5 Scientifically Proven Ways to Work Smarter, Not Harder

Working harder can be an easy habit to slip into, though. Sometimes it's hard to switch off at the end of the day or take time out on the weekend and stop thinking about work. Here are five ways to avoid that trap:

1. Take more breaks.

In one of my favourite books, Stephen Covey tells a story about a woodcutter whose saw gets more blunt as time passes and he continues cutting down trees. If the woodcutter were to stop sawing, sharpen his saw, and go back to cutting the tree with a sharp blade, he would actually save time and effort in the long run.

The analogy is an easy one to remember but harder to put into practice. Here's what Covey says about sharpening the saw in our lives:

Sharpen the Saw means preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have--you. It means having a balanced program for self-renewal in the four areas of your life: physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual.

Sharpening the saw is a great habit to get into in all areas of our lives, but I think it can be especially beneficial when it comes to work and helping us avoid burnout.

On average our brains are only able to remain focused for 90 minutes; then we need at least 15 minutes rest. (The phenomenon is based on ultradian rhythms.) By taking period breaks roughly every 90 minutes you allow your mind and body to renew--and be ready to fire off another 90-minute period of high activity.

For some people, 15 to 20 minute breaks might be tough to pull off, but taking short breaks throughout the day can still help you to refresh your mind and reset your attention span.

2. Take naps. 

Research shows naps lead to improvement in cognitive function, creative thinking, and memory performance. In particular, napping benefits the learning process by helping us take in and retain information better.

The improved learning process comes from naps actually helping our brain to solidify memories. According to Max Read, "Research indicates that when memory is first recorded in the brain--in the hippocampus, to be specific--it's still 'fragile' and easily forgotten, especially if the brain is asked to memorize more things. Napping, it seems, pushes memories to the neocortex, the brain's 'more permanent storage,' preventing them from being 'overwritten.'"

One study into memory found that participants did remarkably better on a test following a nap than those who didn't sleep at all.

Not only are naps beneficial for consolidating memories and helping us remember new information (handy if your job includes a lot of research during the day!), they're also useful in helping us to avoid burnout, since research shows burnout is a signal that says you can't take in more information in this part of your brain until you've had a chance to sleep.

3. Spend time in nature. Daniel Goleman, author of Focus: The Hidden Power of Excellence, suggests spending time in nature to help us reset our attention span and relax our minds.

One experiment he mentions tested how relaxed people were when taking a walk down a city street versus in a quiet park. The study found that the level of attention needed to navigate a busy city street is high enough that the walk doesn't let the brain relax enough to reset our focus levels:

Unlike natural environments, urban environments are filled with stimulation that captures attention dramatically and additionally requires directed attention (e.g., to avoid being hit by a car), making them less restorative.

Spending time in nature, however, allows your mind to fully relax and unwind and helps you focus longer when you return to work. Plus, other research has found that for students, motivation to learn is higher when they are outside instead of in a classroom.

4. Move and work in blocks.

I recently read a blog post by Joel Runyon about a method he calls "workstation popcorn"

The idea is that you set up at various cafés, workspaces, to get chunks of work done throughout the day. Workstation popcorn starts with a clear, thought out to-do list: you create a plan for what you will accomplish at each location so you can immediately jump into those tasks.

Joel breaks up his to-do list into sections--one per café that he plans to visit--and each section into three clear tasks. Once he gets through the group of tasks he has set, he moves on to the next café on his list.

Of course, you can sort out your task list however suits you best, but the important part to note is having a clear finishing point based on your task list rather than the time you will move to a new location. And when you move, cycling or walking is a good way to go, according to Joel:

Use this time to practice your Zen, take a break from your screen, and get some movement into your day. Keep your phone in your pocket, and move. Take a break away from work for at least thirty minutes.

Joel also noted in his post that he has been more productive, more active during the day, and is working fewer hours since he started this process.

5. Check your email first thing. 

This one is fairly counterintuitive; basically everyone says not to check email right away, but I do and find it extremely useful. Here are some ways checking email first helps me to be more productive during the day.

If you work in a remote team, a business trend that is increasingly more common, you'll know what it's like to have half of your team (or more) working while you're asleep. If you need to work closely with others, it's important to check in before you start your workday and make sure you're on the same page as everyone else.

Dealing with important issues first thing helps me make quick decisions about whether my day needs to be adjusted to fit in with what everyone else is doing or whether I can proceed with the tasks I already had planned.

What tips do you have for working smarter?

Source: http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/5-scientifically-proven-ways-to-work-smarter-not-harder-tues.html

I'm just too busy. How do I find more time?

