ideas for working better?

[Bob]

I need to either..
Work longer.
Work more efficiently or effectively.
Or pysch myself up to work. 

Probably all of those.  I'm not getting enough done.  Kind of sick of working.  But there are things still to do.  I wouldn't necessarily mind pushing it a little -- Once you're tired, you're tired and could do a little more.

Or just something to pysch myself up a bit.  I've tried jogging and some caffeine.  And forcing myself to work on things I don't really want to work on. We'll see how that goes. 

In the meantime maybe I can find more ideas.

[imbetter]

What is your job?

[Bob]

Right now it involves working on several projects.  It takes as much as I give and there's always more to do. 

I'm finding setting a timer works fairly well.  That's devoting x-amount of time to something.  Whatever gets done, gets done. 

And if I really want to hit something, just use willpower and stick to it.  It burns up willpower though.

And then... accepting whatever the results are.  If I focused on the goal more, everthing still has a deadline, and that means it's limited by time.

[turayza]

D: That sounds very stressful.

The timer thing helps a lot. The one thing you really don't want to do, especially because you have so many projects, is to spend a lot of time on something but not really get anything done. If the projects you are working on might use different parts of your brain (I don't know what they are, but say one of them is editing a computer program, another is adding finishing touches to some piano pieces, and another involves designing a user-friendly version of some technology) then it improves efficiency if you switch through the different brain-part using projects. Kind of like that animal which sleeps with one eye open...I don't remember what it was.

Anyways, I hope you don't burn yourself out and overdose on caffeine. Make sure you get a decent amount of sleep at night. Even though you'll have less time to work, the time you spend will be more effective. (Unless you're talking about the difference between 3 and 4 hours of sleep...then you're screwed either way.)

Sometimes when you're feeling particularly inspired by one project work on it until your inspiration is gone, even if it's not the highest priority (unless it will make another project late). Good luck! And a good thing for willpower is pressure (: Deadlines will get things done, one way or another.

[bestpianosoftware]

Learn to listen to your body.  If it says, enough, take the hint and rest.

[go12_3]

I think we are so pressured to work and have deadlines which causes stress to the body and mind.  And then emotionally we can get weary of the work that needs to *get done*.
Do some tasks everyday, but not over do.   Drink plenty of water, and eat properly especially breakfast which is the most important meal of the day; eat three times a day and not eat too much meat though.  Eat plenty of veggies and fruit and nuts to keep your body going throughout the day.  When your body feels good physicially, then your brain will be more alert too.  Sleep is important to rest the brain from being so active all day long.   Allow yourself some quiet time, not do any activity nor think about anything.

Let all the worries go and mentally throw them into the trash can.  Do your work in portions throughout the day which depends upon your energy level too.  Some people work better in the mornings, or afternoons, or even in the evenings.  Listen to your biological clock within you.  I'm more of a night person and morning person; therefore the afternoons I'm not as productive and my energy is low.  So I rest more in the afternoons.  And right now it's 11pm and typing away here and my brain is alert.  Interesting how that goes with each of us.  Find out, Bob, when you have the best energy in the day and figure out what you can do with your work during that time.  The ease off from doing too much though. 

The most important thing to keep in mind is that you are happy in your work.  I think we can be more productive in doing something we love and enjoy doing. 

I hope you'll find a better way of working, 

best wishes,

go12_3