Don't just be busy, be productive

Classes kick off for Temple University, and many other schools tomorrow. For me, and all the other workaholics out there, it’s great to be getting back to a structured schedule and workday. For a lot of other people, though, they’re dreading getting back into the swing of things. It’s easy to get caught up in work for internships, jobs and classes, and begin to feel stressed and just busy. So here are some tips to keep you productive, instead of feeling overwhelmed.

Map out your day

We all have our handy planners and notebooks for making to-do lists, but how often do you go over that list before you start your day? Sometimes, when you make up a list of tasks for the day, you may just write down whatever you may think of in a random order and then end up working through that order from top to bottom. Make up the list at the beginning of the day and then look back at what needs to be done. Do you need to drop off a prescription and pick up some food from the grocery store? Do you have a class right by a professor’s office where you need to drop off some work? See what tasks you can knock out all at once and save yourself the time running back and forth.

Set up routines

Routines are the key to saving time. Morning routines, bedtime routines, scheduling routines…I clearly worship at the alter of routines. By setting up these daily habits, you spend less time on the simple day-to-day decisions and free up time for work that requires more energy. Try setting your clothing out, or even making your breakfast or lunch, the night before to save yourself time in the morning. The Daily Muse is also full of tips for which routines and rituals can help save you time and make you more productive during your day.

Take time for yourself

When your schedule is controlled by your professors, your internship and other commitments, you can easily become stressed and overwhelmed. It’s important to set time aside for you to spend on whatever hobbies or activities let you relax. For me, it’s an hour in the morning to go to the gym. I’ve found that being physically active is a great stress reliever and it helps me get up in the morning. On top of that, striving to reach high expectations in my fitness and health has led me to set higher bars in the other areas of my life. Of course that doesn’t have to apply strictly to the gym. Do you like to paint? Read? Binge TV? See how you can work those activities into your life and how you can use them to boost your drive.

This blog post was written by PRowl Director of Public Relations Helena Wilcox. Follow her on Twitter at @helenapwilcox.  

Creating a productive environment

Summertime is when we prepare ourselves for the upcoming fall semester. Big plans are coming our way! The summer season may be challenging if you are dealing with a job and/or an internship, but nothing compares to a full workload of classes, work-study, another job, on-campus organizations, and maybe even an internship. Responsibilities can be a tough thing to handle. Living in a space that naturally forces you to stay on top of things makes life a bit easier. Whether you are moving into a new apartment or dorm room, or coming back to your previous apartment, you must make the most of your environment. Create a consistently constructive and fruitful home atmosphere to provoke productivity.

Source: Realistic Shots

Although the method of Feng-Shui discourages us from blending work-energy with our personal spaces, one must do so when on a budget. With that being said, keep your workspace as just that, your workspace. Make certain to keep any unneeded objects off of your desk, especially ones that may just take up space and add distractions.

Use blues. Blue is the color of productivity and stimulates efficiency and focus. You do not have to paint your walls blue, but you can bring in blue accents to your bedroom or make a calming blue your color scheme. If you already had other plans for your bedroom designs, place a few needed blue objects on your desk. Perhaps a glance at such a mind-stimulating color can be beneficial.

Of course, the most crucial part of optimizing your productivity is living clutter-free. When you stay organized and rid your environment of overwhelming extras, you eliminate distractions and allow your mind to flourish. Clutter is physical build-up, which leads to mental build-up, a.k.a. stress. Your workflow cannot proceed freely when you are stressed.

Use dry-erase boards! A dry-erase board is a To-Do List’s best friend. Keep one by the door in your bedroom to prioritize your daily responsibilities so you are reminded of your obligations every time you leave your bedroom. Talk to your roommates about putting a dry-erase board in the common area. This will not only help if anyone has a message to leave for each other but it can promote productivity within your entire home. Write down important dates on the board such as when rent is due or a cleaning schedule.

Keep a speaker in your room. Studies show that moderate noise levels can boost creativity and keep your work flowing. Why? Because soothing sounds make it easier for you to process difficulty. Remember that the volume should be moderate and the music should be ambient. You don’t want the noise to overwhelm your thinking.

Lastly, lighting is important. Worrying about the lighting in your bedroom may seem unnecessary. You may think, “Well I can see, what more do I have to do.” Lower and natural lighting is actually beneficial to coming up with creative ideas. On the other hand, a brighter environment helps you to maintain concentration. When decorating your bedroom, have at least two separate lights in which one is brighter than the other to create different settings for various stages of work.

There is a lot that goes into one’s productive mind. Creating a productive environment where you spend a great deal of time will only make getting your work done easier. 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl staff member Marlo Brooks

4 Apps To Encourage Productivity

Public relations professionals are always on the move. Our desks usually end up traveling with us in the forms of smartphones and tablets, which allow us to always be tuned in and accessible. There are always emails to be sent, read and replied to; growing to-do lists to make our way through; and tons of other tasks that require our attention and time.

Because we are always on our phones, tablets and laptops, having apps handy that encourage you to be strategic with your time are incredibly useful. When you're constantly jumping from task to tasks, it's easy to get overwhelmed and distracted, which may impact the quality of work you're producing.