I'm just too busy. How do I find more time?

"I feel like I'm always rushing, always stressed, and still don't have enough time for the things in life that are most important to me.”

“This stresses me out a lot. What can I do?"

Always rushing?  These time management tips can help you to set a new pace.

Many people find themselves too busy these days, which causes stress.  The reasons vary from person to person, but the following are some main ones why people find themselves too busy, along with time management and stress management ideas to help:

It's OK To Say No
Many people end up overscheduling themselves because they feel uncomfortable saying "no" when people ask things of them. This may be because they don't want to admit to themselves that they can't "do it all," or perhaps because they don't want to disappoint others.

Unfortunately, they ultimately disappoint themselves by not having enough time to do what's important to them. Does this apply to you? If so, learning to say no might be a good time management priority. 

Be Clear On Your Priorities
Others become overscheduled because they add activities to their schedules for the wrong reasons, and end up spending their days doing things that don't reflect their values and priorities. Then they find themselves struggling to fit in what's important to them. Necessities like adequate sleep and other healthy habits fall by the wayside. Is this you?

To find out, make a list of what's most important to you. List things like family, friends and career. Then look at how you spend your days. See how much time goes to these things. Is it a good match, or are you spending an inordinate amount of time doing things that aren't as important to you? It's never too late to make changes.

Map It Out
A common time management trap many people fall into is that they don't know where their time goes, or they overestimate the amount of time they have available and underestimate the amount of time each activity takes to complete, and become overcommitted.

How many times have you found yourself adding new activities to your schedule when you don't really know how you'll find the time to do them? If you remember several such instances, you may need to keep a careful schedule, writing down everything you do. Don't agree to new activities until you've found a way to pencil them in, overestimating the amount of time you think it will take to complete them.

Manage Money Wisely
It's become increasingly common for people to work more than they'd like because finances demand it. Many people are working longer hours and even more than one job. Do you find that you're working hard to pay the bills, and when you're not working, you're still worrying about money?

Do you know where your money goes? To get out from under debt and financial woes, you need a plan that involves spending less, saving, paying off debt, and possibly earning more (not by working more but by getting paid what you're worth).

Stay Organized
In addition to keeping an organized schedule, as mentioned above, it's important to maintain an organised home. Most people don't realize how much time and money are sucked up (not to mention stress created) by living in an environment where things are difficult to find and relaxation is a challenge.   
                                                                    
To Thine Own Self Be True
Knowing yourself well can also help you to avoid getting overwhelmed. How? For one thing, by knowing your limitations, you avoid taking on too much. For example, if you know you're not the best manager of people, you can avoid putting yourself in a position where you'll be asked to do management-type tasks, saving yourself stress and the extra time and energy it would take to learn to do this better.

Also, if you constantly put yourself in a position of taking on more than you can handle, take an honest look inward to help you figure out what's behind this. That way, you can stop.

Signs of Credit Card Debt Overload

With most things in life, identifying a problem gets you a lot closer to its solution. Credit card debt is no exception. The sooner you recognise that you have a problem, the sooner you should be able to implement some strategies to address it.

Due to the overwhelming convenience of credit cards, we often find ourselves almost addicted to using them daily without realising that we are digging ourselves further and further into debt.

You miss some of your set credit card payments

There are some clear signs to watch out for that will confirm what you may already suspect - your credit card debt is out of control, and it is time to pull the reins in on your credit spending.

You miss some of your set credit card payments.

Irregular repayment of due debts can be a clear sign of someone experiencing debt stress. Perhaps you find yourself making large lump sum repayments one month (when you have the cash to do so) while other months you skip a repayment completely.

Your credit card balance appears to be in arrears - with set interest not covered.

If you are having cash flow difficulties leaving some debts unpaid every other month, you are probably carrying too much debt and need to restructure your finances before you completely lose control and need to consider bankruptcy.

You are using your credit card for everyday essentials such as milk & bread

Unless you are one of these people who would like to squeeze every last drop in rewards and bonus points out of your credit card, you are unlikely to intentionally make everyday essential purchases on credit. While most of us will use the plastic when shopping in the supermarket, we generally use cash to buy a litre of milk at the local convenience store.

When you use credit cards to make a purchase, you do not generally feel the same loss of money as you do when you pay for your purchases in cash. The purchasing experience on plastic is seamless and does not feel as if you are spending money at all. It was purposefully designed to be so in order to pull those unaware more and more into debt.

Your credit card balance is increasing every month

If the balance of your credit cards is growing faster than your savings, you are on a way to debt disaster and must STOP.

