Tech tips always come in handy in our increasingly web-based and info-saturated world.
The better you are able to manage your on-line time and activities, the more efficient and effective you’ll be – both at getting things done and at finding time for what matters most!
So, for starters, I was pleased to find this article on Mashable with 7 Tech Tips for the New Year. (It’s still January, and in reality, it’s never too late to make a new beginning when it comes to establishing helpful habits and practices!)
Tech Tips for 2014
Many of the tech tips highlighted in the Mashable piece focus on security and include advice like:
- Stop Re-using Passwords: This is very important, AND it can be a challenge, because we all have so many passwords to manage. It’s advisable to use combinations of letters, numbers and symbols – but who can remember those kinds of strings? That’s where password managers can be very helpful. Most of them also will generate passwords for you.
- Keep your Security Software Up-to-Date and Back-up Your Work Frequently: These are vital tasks that can, in many instances, be automated. I suggest including periodic reminders for yourself on your to-do list, to make sure that everything is in order and that the automated tasks are being performed.
- Regularly Review Your Privacy Settings: Facebook is notorious for making changes that affect users’ privacy – and this can be true of any of the online venues that you’re active in. So I encourage you to periodically check these settings. You can add this as a recurring item on your to-do list. It’s also a good idea to “Google” yourself from time to time, just to see what comes up. (Google Alerts can also be created, targeting keywords you select. This automates the process nicely for you.)
- De-clutter to Enhance Productivity: Cutting back on the files and documents that you store on your desktop clears your workspace, makes finding items easier, and helps reduce stress. The same can be said of your in-box. Most e-mail systems allow you to create folders and sub-folders for storing e-mails, and I strongly endorse that practice!
To this list I would add a couple of important, and specifically time-related, tech tips:
- Time Boundaries are Vital: I strongly suggest that you use a timer to monitor and ‘chunk’ your time when working on-line. This is perhaps most important when attending to your presence in social networking venues. It’s way-too-easy to lose time when you’re engaged in these tasks. A timer keeps you on track.
- Take Breaks! This relates to your use of a timer. When it beeps, make yourself take a break! This is important for both your mind and your body. You’ll come back to your work refreshed and ready to re-focus. And using your break to incorporate movement into your day helps avoid the well-documented perils of too much sitting.
- Systematize and Automate! As much as possible, create automated systems for repeated tasks. This applies to scheduling and to-do lists, of course … but templates are helpful, as are tools like IFTTT, AutoHotKey, and other applications that can make on-line work more efficient.
- Validate Yourself: Giving yourself a pat on the back for what you accomplish, be it on-line or off, isn’t self-indulgent. It is a key ingredient in your time management tool-box, giving you energy and confidence boosts and helping you stay focused and motivated.
Being your own best friend as you move through life is one of the best tech tips – or any-kind-of-tips – I could ever possibly share. It enhances your experience of time and enables you to be more present and productive, no matter what your immediate goal may be.
So, I hope you find these tech tips and time tips helpful, and wish you much success in your journey through time!
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Thanks for sharing! Was not aware that a Facebook changes can affect privacy setting
Hi Waiwai – Glad you found this helpful. And yes, Facebook is sometimes very frustrating for users because of unexpected changes that affect privacy. It’s something to keep an eye on!
very useful tips, thanks for sharing them with us!
Thank you, Gabor!
Cool. Thanks for the tips. They are very helpful.
I am very glad that you liked them, Pam!