SavvySugar

How-To: Step Up Your Game at Work

SavvySugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:09 -0800

Spinning your wheels at the office might earn you a paycheck, but it's unlikely to put you in line for a raise or give you much satisfaction. Fulfilling your responsibilities is good; trying harder can make you great. Step up your work game by putting in more effort in subtle ways that may just get you noticed.

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Do You Know Your Work Email and Productivity Facts?

SavvySugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:45:11 -0800

Love it or hate it, email has become the chief form of communication in the workplace. We apply for jobs via email, we send our reports via email, we communicate with clients, our bosses, our co-workers and even our nonwork pals throughout our busy workday via our special @ address. Have you ever stopped to think about how quickly you react to new messages, or how much time you're actually spending reading emails? Take this quiz and find out!
Photo courtesy of The CW

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TGIF: How to Improve Your Friday Habits

SavvySugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:00:29 -0800

If you've worked all week, you're probably beyond thrilled when Friday rolls around. You're just hours away from freedom, fun, and maybe even an end-of-the-week cocktail. But instead of slacking, use these tips to end the week on an upswing.

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Wednesday Check-In: You May Need a Midweek Makeover

SavvySugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:30:17 -0700

We've hit the midweek mark - and while that may not be cause for celebration for everyone, it's certainly reason enough to stop and evaluate your weekly progress. Are you on task to complete assignments in time for the weekend or have you spent all of your time prepping your Halloween costume and readying your apartment for a slew of trick-or-treaters? If this is the case, you may be in need of a midweek makeover?

Today, take a few minutes to check in with yourself - finances, office assignments, personal errands, and any obligations. Since we're headed into a busy Halloween weekend and then, the beginning of a new month, it's unlikely that you'll find the time to tie up any loose ends over the weekend. So, get going now.

Take a moment to look over expenses, and put any saving reminders and good-spending practices into place. As far as errands go, make sure you're making time for your personal tasks as well as office work, and remember to work smart - focusing your energy and time on the tasks you find most challenging first to avoid being burned out later.

To continue your midweek makeover, read more.

Since November is often a busy time with the holiday and family, try to get ahead now - get your November calendar out and mark important dates and deadlines. This way, while you're out enjoying the Halloween festivities, you can rest easy, knowing you've already planned ahead at home.

If all else fails, take the time midweek to give your attitude a makeover. If you're finding that you're stressed out by the impending holiday and your workload at the office, do just one thing for yourself - actively tune into what's going on, and disregard the tendency to tune it all out. Prioritize what must be done, and set an ultimate goal to remain positive throughout the week.

5 Little Tips to Help Kick-Start Your Work Week

SavvySugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:30:47 -0700

A case of the Mondays is unavoidable. We can't hit rewind and relive the relaxation of our weekends - but we can eliminate some of the stress with a few tricks to put into practice over the weekend and first thing Monday morning. Just take a look at how you can make the most of your Monday back at the office and kick off your week on the right foot.

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6 Suggestions For Increasing Your Daily Productivity

SavvySugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Perfecting productivity tactics and exerting extra effort are key to making yourself an indispensable team member, but it's often easier said then done. Some days the checklist is too long to make a dent. Others, it's impossible to focus on work at all. It's acceptable for employees to check personal email or have some "me time" at most jobs, so long as you make up for it with increased effort elsewhere. Check out these tips and guides to increasing your personal and professional effectiveness and output.

5 Ways to Be More Productive at Work	9 Ways to Save Time and Be More Productive	15 Ways to Establish a Better Work-Life Balance
The Working Bride's Guide to Wedding Planning	How-To: Organize Your Workday	How Much Time Do You Spend Not Working?

15 Tips For a Better Work-Life Balance

SavvySugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:00:50 -0700

Staying on top of your A-game and maintaining a healthy work-life balance can feel like an oxymoron. Most of us experience an uneven pull between our social lives and work commitments, which isn't surprising considering the current economy and fact that employees everywhere are working overtime to show they're an indispensable part of the team. Nevertheless, it's important to establish a healthy harmony between your job and personal life. This doesn't just mean working overtime to please your boss and boyfriend, it means creating a balance of time spent working, playing, and pleasing yourself.

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When Are You Most Productive?

SavvySugar — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:45:30 -0700

In an ideal world, we'd spend every minute at work feeling motivated, energized, and productive. In the real world, that's definitely the case. Most of us take a while to warm up in the morning, hit a slump in the afternoon, and burn out by the end of the day. Some of us feel sluggish on Mondays, others are restless on Fridays.

Of course, there are ways to work with these ups and downs; Lifehacker suggests tracking your productivity during your workweek and scheduling tasks according to your periods of peak productivity.

However you choose to deal with these ebbs and flows, when are you most productive?

Source: Flickr User sunshinecity

Are You More Productive When You Have a Lot Going On?

SavvySugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:00:18 -0700

Some people are scared off by a big to-do list; they get flustered and don't know where to begin. Other people act more efficiently when they have things thrown at them from several directions, while a tiny list of to-dos requires them to muster up even more motivation. Are you more productive when your schedule is full?

9 Ways to Save Time and Be More Productive

SavvySugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:06:02 -0700

Nearly everyday I hear a co-worker sigh and say, "It's 5:30! OMG! How did that happen?!" Truth be told there aren't always enough hours in the day to complete your tasks. I have put together a list of some of the most basic tips that will help you save a few minutes here and there and encourage you to keep up your momentum through the day so your stress meter doesn't skyrocket at five.

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