Spending money today in anticipation that your next pay cheque will clear the debt is a dangerous approach. People who take this attitude find that they have no money this month to even cover the bare necessities because they have already spent this month's wages on last month's expenses.

You have no savings left - all income is applied to debt repayment

In the past everyone who was working was putting money aside for a rainy day. Most people had a savings account. However, the problem with using credit cards is that we borrow money from tomorrow to pay for something today. Consequently, many Australians have next to nothing in their savings and put every available dollar on credit card debt repayment.

If you find yourself without a savings account or a savings account that has been shrinking each and every month, it could be another sign of credit card stress taking over.

Cash withdrawal from credit card

We all understand that withdrawing cash from our credit card is very costly and is best avoided unless there is simply no choice. Anyone who is starting to use their credit card in place of a savings account is certainly heading fast towards a debt disaster.

The interest rates on cash advances are usually extraordinarily high and can, in their own right, cause severe credit card stress.

Cash advances on credit cards should always be your last resort. If you are finding that you need to supplement your income with weekly or monthly cash withdrawals from your card, you are in financial stress and need to take urgent action.

Source: Honey Loans.

How to Sniff Out the Right Career

Finding the right career path to follow and to excel in is never easy. Our preconceived misconceptions can get in the way more than any other opposition to success. The trick to finding your perfect career path is in finding out what hides behind a job title – what the actual duties are and evaluating yourself honestly to see if it would make you happy. Confucius said it best; “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” The following tips and questions are intended to help you determine the path that’s right for you.

What do YOU bring to the table?

The first step is to evaluate what makes you who you are. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, things they can handle and things that would make them go insane. This checklist of questions will start to provide the answer to the question of what kind of job would best suit you. Ask yourself what it is you are best at and what drives you most. Is it…

1. The need to help others accomplish their goals?
2. A passion for finding solutions to problems no one else can?
3. Curiosity about the impact various solutions have on the outcome of a project or the environment?
4. Making a work process easier, quicker or more efficient?
5. Sharing knowledge with others?
6. Finding a position that gives you a creative outlet?
7. Being creative?
8. A conviction for a product/method you want to convince others about?
9. Are you interested in pursuing a career while getting to know a different country/culture?

If your answer falls into any of the categories between 1 and 9 it’s definitely worth finding out which career would be the best fit for you in this sector, and what to aim for in improving your situation. You need a passion for what you are doing in order to shine at your job and be an important contributor.

What kind of work would fit you best?

If your answer was 1 and/or 5

You would probably be well fit for a training position. Sure you will have to learn the ropes first, but with this mindset you would be good at imparting motivational training, actively helping plan careers and offering educational options in a step by step scenario.

If your answer was 2 and/or 4

Finding solutions to problems usually implies that you are hands on and can visualize a process without problems. This would best place you in the production area of your company, where you can observe the processes and optimize them.

If you answered 3, 6 and/or 7

Ditching the company lifestyle for a trade where you can truly express yourself might be a good answer for you. What that trade will be lies in your talents to create.

On the other hand, you also might find yourself being an asset to the marketing department of a company. Not only do you have to be creative to market your product, but you have to know how it will impact your target market. It’s all about the when, where and how.

If your answer was 7 and/or 8

Sales would be the department lucky to have you. Being able to convince others of a product or method you believe in, is invaluable to any company. Creativity is needed to find the right approach for the target buyer. What is good for one buyer may not be for another, that’s why it’s important to be able to address buyers in a way that appeals to them.

If your answer was 9 in addition to any of the other combinations

Taking on a career in a foreign country will definitely make a positive impact on your resume. The question is where do you want to go and how do you go about it? The answer will lie in doing your homework. You can look into career passport site for help on every aspect of foreign careers. Ranging from finding a position to relocation advice and help, it’s a nice tool at your disposition. Living and working abroad is a sure way to broaden your horizons and realize your dreams.

What will you ask before starting your career with a new employer?

When you apply for a position that you are qualified for, make sure your employer meets your standards as well. Today, with the help of the internet you can get quite a bit of information before submitting your application.

·        If they have job descriptions posted for the position you would like, read them carefully and ask yourself if this is what you want to be doing over the next few years.

·        Read the company philosophy. Is it one you can share with them? It’s hard to work for a company if you resent their motives and objectives.

·        Do they promote from within? How much room is there to grow? If you work for a company that can’t offer the opportunities you are looking for, you are wasting time.

·        What are the benefits your new employer offers new hires? Are there special incentives such as income protection insurance or other benefits?

·        Does the company offer training programs to keep you up to date in your field? If not, are they willing to take on some of the cost that would be involved if you were to obtain the training elsewhere?

