Susan Van Sciver

Tag: productivity

  • Operation Tech and Balances – Results

    How much do I use the computer?  I overindulge.  A lot.  I did the math.  After tracking my use for 1 week in Operation Tech and Balances, I discovered that I spend about 48% of my time awake each day using the computer!  Now, most of that is for work – I work about 10 hours/day.  So excluding work, I use the computer about 12% of my time awake.  That’s almost 2 hours a day!

    How do you find the time, you may ask?  Well, it’s split between pre-work and post-work, and is usually in 5 to 15 mins intervals.  It’s sneaky time that adds up throughout the course of the day.

    Exactly what am I spending my time doing?  Here’s the breakdown:

    31% (36 mins) Blogging

    24% (27 mins) Reading news

    18% (21 mins) General internet surfing

    17% (20 mins) Email

    10% (12 mins) Social Networking (Facebook and LinkedIn, mostly)

    So I spend most of my time blogging.  That makes it sound like a super busy posting all the time.  Well, all that time includes drafting blog posts, reading other blogs on WordPress and checking my blog stats.  Hopefully, I’ll become more efficient with my time…

    A lot of my time reading news is in lieu of watching the news on television.

    General internet surfing includes researching recipes (I have to feed the family).  However, it does include a lot of time on my favorite time sucking site – Pinterest.

    I was surprised to find that I spend almost 20 mins a day emailing, because I don’t feel like I am writing that many emails.  Well, a lot of that time is spent checking (1-2mins every hour) and responding to emails.

    I’m not a huge social networking person away from the Blog.  I check Facebook once or twice a day to catch up with folks and to see their kids’ pictures.  I also used LinkedIn for a couple of minutes a day to catch up with the professional peeps.  Still, it takes up about 12 minutes of my day.

    So how do I think I fared in Operation Tech and Balances?  Um, I think my balance is a little off.

    I complain about not having enough time for a number of things – house chores, working out and keeping up with family.  Um, well, I think I’ve been lying to myself.

    I don’t have time to take care of broken things in the house.  Um, yes I do, if I spend 10 minutes less a day reading the news maybe I could call a plumber or chimney sweep.

    I don’t have time to call back so-and-so.  Um, yes I do, if I spend 5 minutes less on Facebook maybe I could directly talk to a friend.

    I don’t have time to workout.  Um, yes I do, if I cut blogging time by 16 minutes and Internet time by 4 minutes I could do a 20 minute workout DVD.

    I don’t have enough time to spend with my son. Of course, I can never have enough, but I can certainly find more time.  I’m guilty of trying to multi-task by checking email while the little guy plays with blocks next to me or reading news while he reads his books.  Yes, I do need time for myself, but I should try to be more engaged with him.  Also, I need to lead by example here and show him that the computer is not used all the time.

    Oh, technology!  I do love you, but love is blind sometimes. I need to get my life back into balance and get back to my senses.

    Anyone else out there feel the same way?  If you feel up to the challenge, take the 1 week Techs and Balances assessment and share how you’re spending your time?  If you want a quick and dirty spreadsheet to calculate your time, let me know, and I’ll send one to you.

  • Tech and Balances

    Tech and Balances

    I have a confession.  I am an information junkie.  I have always enjoyed reading, but this crazy thing Al Gore invented totally blows Encyclopedia Britannica out of the water!

    Back in the day I could get direct information without banner ads screaming in my face and without access to shopping, entertainment news and social networking all a mere click away.  Most junkies can at lease avoid temptation trying to accomplish everyday tasks.  Alcoholics can typically do their jobs just fine without fear that a liquor store will one day pop up next to the copy machine at work.

    The real problem is that I have a kid now.  This little toddler is looking to me for guidance on everything.  I can’t have him thinking that the virtual world is more appealing than the real world.  I have to lead by example.  It’s complicated by the fact that I work from home sometimes.  He sees Mommy on the laptop, Blackberry, PC, iPad…balancing the paper in my lap.

    I don’t want this to bite me in the you-know-what one day.  I can already hear him using that line from that anti-drug commercial in the 80s – “I learned by watching you!”

    So I found myself in a precarious situation today.  There’s a little alphabet and animal game he likes online.  I say to him, “Owen, you only have 10 minutes.”  He’s 15 months old with no concept of time, but I hope by the tone in my voice he understands that I am setting a limit.  I realize I am setting limits for him without setting any for myself.

    I thought parenthood would make me think more of my child than myself, but it has actually make me hyper aware of myself.  When I look through his giant blue eyes, I can actually see all the flaws in myself that I need to fix so I can be the best role model as possible.  This kid is tough…

    Alright, buddy, you got me.  If I set limits for you, I must do the same for myself.  So for the next week, I’m going to track my time online like a fatty keeping a food diary. I know it will show I’m over indulging…

    So the only sensible thing to do here is to start “Operation Tech and Balances”.  I will record how much time I spend on the computer every day for 1 week, and I will categorize how I spend that time.  Some will be useful, like ordering groceries, paying bills, reading news, but some may be entirely futile.  I’m pretty nervous to see the results, but this is why I love numbers…they don’t lie.
    By the way, I’m starting tomorrow…