It is terrific to be thankful for technology because it can make you more efficient. Over the past several months, I have seen thousands of people feverishly pecking away at cell phones and tablet devices. Initially, I was impressed and excited about what my fellow technology lovers were doing. However, upon closer inspection, I discovered that most of them were not at becoming more mobile and efficient. Instead, they were addicted to a game. I like to tell myself the fairy tale that these people had used their technology to become more efficient and thus had the free time to go crazy over computerized pieces of candy.
I have optimized my tablet device, laptop and smart phone to use the same programs so that no matter which I use, I am able to write my blog, draft contracts, write proposals, and e-mail colleagues and family, and even enjoy family photos. By putting the same programs on all my devices, I am not tied to my desk, but can make adjustments and modifications wherever I find myself. How many times have you placed a meeting in your calendar while at the office and then gotten a telephone call while at the doctor’s office or while waiting in line at the market changing the date of the meeting? If you are like most working professionals, this has happened numerous times. If your calendar is on your cell phone, which everyone carries around, these things are not big deal because you can immediately make the change on your electric calendar. Similarly, if a co-worker calls, texts or emails you with questions about a proposal you are drafting, if you keep your word processor or spreadsheet on your phone and tablet it is easy to make the changes at a covenant location, rather than writing the notes in a piece of paper that gets list while you are waiting to get to your desk.
Our technology makes it possible for us to work smarter instead of merely working harder. Take your calendar for example. I used to love my Day planner calendars. I annoyed moving the appointments and tasks from one day to the next. I even had a collection of binders I would switch out depending upon where I would be and what I would be doing each day. However hand copying tasks and appointments from one page to another is not the most efficient use of time. It is faster and more likely to be an error free event if one changes dates for appointments and tasks on a computerized calendar program. A running to do list on your telephone that syncs with your tablet and computer is easier to keep from being lost than a series of post it notes. Even for those of us who work at home, it is nice to be able to sit in any room of the house and work, rather than being tied to the desk.
A sticky notes program for your computer or tablet allows you to maintain all your sticky notes, but since they are electronic, they will not blow away in the wind! An electronic address book, now commonly called a contact list, is efficiently maintained, and kept neat when done electronically. (It can also be printed on paper for those who must have a phone book they can touch. The most important thing to remember about technology is that it is yours and it is flexible. Use your technology to find ways to make it easier and more efficient for you to get done what needs doing in your life.
In conclusion, it is terrific to be thankful for technology because it can make you more efficient. So, the question for you this terrific day is what about your technology helps you be more efficient?
Thanks to technology, I’m able to work from home and be with my kids! Love it!
This is a very good tip and one that I follow. But I’m still so old school on some things that I tend to feel more comfortable with my desktop over the laptop, tablet or phone.
I like to think I’m old school when it comes to keeping my life organized. But I will say that my phone is my life saver. There are so many different apps that I use for different reasons and I love that all my questions can be answered at the push of a few buttons. 😉
I agree with you there. I have a Kindle for reading and really enjoy reading with it, but nothing compares to the touch and smell of a paper book!
I can’t argue with you on that one.
That is true. The same thing is true with paper organizers. Perhaps it is good that the electronics can be password protected.
Old habits are hard to break. lol
I don’t know what either of those apps is so I have to check them out.
I like being able to d real work anywhere. I am actually responding to you via my tablet while at my children’s tutor.
Yes, that works for me too!
The most most important part is to find a system that works for you and you seem to have done that.
Yes! It makes life so much easier!
Keep working on it. You will be amazed at the increase in productivity.
I am with you, I like the paper, but the convenience, cloud storage and light weight of the electronics have moved me past the paper.
We seem to have similar taste in technology – Kindle reader and Evernote.
I love having my calendar on all my devices. That’s why I use Google Calendars that way it syncs with the Calendar programs on my Mac, PC, and iPhone.
