eTips

"Do not seek the truth; only cease to cherish opinions," wrote a Zen master. We cause our own distress with our thinking, which we means we have the power to be happy and less focused on being "right." When we let go of the need to be right, to have…

After a stressful day at work, it is all too easy to release your tension in ways that negatively affect your loved ones. Researchers call this the spillover effect. One way to strengthen your boundaries around work is to create a buffer zone between work and home--by exercising, for example.…

As Elaine St. James rightly notes in Simplify your Work Life, 80% of your supervisor's satisfaction with your performance depends on 20% of your work activities.  Ask your boss what that 20% is. (If you're self-employed, ask your clients.) One of my clients did just that and now her daily…

Nike uses this slogan for a reason. Delay breeds delay. Overthinking becomes procrastination. It's time to challenge yourself. Look at that important project you've delayed. What is the very next physical action that will move it forward? Take that action today. As Goethe wrote, "What you can do or think…

A knowledge worker like you needs to take care of your brain. Looking at art can help you think creatively. Viewing nature calms you down.   Shape your work environment to stimulate and relax you. Hang art prints or nature scenes if you can. Look at some Renoir online if you…

Inevitably, computer problems will crop up from time to time. Here's how to handle them as expeditiously as possible. The first time a problem arises, treat it as an anomaly. Re-start your computer and it may resolve. If it recurs, document it. Write/type what exactly you were doing when it…

Copying people on emails can be a power move and it can backfire. Be cautious about it... If you regularly copy people at a higher level to leverage responses, you look weak and discourteous. Take that action very sparingly. Always consider how your recipient (and the people you copy) will…

Breathing is an underrated productivity resource. Inhaling clean, oxygenated air fuels your brain and calms your mind. Consider getting a small air purifier to clean your air of the many allergens and pollutants that get trapped in office carpets and furniture. You can get a small desktop model for under…

If the people who report to you typically come to you for answers, this eTip is for you… Ask them how they would handle the situation if you were not around. If it's a good idea, tell them to run with it. If it's not, do a little training to explain…

Lack of clarity about the status of projects and commitments is arguably people's greatest source of worry at work. Fortunately, it's one you can eliminate by conducting regularly weekly reviews of both. If you do yours before the holiday, you'll feel free and enjoy yourself with no mental clutter. If…