·        If you are from a different area or country, will the company help with relocation costs? Do you know anything about the area you are going to move to?  Will you be able to adapt to the new culture?

These questions are far too important to ignore. They will make the difference between a future career and a job. The key thing, in any decision that brings about change, is to know what you want and where you want it to lead you. You can’t build a house without a foundation and the same goes for the right career path -you can’t build a career on a position you aren’t happy with. Put your nose to the ground, start sniffing out the right one, and make a commitment to your future happiness.

Article submitted by Arlene Chandler, a freelance writer who enjoys discussing career and business-related subjects. When she’s not enjoying a good book out on her patio, she writes about leadership skills, job searching tips, and income protection plans from Suncorp. 

Money for Life Coaching does not recommend or endorse any financial product or service.  Please ensure that you seek your own independent financial advice before purchasing a financial product or service.

Maryjo - My Road to Financial Integrity

Everyone’s road to financial integrity is somewhat unique. Each person needs to decide for themselves where to start, what’s critical for them and where they can have the most impact. For me, the road I’m on started when I realized I didn’t want to work forever and if I wanted a different lifestyle I was going to have to set some goals and make some changes in my life. The first thing I did is track every penny I spent. This is a recommended step in most financial integrity programs, and although I thought it would be a real pain to do, I’ve found after a year that it’s actually very easy and quite enlightening!

The next step for me was to identify 3 questions I promised I would ask myself on a regular basis. The answers to these 3 questions have led me to a multitude of cost saving practices that are further helping me meet my financial goals. The questions are:

1.     How can I do this for less? Here is an example of how I applied this question. I don’t have a lot of extravagances but getting my hair cut and colored on a monthly basis is one of them. I routinely would spend upwards of $80 to accomplish this. I know I could go to a cheaper place or dye my own hair but neither of those options appealed to me. So on a visit to my hairdresser I told her of my dilemma – my desire to stay with her but my need to cut expenses. She suggested two ways I could cut my bill. First, since I live in a warm climate and generally have my hair appointments in the evening when all I do is go home and go to bed afterwards, she suggested I skip the blow drying which is an extra charge. Done. Then she suggested I get my hair trimmed only every other visit or as needed, further cutting my bill. Done. Now I routinely pay half to two-thirds what I used to pay and still have great hair!

2.     How can I reuse or recycle instead of buy new? I travel for business and always like to have water with me. I used to buy my water at the airport, spending $3.00 or more on each flight. Now I carry an empty water bottle with me, take it through security, and fill it at a water fountain before I board the plane. I’m not only saving money but being “green” too!

3.     Can I suggest a cheaper alternative? A lot of times I spent money just because I didn’t speak up. I used to go to restaurants with friends on a regular basis – expensive, and often so noisy it was hard to have a good conversation. Now my friends and I get together at each other’s homes, or better yet, we each pack a cooler with food and drink, grab some beach chairs, and meet on the shoreline to watch a sunset together. It’s relaxing, quiet and beautiful, and inspires great conversation. And everyone agrees it was a great idea!

Being more mindful of what I’m spending and thoughtful about the questions I ask has helped me on my road to financial integrity and freedom – retirement day is closer than I’d ever dreamed!

Teach Your Children - Colleen

Stories abound these days of people who are drowning in credit card debt and who are now paying the price for living beyond their means. When I read these stories, I feel grateful for my dad. Had these unfortunate people been raised by my dad, they would probably not be in such a predicament.

My dad taught me and my sisters from an early age what money is, its value, and how to manage it. Here are some of his main lessons:

Money is for many things, not just for spending

When I first received an allowance at about the age of seven, my dad gave me three empty jars, each with a label on it. One jar was labeled “spending,” another “savings,” and the third “church.” We were to allocate our allowance among these three jars in any way we wished. With these three jars at hand, it never occurred to me to put all of my allowance in the “spending” jar. Instead, I put a dime of my 25-cent allowance into the “spending” jar, another dime in the “savings” jar, and a nickel in the “church” jar for my offering the following Sunday. My dad taught us that money is not just for spending; it is for saving and sharing as well.

Keep track of your cash flow

A few years later, my dad came home with gifts for me and my sister. We each received a book, bound in faux-leather, with the word “cash” embossed in gold on the cover. The pages were filled with columns. My dad showed us how to record our “income” in one column and our “expenses” in another. He told us “income” is the money we receive, like our allowance or gifts from Popo and Gung Gung (my grandmother and grandfather) or money we earn from doing extra chores. “Expenses” are when we spend our money, and it is important to keep track of how much is spent and what it is spent on. He taught us to subtract the “expense” column from the “income” column so we would always know how much money we had. From my first entry in that cash book of 10 cents for a bag of chips to my current use of the slightly more sophisticated Quicken software, I have kept a watchful eye on my cash flow.

