Productivity @ Home

Jump Starting Productivity after a Long Weekend

Coming off of the joy of a three day weekend, Monday seems to hit even harder with a lengthened "to do" list and a bit of let down from the passing of a holiday.  Our family will be on the road yet again later this week, so I need to be particularly productive today. 

I wanted to share with you the following thoughts I have on getting back on track after a long weekend:

1. Spend some quiet, meditative time first thing before diving in.
2. Make time for a workout.  It may feel like you're wasting time, but getting back on track in your fitness and nutritional goals well help your overall well-being, especially if holiday parties led you a bit astray!
3. Make a plan.  Sit down and pull together a comprehensive list of all that needs to be done, determine next actions and create a schedule for the day.
4. Don't worry if you don't get it all done.  You may feel overwhelmed, but if you have established your priorities, don't worry if a few items remain on your list.
5. Congratulate yourself for the things you do accomplish. 
6. Start looking forward to the next long weekend!

Do you have any thoughts or suggestions for post-Holiday-weekend syndrome?  I'd love to hear from you!

Twitter vs. Plurk Smackdown

For the past few months, I've enjoyed using Twitter.com to stay in touch with friends. A few times a day (ok, more than a few), I take a break from what I'm doing and pop over to Twitter to see what my online buddies are up to. Since I work from home, Twitter has made my workday feel a bit less isolated. But those of you who use Twitter know that, as of late, it's been down more than it's been up, with repeated service outages.

So today, I finally took the leap and followed a few of my friends over to Plurk.com to check it out. Since I'm a type A personality, Plurk's funky timeline approach is a bit chaotic for me. I've started posting, but will admit to feeling a bit more at home in the "mobile" view which replicates Twitter's more linear approach.

The big question for a Personal Productivity blogger is this - does use of either of these social networking applications contribute to or detract from getting things done? I think the answer lies in a person's self discipline - if you can master your ability to use these types of sites as tools to communicate and occasionally socialize, then sign up and get started using them. If, however, you find yourself distracted by the constant barrage of cross-chat to the extent that you can't get your work done, you're better off not venturing anywhere near them. The more "friends" you connect with in these sites, the more information there is to keep up with. Another important thing to note is that these communities flourish and do well as communication tools only if you play your part. Use them to share information that is helpful for your contacts and don't abuse their intent.

For me, the jury's still out on which quick update site will win my vote - for now, I'm going to try to update both a few times a day and watch what happens. More importantly, I'm going to see which site - Twitter or Plurk - ultimately adds to my ability to get things done.

Do you have a preference? Chime in - I'd love to hear from you! And if you're on either site, feel free to follow/friend me:

Twitter / LisaHendey
Lisa on Plurk

Jorim's List - Video Game Content Reviews for Parents

Cami Tapley, an internet friend of mine, recently brought to my attention a new site her son Jorim is working on that is a greatly needed resource for parents.  Jorim's List gives content-driven descriptions of the latest video games for parents and caregivers who want to know what their kids are playing.  I'm surprised at the number of parents who purchase mature rated games for kids and turn a blind eye to the content of these games.  Jorim gives you the straight-to-the-point overview you need to make informed parenting decisions.  Since he's a gamer, you'll also get Jorim's perspective on the entertainment value of games, thereby helping you avoid buying a game your kids will find boring after the first day.  Please check out Jorim's List prior to making your decision about game purchases and support the great work he's doing to keep our kids safely entertained! jorimslist.com - Video game content reviews for parents

Apple - Time Capsule

Apple - Time Capsule

This wonderful little treasure, the Apple Time Capsule, came to live at our house this week.  We are not using him to his full potential yet, as none of our Macs have Leopard installed yet.  But so far, so good, with wireless backup working from two Macs and two PCs at varying spots in the 4,100 square foot home.  The WiFi base station capability which would enable us to use this as a wireless router is not functioning properly, unfortunately, but the ease of the wireless backup has been a blessing.  If anyone has tips for configuring it as a router, I'd love to hear from you.  We've followed the instructions and can't seem to get it functioning without crashing our cable connection.

Too Busy to Learn?

Every Wednesday, I share my thoughts on Learning and Professional Development.