I have many of the same apps on all of my devices. It makes it so much easier for me to work no matter where I am. Technology definitely helps me be more efficient, but sometimes I get distracted with playing around with all the new apps.
Technology is great. I love tablets and all. It make my blogging easier.
i love technology except when it comes to books I still prefer a hard copy to hold
So true! But I still don’t want to let go of my pen,notebook, planner and calendar though. Electronics need juice and the hard copies are efficient if electronics are out of juice.
Although I agree that it makes your job done easier, there is also a con to that if you lost your gadget, the thief finds out a lot of things about you.
I am so thankful for the technology I have, but I know I could be using it to work more efficiently. I just can’t seem to get out of the paper habit for a lot of things.
I keep my calendar in Thunderbird and export it so I have it on my phone. I keep almost everything else in the Bento app, which I love.
Yes, technology terrifically makes my life efficient as well as simpler. You nailed the reasons why. I am not tied up in my desk and all that paper stuffs. I love that we have choices now. Either we go with all that stereotype stuffs or with the technology. Awesome!
I’d have to say that the to do list on my phone and tablet definitely keep me more efficient!
I love my technology but I still prefer paper for my notes and to-do lists. I can’t help it!
For me technology is a great help for us, because it gives us the efficiency, but sometimes there are others who abuse the simplicity and would rather be on the computer or hook with technology rather than enjoying life without it.
I used to repair computers for a living, you never realize how much you depend on technology until it breaks and your job/life come to a stop. I love technology, but do take breaks.
I am not a gadget geek but I use mine with moderation because I know myself once I get addicted to doing something like games, I won’t get a lot of sleep. But the good side is, I do all my communication (wireless) on the phone, too.
Marms
http://www.leytestar.com/
I need to continue working on this. My iPad has a lot of the same apps on it as what I access on my laptop (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc) but I should get a Word processing software for it. I also need to work on syncing my calendars.
Ever since I went to an all digital calendar, my life has been running SO much more smoothly. It was hard to let go of the paper, but now I will never go back. 🙂
I agree! It is amazing that it can work that way!
I’m better with paper, but planners are so dang pricey that I still with my paper wall calendar and outlook. I would love to be more efficient – Evernote saves my life all the time! And the kids have co-opted the iPad (also known as my Books!) so I grabbed a $9 kindle this week just to have my own reading device. What I’m really hoping is that I can have a smartphone by the end of the year, though!
I have so many apps on my ipad it’s great to be able to carry it around and quickly catch up on some of the things I need to.
Everything you say is so true and powerful. I have not gotten that far yet. Soon …. maybe!
I have been using Franklin Planner for Outlook since it first came out (more than 15 years ago). One list- tasks, notes, contacts, calendar, eMail. Oh, and my Outlook coordinates with our accounting and document management system. So…
ONLY one touch! Ah…. the feeling of control. (Even though we’re not.)
I love your post! As a time strategy visionary, I advocate efficiency – and utilizing technology is certainly one way to become more efficient. Though I have the same programs on my laptop, tablet, and phone, I find I certainly prefer using my laptop whenever possible. I like the size of the screen and the size of the keyboard when typing. I also still use a paper planner. I’m a tactile learner – and I just get something “more” out of concrete, written to-do lists and calendars. I know, my way is not for everyone, but being confident and comfortable with my system allows me to be efficient!
Love this post! I love technology but I see myself getting more used to physically writing things down with pen and paper ! How do I get over this and successfully let technology guide me?
Keep it Touched,
KG
http://www.kgstyleblogs.com
I completely agree! It’s a plugged in world and it certainly has its advantages!
I love being able to connect to my tablet and still be able to work on my blog. Before I had a tablet, I was stuck at the desk. Thankful for the new technology! Great post!
I also have many of the same apps on all of my devices so I can get things done no matter what technology I’m using. But I find myself having to focus to be more efficient because it is so easy to get caught up playing!