You can’t have everything you want, so make wise choices.

In high school, my sisters and I were given a budget at the beginning of each year for our school clothes. We had $300 to spend in any way we wanted. But my dad warned, once the money was gone, that was it. We were not to come crying to him for more money. I didn’t dare test this boundary. I was convinced that if I had blown that $300 on a few pairs of shoes and a handbag, there was no telling what humiliation I would have had to face -- indignities such as having to squeeze into last year’s clothes, or to wear my older sister’s hand-me-downs, or even to be seen in public only half dressed! Both of my sisters and I learned to sew because it was much cheaper to make clothes rather than to buy them in those days. I scored a small victory when one of the cool girls at school complimented me on the dress I was wearing and asked me where I had gotten it. I nearly burst that dress with pride when I told her that I had made it myself! My dad taught us that you can’t have everything you want. You have to make choices, and you had better choose wisely because once the money is gone, it’s gone.

These lessons were not easy for me to learn as a kid. I may have resented the restrictions and the discipline at the time. I would have liked to have had more stuff, the latest stuff, the best stuff. But any “pain” I felt back then would have been eclipsed by the pain of learning these lessons the hard way, and as an adult. Just recently, I told my dad how much I appreciated what he had taught me.

I urge you parents to teach your kids how to value and manage their money. They may not like it now, but you will be giving them a gift far more valuable than the latest videogame or designer clothes. You will be giving them the tools to lead a life of Financial Integrity.

Am I already at the peak of fulfillment?

My fiancé has a pet bird. This was almost a deal breaker on our second date because I thought keeping a bird locked in a cage was the height of animal cruelty. But I quickly learnt that Gabe sees his cage as his home. We always leave the door open, but he prefers to ‘stay in’ and play with his most beloved toy: a bell.

Knowing his love for bells, one weekend as I was preparing to leave (birds are great pets because they’re pretty self sufficient) I had the brilliant idea of putting both of his beloved bells in his cage at the same time. The idea being: twice the things - twice the fun. But quickly I realised this wouldn’t be the case. This is because Gabe can only play with one bell at a time and so the second bell would not bring him any greater happiness. Actually, the second bell, while perhaps a diversion from the first, would most likely just be in his way, taking up precious space in his cage. It was a revelation: twice the things not necessarily meaning twice the fun.

The reason it felt like an epiphany was because I’ve been reading about this concept in the finance book; Your Money or Your Life where they called it the ‘fulfilment curve’. They demonstrate this theory with a simple graph; an upside down U showing pleasure increasing with the attainment of goods and services (at a cost) and then the curve petering out after more and more money is spent on said goods and services. I had understood the concept, but I guess I wasn’t a believer. I couldn’t help thinking that another thing or experience would be great; an overseas trip, a new trinket for my house, another pair of shoes. I felt my fulfilment curve would be a never ending arrow to the sky if I could spend, spend, spend.

So seeing that Gabe had reached that elusive point of maximum fulfilment, the coveted ‘enough point’ in his life, I had to wonder why? How? And I found that the answer was to do with his lifestyle – i.e he lives in a cage. In his cage, no bell is boring, one bell is fun and two bells doesn’t leave much space to live. Could the same simple formula apply to my lifestyle? Doing the 100 Thing Challenge, where I reduced my clutter by limiting myself to 100 personal possessions, I discovered a small taste of what ‘enough fulfilment’ means. I discovered I had all these great hobbies collected over decades: painting, dancing, swimming, travelling, gardening, to name a few. But one of my lifestyle constraints: time, limited my enjoyment of all of these. Looking at my level of fulfilment I realised it was better to put my resources into pursuing only 1 or 2.

So while I originally thought that I’d never be the kind of person to find the peak of my fulfilment curve, my budgie showed me that all I need to do is look at fulfilment in context with my life. For me there is no point dreaming about travelling for a year as I continue to build my house ‘to settle down’. No point continuing my painting when I don’t really enjoy it. I think there is huge benefit to be gained from understanding and accepting the limitations in our lives, seeing the cage that we have and then making the most out of it. So while there is a big wide world out there with lots to buy and do, in my everyday lifestyle I’m really very happy with what I have. Perhaps I had reached my point of ‘enough’, of ultimate fulfilment, without noticing. Perhaps I have my bell, and now I also don’t need two.