With less than two weeks until Christmas, life sometimes feels like it's spinning out of control.  The calendar calls for a "yearly review", a chance to pause and shine a light on the year's accomplishments and challenges.  But gifts to buy and wrap, parties to attend, and the myriad other holiday details keep us hopping.  I feel like it's a chore to find the time to fit my workout in, let alone spend time pondering personal development or enrichment.  The thing is, I can't "punt" the next two weeks - they are too critical to be spent unproductively.  But I also don't want to miss out on spending this precious time with my family, so I've spent some time today pondering how to make the most of the little time I can spare during the upcoming days. 

Here are a few of my conclusions for how I can still fit learning and personal empowerment into these happy, yet hectic, holidays:

• Listen and Learn - I have several podcasts I enjoy, and this is the perfect season to be an auditory learner.  In fact, a trip to the mall can provide the perfect half hour for a podcast professional development seminar and a two mile walk all in one.
• Learn Seasonally - Today, I wrote a freelance article on multi-cultural Christmas celebrations.  I not only learned several new traditions I can share with my kids (such as attending a "Posada"), but also picked up some new ethnic recipes, a few foreign language phrases and learned the location of the region of Moravia. 
• Learn from the Best - If you know your time is limited, it's ok to scale back on the usual reading you do.  Prioritize your visits to your tried and true resources - those who consistently inspire and uplift you and encourage you to try to do better today than you did yesterday.
• Learn from your Family - Some of life's most valuable lessons have been taught to me by my children:  Be patient.  Hugs always feel good.  Sometimes a nap can help put things into perspective.  Get along with whoever brought the ball.  Take time to play.

Learning can happen even in the midst of mistletoe madness - don't take the next two weeks off from your drive to be your personal best.  Just embrace this time and be on the lookout for life lessons - they are everywhere.  Strike up a chat with the guy standing next to you in that long holiday line at the post office ...who knows what you might learn!

Mobile Productivity Toolbox - GTD While Traveling

Every Monday, I share my thoughts on Working @ Home.

Kudos and thanks to Amy Quinn of TruckingAccidentBlog.org for sharing a great article entitled The Mobile Productivity Toolbox: 100 Resources to Keep You Productive When on the Move.  This laundry list combines some tried and true resources with many that were new to me.  Whether you're on the move for business or pleasure, you're going to want to check out this toolbox to make your travels even more productive.  Thanks Amy!

Product Review - Flipping for the Flip Video Ultra

Every Tuesday, I share my thoughts on Family Life.

I was fortunate enough to receive a complimentary Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder for review from Amazon, who offered the product to frequent reviewers to promote their new Video Review feature.  Since receiving the Flip Video a week ago, our family has had a blast playing with this diminutive little camera.  Like most other families, we own a regular sized video camera that gets pulled out for the occasional school play, Christmas, or major trip.  So I wasn't convinced that we would actually use the Flip Video very much.

Wrong!  Since owning the camera, we've shot over thirty video clips in a variety of lighting and sound situations.  The biggest fans of the camera, of course, are my teenage sons who are a part of the You Tube generation.  They love the immediate gratification of being able to shoot a video, flip the USB arm from the side of the camera, plug it into the computer, and use the camera's on board software to upload directly to You Tube in one step.

Here's the blueprint for the Flip Video:  the dimensions are 1.2 x 2.2 x 4.2 inches and the camera weighs 7.2 ounces, less than my cell phone.  I have a small camera bag, and this little guy fits neatly into it with my still camera, making it easy and accessible - which means that you will actually carry it along on outings.  It would easily fit into a pocket.  The camera comes with a hand strap and small drawstring bag (not too useful).  With 2 GB of memory, the camera can hold up to sixty minutes of footage.  All the software you need is loaded onto the camera, which enables you to do some minor editing, file organization, upload clips to the web, or email, and string clips together to make a longer movie.  The Flip Video also comes with a cord to connect to the television and watch videos there, but we have not as yet tested that feature.

On the down side, the Flip Video is not the perfect camera for taking far away videos, since it only has a 2x zoom level.  I found that it is great for shooting at close range, but when I tried to shoot video from a great distance (as you  might do at a school play or sporting event), the results were not great. 

