Hidden Profits in "Spare Change" Time
Today I'm reprinting (with permission) an article by author and newspaper columnist Jim Edwards that struck an immediate chord with me. My computer is prone to random crashes that leave me sitting fuming as my PC goes through the whole reboot process again. But having read Jim's article, I'm determined to start using this "spare change" time provided by courtesy of my computer more productively!
Discover Hidden Profits in "Spare Change" Time - by Jim Edwards
(c) Jim Edwards - All Rights reserved
http://www.thenetreporter.com
Fact: Take the spare change out of your pocket every night and put it in a child's piggy bank. At the end of a year you will have at least a hundred dollars to spend as you wish. Now take this same principle and discover the huge payoff in the "spare change" time you've been wasting all these years.
How often do you sit in front of your computer and wait?
Everyone waits for the computer to reboot, restart, unlock, "scandisk", "defrag", finish printing, download a file from the Internet or generally accomplish tasks that have you sitting twiddling your thumbs for at least 60 to 90 seconds or more.
The shocking truth is that those one, two and three minute nuggets of time contain the seeds for accomplishing all the tasks you never seem to have enough minutes in the day to finish.
Computers represent a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they are supposed to save us time by efficiently helping us with big tasks such as balancing our checkbooks, running our businesses, and doing our taxes.
In reality, it seems the time computers save you gets sucked right back up in time-consuming tasks such as installing software, scanning for viruses and waiting for the computer to restart!
Think about the spare change in the piggy bank example. Now use that same principle to your advantage by developing an awareness of how you spend your "pocket change" time in front of the computer every day.
Small bits of wasted time add up quickly over the course of a day, week, year - all of it in 2 to 3 minute increments. Fifteen wasted minutes a day equals well over 11 working days wasted per year!
Take this "one-day challenge".
Today, try these alternatives to sitting and watching the "hourglass" on your monitor while waiting for your computer to finish a task!
~ Organize your desk
~ Sharpen your pencils
~ Make a quick phone call
~ Check your "to-do" list; if you don't have a "to-do" list
make one
~ Write a fast note to a friend
~ Put in a load of laundry
~ Go to the bathroom
~ Get another cup of coffee
~ Pay a bill
~ Catch up your checkbook entries
~ Pick up your office
~ Brainstorm an idea
~ Stand up and stretch
~ Day-dream for about a happy thought for 90 seconds!
Carefully watch how much time you spend in front of the computer waiting for it to do something and then see how many things you can accomplish with that time.
Nothing could reward you more than developing a consciousness about how you spend those spare moments that add up to enough time to write a book, take a trip with your family or take positive actions that will change your life forever.
Use your "spare change" time to accomplish the things you claim you never find time to finish!
----
Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist (http://www.TheNetReporter.com) and the co-author of an amazing new ebook that will teach you how to work less, get paid more... and have tons more fun! - "The Lazy Man's Guide to Online Business"
==============================
Are YOU a "Lazy Achiever"? "The Lazy Man's Guide to Online Business" How to Work Less, get Paid More and have tons more Fun! Proven tips, tricks, techniques and strategies of Superstar "Lazy Achievers"!
Click=> http://tinyurl.com/2v8etn
==============================
Discover Hidden Profits in "Spare Change" Time - by Jim Edwards
(c) Jim Edwards - All Rights reserved
http://www.thenetreporter.com
Fact: Take the spare change out of your pocket every night and put it in a child's piggy bank. At the end of a year you will have at least a hundred dollars to spend as you wish. Now take this same principle and discover the huge payoff in the "spare change" time you've been wasting all these years.
How often do you sit in front of your computer and wait?
Everyone waits for the computer to reboot, restart, unlock, "scandisk", "defrag", finish printing, download a file from the Internet or generally accomplish tasks that have you sitting twiddling your thumbs for at least 60 to 90 seconds or more.
The shocking truth is that those one, two and three minute nuggets of time contain the seeds for accomplishing all the tasks you never seem to have enough minutes in the day to finish.
Computers represent a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they are supposed to save us time by efficiently helping us with big tasks such as balancing our checkbooks, running our businesses, and doing our taxes.
In reality, it seems the time computers save you gets sucked right back up in time-consuming tasks such as installing software, scanning for viruses and waiting for the computer to restart!
Think about the spare change in the piggy bank example. Now use that same principle to your advantage by developing an awareness of how you spend your "pocket change" time in front of the computer every day.
Small bits of wasted time add up quickly over the course of a day, week, year - all of it in 2 to 3 minute increments. Fifteen wasted minutes a day equals well over 11 working days wasted per year!
Take this "one-day challenge".
Today, try these alternatives to sitting and watching the "hourglass" on your monitor while waiting for your computer to finish a task!
~ Organize your desk
~ Sharpen your pencils
~ Make a quick phone call
~ Check your "to-do" list; if you don't have a "to-do" list
make one
~ Write a fast note to a friend
~ Put in a load of laundry
~ Go to the bathroom
~ Get another cup of coffee
~ Pay a bill
~ Catch up your checkbook entries
~ Pick up your office
~ Brainstorm an idea
~ Stand up and stretch
~ Day-dream for about a happy thought for 90 seconds!
Carefully watch how much time you spend in front of the computer waiting for it to do something and then see how many things you can accomplish with that time.
Nothing could reward you more than developing a consciousness about how you spend those spare moments that add up to enough time to write a book, take a trip with your family or take positive actions that will change your life forever.
Use your "spare change" time to accomplish the things you claim you never find time to finish!
----
Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist (http://www.TheNetReporter.com) and the co-author of an amazing new ebook that will teach you how to work less, get paid more... and have tons more fun! - "The Lazy Man's Guide to Online Business"
==============================
Are YOU a "Lazy Achiever"? "The Lazy Man's Guide to Online Business" How to Work Less, get Paid More and have tons more Fun! Proven tips, tricks, techniques and strategies of Superstar "Lazy Achievers"!
Click=> http://tinyurl.com/2v8etn
==============================
Labels: Inspiration, resources
Nick at 2:26 AM 
2 Comments:
Isn't this just multi-tasking? I do this all the time - though the trick is not to get distracted with the task you are doing while you wait. Unfortunately we have lots of laundry to do at our house!
I agree it's very important not to get distracted and forget what you were trying to do originally. I've fallen into that trap a few times myself!
Incidentally, if you work on a PC a lot (as I do) I think it's good to take these opportunities to do a bit of light exercise, e.g. stretching and relaxing. To help your eyes, it's also good to tear your gaze away from the screen for a few moments and look at something in the distance.
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