The once cavernous line between work and recreation on the computer has been narrowed significantly over the past few years. How you manage it can maximize your productivity.
You have a wealth of business tools on the computer you are using to read this message. However, there's a universe of distraction just a click away from that Excel spreadsheet you're supposed to be slogging through or research that needs to be done.
Digital mobility has spawned an army of corporate work-from-homers, independent consultants, or small business entrepeneurs - all powered with the tools and flexibility needed to perform. The distractions of the internet combined without the 'fear of Mr. Bossman' certainly cut into everyone's productivity and we know the social media salad bar is open 24 hours a day for anyone who wants it, so how do you stay focused?
1. Stay on Task
How do you avoid the siren's call of YouTube or Farmville when you're out in the field (hopefully not a meeting) or your awesome Nintendo Wii waiting for you in the next room?
It's safe to say that some discipline is required to maintain the business that needs to be done. I use GTD tools and a basic calendar to keep me on task no matter where I work.
I use Things (Mac) to keep me tasked with scheduled reminders for project based daily work. Here are some other good GTD applications.
Put the 'messaging'* portion of your social media time on a calendar, decide on a short-term strategy and clock the time that you're using it.
I have found that this easy-to-use approach works well for me. I have developed a bit of a routine for the time I'm using social media for messaging which looks like this:
-What is the strategy? (what do you want to say? how?)
-Develop the message
-Find the audience (who are you trying to reach? what time of day?)
-Send message
-Answer feedback immediately (this is the golden rule, quick follow-through is a must)
-Get out (and do it quickly!)
This type of approach usually takes 10-15 minutes and may happen several different times throughout the day. It helps you maintain the focus and get back to business.
*NOTE: This is for messaging only and requires an already established brand reputation and quality relationships with friends/followers. Tell them about your blog post and get back to work. Regular social media time works much differently from this, see below.
3. The Fun Stuff
If you have a plan and practice your discipline regularly, you'll find that you will develop the ability to stay on task and you may even discover an extra hour or two in your work day.
While some might like the extra hour in the day to end work early and get on the Wii, I gather that most people would want to use that bonus hour efficiently, right?
Here's where you get to have fun by using the time to research new topics, share valuable content that you didn't create from scratch and simply participate in discussion with the people you care about. The non-messaging time here is essential to the relationship. Both the messaging and relationship time are essential an interdependent with each other.
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