I'm looking forward to using the Flip Video to capture those "spur of the moment" situations with my kids that seem to come up in day to day life (like the following video of my son Eric playing music with some friends recently).  Since the camera is so small and light, it easily fits into my small purse and is ready at a moment's notice.  We've had a great time playing with the Flip Video and would highly recommend it for families on the go like ours, looking to capture memories without a lot of hassle.  Have fun!

Learning for Dummies

Every Wednesday, I share my thoughts on Learning and Professional Development.

This morning, I was interviewing a guest for my podcast via Skype.  Given the fact that I've had a few calls dropped midstream with Skype, I always go through a "schtick" with my guests before we start the interview, informing them what to do if the call suddenly drops and they hear silence.  My guest, a very funny woman, said  to me, "How do you know how to do all of this stuff?"  Her question gave me pause and I laughingly answered "Dummies books!"

Actually, my response was true.  It also reminded me that only six months ago, the whole prospect of producing a podcast felt beyond my grasp.  I knew the goal I wanted to achieve (hosting a show that would point to great things being done by other moms), but had no idea how to actually pull it off.  Now, I have the ability to record and produce two half hour shows per week.  Granted, I am still a rookie and have a lot left to learn, but I do need to pause and give myself a pat on the back for having the tenacity to even try.

I'm passionate about many things in life, and one of those is learning new stuff.  Whether it's the podcast thing, or something as simple as caring for an orchid properly, I think it's downright fun to master a new concept or skill.  I'm fickle - the things that interest me come and go.  One month, I may be obsessed by learning something new on my computer and the next I'm ready to move on to something entirely different.  It keeps life fun and interesting, but also means that I'm somewhat a "jack of all trades and master of none".  But that's ok!

Some of my favorite tools for learning are free and widely available.  My three most reliable resources are:

The Web - What did I ever do without Google and Wikipedia?  Granted, not everything we read online is 100% true or accurate, but when you've killed three orchids and can't figure out what you're doing wrong, it helps to be able to google "orchid care" and come up with 375,000 results!

The Library - Nothing beats it!  I could spend hours in the stacks of my local library.  I'm like a kid in a candy store there - I've checked out more than my fair share of "Dummies" books, saving a ton of money and grasping several new skills in the process.  To maximize my productivity at the library, I do my searches online at home before going and reserve books to pick up at my local branch.  I always allow myself a little "wandering" time though, to enjoy the sheer pleasure of holding a great book in my hands.

Friends - Want to learn something new?  Go to someone you admire who has that skill and ask for their help.  I am always pleasantly surprised with how generous people can be with their time.  I have a good cyber-buddy who routinely checks in with me to share his technological expertise.  His humble  spirit inspires me to look for ways that I can be of help to others who may need a helping hand.

So just as simply as I learned that over watering will definitely kill an orchid, you too can master something new today.  Think of something that interests you, whether it's a skill or concept, and take one baby-step today towards learning it. 

Life is too short and too sweet not to exercise our intellectual curiosity. 

GTD with a Wireless Printer

Every Monday, I share my thoughts on Working @ Home.

Recently, I received a Lexmark Z1420 Single Function Wireless Inkjet Printer for review.  Having spent the past few weeks testing it, I am now ready to comment on how this handy peripheral has impacted upon my productivity level.  I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a computer expert, so please read this review in that light.  Mine are the comments of a work at home mom with an average tech IQ.

My initial reaction to the printer was, "wow, this thing is light!"  The tech specs list the printer's weight as .2 ounces - I believe that's probably without all of the cords, ink cartridges and paper loaded.  Regardless, this thing is incredibly light compared to my previous printer.  The external casing, a bright white that matches my Macbook perfectly, appears to be entirely plastic. 

To get down to the meat of the matter, let's discuss this product's wireless capabilities.  I had a mixed experience with this.  We initially tested the printer on my son's Dell laptop and it ran seamlessly, connecting without wires from anywhere in the house through our home network.  I was psyched, since my thirteen year old has a habit of wandering to various places to do his homework, including Mom's bed.  The wireless function appears to have great range from his PC.

