by professional experts on investing, retirement, insurance, mortgages, estate planning, goal setting, organizing your financial records, credit reports, and more. Click here for more information.

Looking for a little help organizing your home or life? Restoring Order is offering 5% off your project!  Click here for your coupon.

And finally, if you're tired of working late trying to get everything done that must be done to run a successful business, Ribary & Associates is here to help! We offer office organization, efficiency consultations, office management and more. Contact us for more information.