More Too Much to Do?

Here are some more ideas for getting more organised.

• Put everything you need to deal with (could be work, household or fun) in your in-tray. If there is no paperwork, write a note for it.
• Go through each item and bin or file anything that doesn't need action, delegate where possible and deal at once with anything that will take less than two minutes to do.
• Put everything else on an 'actions' list. Write time sensitive actions (those that have a deadline) in your diary.
• For jobs with multiple parts, set up a project folder and put one task from it on your 'actions' list. 
• Review the list daily.

From Getting Things Done by David Allen.

Stop putting things off

•  Instead of setting yourself unrealistic targets, aim to do no more than 30 minutes of work at a time.
• Schedule sleep, meals, leisure and appointments in your diary and don't feel guilty about enjoying that time. 
• Don't schedule in work - it just creates stress. Only add it in after you have completed it, so you can record what you have achieved.
• Set a reverse calendar. Think back from the goal (a party, a wedding, an ambition) and set deadlines to the present.

From The Now Habit by Neil Fiore

[Both in a feature on self help books in Good Housekeeping July 2013]

Digital File Extensions

We probably all recognise the most common file extensions (.doc, .ppt, jpeg, etc) but there are thousands of different extensions around.

Try using Wolfram | Alpha. Put in the extension, with the full stop, and it will tell you what the full name is, the type and supporting applications.

Alternatively point your browser to: http://pc.net/extensions/ or www.file-extensions.org/

Phil Bradley in CILIP's Information Update.

Too Much To Do?

Life can get very busy, so how do we cope? Here are a few ideas.

• Prioritise: Choose three jobs each day that you must get done. Anything else you achieve that day is a bonus.
• Concentrate on one thing at a time: Multi-tasking is a myth - you are actually flipping from one task to another. Each time you switch activities, you brain takes a moment to catch up - which slows you down.
• Control your email checking: Only check emails twice a day. Keep replies to five sentences.

From The Power of Less by Leo Babauta

Successful people cultivate useful habits, such as the following:

• Get up early - you'll feel less rushed and less likely to forget things.
• Keep your phone charged.
• Watch the news - but only once a day.
• Schedule appointments (e.g. haircuts, dental appointments) well in advance and note in your diary or on your phone.
• Keep receipts and minutes of meetings or lists.
• Service things before they break rather than fix them when they go wrong.

From The Edge by Michael Heppel (he calls successful people 'Edgers')

[Both from a feature on self help books in Good Housekeeping, July 2013] 

High Intensity Training

High Intensity Training is also referred to as HIT exercise. 

Short bursts of high intensity activity within a period of exercise can improve aerobic fitness, insulin sensitivity and muscle strength. 

HIT breaks down the stored glucose in muscles very rapidly, activating more than 70% of your muscle cells.

Just 3 minutes a week of 20 seconds or 30 seconds where you push your body to its limits is needed. Start with a warm up, then alternate 20 to 30 seconds of HIT with 30 seconds of gentle exercise for 3 minutes.

HIT exercise can be cycling (including using an exercise bike), swimming, running and skipping.

Sunscreen Allergy

Some people develop an allergy to the usual range of sunscreens. The sun filters in the products break down in bright sunlight, a process which can cause an itchy, eczema-like rash on some skins.

Kalme Day Defense uses plant based ingredients; in trials it was found to reduce redness and sensitivity by 70%.

(Source unkown, noted May 2011)