However, when I attempted to get the same results from my Mac, I ran up against a brick wall.  I followed the somewhat confusing instructions to a letter, and was unable to get the printer to work wirelessly.  There is, of course, the fallback of being able to connect via USB and that function works fine on my Macbook.  But, for now, I remain tethered by wires in my home office.  Being a "work @ home" mom, I frequently have my laptop out in the kitchen and was looking forward to being able to print wirelessly from there or even my back yard.  I will admit that I have not yet called the help number to have a genius assist me with trying to work out this problem on the Mac.

The print results of the Lexmark Z1420 Single Function Wireless Inkjet Printer are fabulous.  I've printed top  quality documents and many photos with great results.  The print speed is 24 monochrome or 18 color pages per minute and the ink-life appears to be very good.  At less than $75 dollars, if you own a PC and are looking for a good wireless printer, this seems to be a bargain.  I also like the fact that I can purchase toner for this printer at my local warehouse store at a discounted price.

All in all, for the PC crowd in my house, the Lexmark Z1420 Single Function Wireless Inkjet Printer appears to be a hit.  For me, the Mac lover, the jury's still out.

Make Getting to your Family Fun Destination Easier!

Every Friday, I share my thoughts on Family Fun.

In my home we've turned the phrase "green eggs and ham" into a verb, much like "google" has become indicative of a definitive action.  To "green eggs and ham" something is to change your mind on some item or concept you had previously disdained.  It started back in the early 80's when my Daddy finally permitted my Mom to purchase a microwave.  For years, he'd held off, swearing that if his own saintly mother (the matriarch of seven kids) had done without one, we could too.  Once she wore him down, Daddy was the first to admit, "Green eggs and ham - I love it!  Why did we wait so long to purchase it?  How have we done without it for so long?!"

This year, I've "green eggs and hammed" a techno gadget - the GPS unit.  Who needs it when we've got something as nifty as Mapquest to get us from point A to point B?  My mother-in-law foisted one upon my husband for his birthday last year and I scolded her vociferously.  Her gift to Greg was the Garmin C550 Streetpilot  GPS Receiver  and I was upset with her for spending the money on something I was positive my husband wouldn't use.  After all, he's one of those guys who absolutely refuses to ask for directions. I was sure it would sit unused in his car.

Wrong - a major "green eggs and ham" moment!  We tried it out on a family trip a week later and became instant Streetpilot addicts.  When my own birthday rolled around two months later, guess what my mother-in-law purchased for me?  Yes, now we have "his and hers" models in our vehicles.

What's the good of this particular tech gadget?  You'd be amazed!  Here are some of my favorite features:

• Speed and accuracy. As soon as its been turned on, the Streetpilot determines your location and queries you about your desired purpose. Within minutes of entering your destination address, you receive a map and detailed instructions which are verbally given to you turn by turn.  The GPS also computes your estimated arrival time - I've found it's accuracy on that item almost uncanny.  The unit has options to update your route and travel time, accounting for delays in traffic hotspots.
• Ease of use.  The Streetpilot has an easy touchscreen interface and gives verbal directions to walk you through the directions.  It even anticipates which lane you need to be in for upcoming directions.  Unlike mapquest pages which may require a solo driver to look at a paper copy of the directions, a voice (or rather, your choice of many voice styles) tells you exactly where you need to go without you taking your eyes off the road.  Our voice of choice, Lee the Australian, has never led me astray and is even smart enough to recalculate when I make a wrong turn or miss an exit.
• Bluetooth.  In many states, hands-free cell phone usage is now the law.  The Streetpilot immediately converts my cell phone to hands free and has a clear signal for a speaker phone conversation that can be heard throughout the whole car.
• Doubles as an MP3 player.  My Streetpilot holds some of my favorite tunes and podcasts, making my road trip even more enjoyable.
• Goes with the flow.  Now, when we leave on a family road trip, we rarely scout out the directions beforehand.  With the address, it's easy to drive straight to our desired destination.  But we can also stop and smell the roses along the way, using the Streetpilot to direct us to upcoming points of interest, services, lodging, or even an emergency Starbucks stop.

I will never again go back to driving without my   Garmin C550 Streetpilot  GPS Receiver - getting to our family fun has now become easy and reliable.