Disciplining Yourself if You Work From Home
Tuesday
Aug 26, 2008

Normally you would hear people sounding off that working from home is better than the office setting. Perhaps there is some sense to it but one thing that should be observed here is that of discipline. At home, you can choose to work and not to. You don’t have to worry about bosses roaming around and checking on you or finding the right position to relax. In short, you get the best of both worlds when you work from home.
But while that may be a dream to most, do remember that it can also affect you as a person. Not all people see the reason as to why it is harder to work from home. It is indeed something desirable but would you be productive when you choose to work from home?
The real answer lies on the person wanting to work from home. Ordinarily people fail to look beyond what it means to work at home and the consequences that arise from it. It is something new, especially for the people who have been working in an office setting. There will be some adjustment phases and on whether you would succeed or go down with it is something that may need thorough consideration.
Two thirds of workers would prefer to work from home, feeling they would be happier and more productive if they did, a new study has revealed.
Despite this, the survey by Plantronics found that three quarters of employees are offered no flexibility on where they work from by their job, reports the Press Association.
Make the Most of Your Slack Time
Thursday
Aug 21, 2008
When you are at work, the usual 8 hour shift is normally not used up to the max. Actually, there are people in office who claim that 8 hours are not enough but if you observe them during the working hours, you may find them slacking off or taking their own sweet time to finish a day’s work.
One reason for this is that the mentality that one should work only on a limited basis depending on the ones stated in their job description and contract may be to blame. Not all people are enthusiastic to work more than what is expected of them. There are people who can work more than what is expected from them but choose not to since they will not be compensated for it anyway.
A logical choice perhaps but if you look at it, it is a wrong approach towards a business perspective. That is perhaps why most employees choose not to do more or impress management although there are some people who do it regardless of being rewarded or not. These are career-oriented people who want to prove something to themselves and of course gain that much longed for promotion.
So as a whole, there is a wide area of slack time in most jobs. It may not be generalized but certainly, not all people make use of the complete 8 hour shift. As long as they can be able finish their job, management cannot blame them for anything. Is that justifiable?
Work On Your Cognitive Skills
Tuesday
Aug 19, 2008
When you apply for a job or perhaps undergo an annual evaluation, chances are you will undergo a series of tests which include tests on your various abilities. They are called the aptitude test, something that is standard in most companies.
Of course, the initial goal is to rank high although it would be best to answer them openly and honestly. It is not an exam wherein anyone passes or fails. Rather, they are exams to determine your shortcoming as a person. For one, there is no such thing as a perfect person and surely there will be some areas in our personality that need to be improved.
Ordinarily, people tend to ignore this belief and answer these tests regardless if it affects them or not. In reality, the organization or group giving these tests have nothing to lose. But on the part of the person taking them, he is depriving himself of improving areas that can help in molding him both into a better individual and professional.
Deep inside though, a person would know which areas need to be improved. People do not want to be embarrassed and hence such improvements are limited to what a person can do on his own. That may be a challenge for him personally but it would be better to authenticate first which among these areas really need attention and improvement.
Exercise as form of Mental Aerobics
Thursday
Aug 7, 2008
Following a regular exercise routine is known to keep our bodies into shape. But today, it seems that exercise can also make us wiser. Most of these activities point towards the brain, an internal organ we rarely give attention when we are sweating it out. But look at the fact. We do certain repetition of an exercise, which needs the use of our brain. In essence we are using our intellect to stay fit as well.
Work related issues need proper decision-making. Often, we find ourselves bumming out for one reason or another. A lot of the people who experience this are more concerned of reporting for work to be paid. But as far as production is concerned, most could care less. There are many people who are already satisfied with where they are while the career stepping elite are finding ways to improve their standing and attain personal career goals.
A fit body can produce a sound mind. Memorization and building on logical choices can relatively be improved. You just have to find a way to fire up those brain cells to get the job done. With regular exercise, you are not only covering health issues of keeping fit but also making sure that your mind is functioning up to par with the proper mental exercises that many often forget.
Even when we are sitting or lying down, our bodies send our brains regular updates about how our limbs are positioned. When we, say, stand and begin walking, these electric messages need to be sent more often. (Knee is bent, straight, bent, straight …) Move fast enough and the electrical activity doesn’t have time to dissipate between each message. It begins building up in the brain and eventually triggers a release of chemicals called growth factors.
Growth factors are like manna for neurons. “They make neurons stronger, healthier and improve their ability to learn,” Cotman said. In the presence of growth factors, new neurons are born and old ones sprout, grow and form better connections with each other. Blood vessels blossom along side the neurons, giving them quick access to glucose and other nutrients. All this, in turn, improves our ability to think, learn and remember. As Cotman said, exercise “builds the pipes” for improved cognition.
Maintain a Clean Working Place
Tuesday
Jul 29, 2008

When we are at the office, cleanliness and keeping our workstations are perhaps a good thing to do. For one thing, they say a messy workplace characterizes the type of work and output an employee can do. In a sense it is true. Just imagine not being able to fix up your stuff in an orderly fashion. It shows someone who is not focused and relies heavily on cramming and can be tagged as always looking for reports and files only when the boss needs them.
It doesn’t take much to maintain an organized working place. Add to the fact that a clean working station lessens the distractions of papers and folders scattered here and there. While some claim that leaving them like that makes it easier for them to find relevant data once asked for, it still remains that anyone can improve on them if and when they want to.
It is not likewise true that such a setup can make it easier for them to find the things needed once asked. People only say that because they are used to it. Observe people who do it and time it. Thought they will find the files and folders, it takes them quite some time to do so. In short, they are pretty much disorganized.
Nothing beats being organized and knowing how to properly file your documents for easy location. People feel that with an organized setup, they will have trouble in finding stuff. But if they get used to the idea of working in a more organized workstation, productivity may go up a notch since outside that of projecting a systematic and organized image, being aware of what to pull out and where they are is certainly something that can be an advantage to the people who are aiming high in their profession.
If you want good advice, look at the people in higher positions. Rarely would you see their stuff in disarray and they make sure that all papers, documents and office paraphernalia are in place. The neater you go, the more organized and motivated you can be in the office.