We've shared about some productivity apps before, but just like the PR industry, technology is always changing and improving. Here are four apps to help ignite that productive spark in your day-to-day:

1. Google Drive 
Collaborations have never been easier than opening your trusted Google account and starting a new project in seconds! Whether you're creating a social media calendar, blog posts or writing a press release, Google Drive allows you to make it, save it and share it all in one easy location. You can download the app on your iPhone/iPad or android devices to take your docs with you everywhere. Downloading the drive to your computer insures that you're work is always backed up to the online cloud and accessible wherever you are.

2. Todoist
If you find yourself making list after list of tasks that required your attention, this app is for you. Todoist allows you to manage all of your tasks in one convenient place. Download the app to your phone and computer to stay up to date with what you've completed and what still needs to be done. The well designed app even tracks your productivity by assigning points each day that you complete all of your tasks.

3. Boomerang
PR professionals spend so much time on email that it can often take us away from other important elements of our workday. Boomerang is an easy to install app that helps managing your inbox that a breeze. With Boomerang, you can schedule emails to be sent later, schedule follow-up emails (like the one you've been meaning to send about that client you pitched last week), and even allows you to track responses and set reminders.

4. Pomodrone
No matter how much we wish it were otherwise, we only get 24 hours every day. So, it's up to us to use them wisely! Pomodrone is a product of the time managing Pomodoro Technique, which encourages working in small blocks of time with breaks in between to encourage productivity and mental agility. Download this app to your iPhone to help focus on projects and avoid distractions during the day.

What apps do you turn to when you're looking for help in the productivity department? Share with us in the comments!

Staying Productive While Working From Home

With the rise of virtual internships and more and more companies allowing their employees to telecommute, creating a productive atmosphere at home is becoming essential. For students, having the option to intern virtually saves time (and sometimes, money) and makes it easier to handle your on-campus responsibilities while still earning internship experience. Still, a home full of roommates or a lively residence hall aren't excuses for not getting work done.

The space that you create to work in is a huge factor in the quality of work you'll produce. If you don't have a clean and functional area that compliments your work style, you may find yourself stifled and distracted.

Here are some tips to keep yourself on track while getting work done from home, whether you're interning or working remotely:

Designate a space: When you're working from home, it's important to separate and convert what may have once be leisure space into a work setting. Whether you're setting up shop at the dining room table or a desk in your bedroom, be sure that it's set up for work and not filled with other distractions. The more you can separate work from play, the better.

Get dressed every day: Yes, working from home technically means that you can work in your pajamas, that isn't necessarily good for productivity. Get dressed as if you were going to work. Putting on clothes and getting ready for the day will put you in a productive mindset and encourage getting things done.

Remove distractions: Sitting in front of the TV while you work may be ideal for some, but generally the lack of distractions in an office setting are what makes it conducive to a productive work day. Instead of making work fit into your routine off-day, create a distinct divide between the two.

Set realistic goals: Just because you're working from home does not mean that you should be expected to over do it. Communicate what you're expected to produce for the day with your supervisor, and create a plan for getting those done within the work day.

Stay in contact: No one is going to pop into your home office to ask how things are going when you work from home. Instead, shoot your boss, co-workers or fellow interns an email or two throughout the day to update them on your progress and any problems you may be having. They'll appreciate being in the loop.

What tips do you have for staying productive when working from home? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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Make it a PRoductive Summer

Happy summer! It’s incredible to see the dramatic difference in our availability as students when you eliminate a full class schedule. Perhaps you’ve made plans to intern, travel, or work this summer, or perhaps you’ve made plans to simply relax! Either way, it’s easy to incorporate PR building into your summer season. Here’s a few different ways:

• Volunteer – Research local non-profit organizations and companies you are interested in working with! Most organizations are looking for volunteers for upcoming events, some even known nationwide. Opportunities like these seem more like fun and less like work, especially to us addicted-to-PR folks, all while giving back. Volunteer work allows you to see a preview of the operations at companies/industries you are interested in, as well as a great contribution to your community! 
• Begin personal projects – Even with the littlest bit of extra time on your hands, dedicate it to personal projects! In terms of career building, think about what additional skills you would be proud to say you have. For PR, learning Photoshop and InDesign, starting a book or blog, and even another language are beneficial. Otherwise, take on any projects you want to do for yourself. Update your playlists, finish a certain number of books, or even learn to sew!
•  Informational interviews – If you’re not (or even if you are) interning, consider scheduling a few informational interviews. This is a great way to learn more about the various industries and departments you may end up working in. Not to mention, there’s no pressure. The professionals leading the informational interview are most likely taking the time to show you around the office and answer your questions because they genuinely want to help you with PR! Ultimately, you’ll end up being the interviewer! 
• Start a blog – Starting a blog is a project itself, but definitely one I would suggest for every Communication student out there. The internet is a helpful tool in developing our skills and furthering our future success. Blogging is a great opportunity to practice your writing skills, as well as organization with the layout, style, brand, and content of your site. Make it fun, and blog about something you truly love! Fashion, makeup, entertainment, sports, and environmentalism – you can blog about anything your heart desires.

No matter how you choose to practice this summer, enjoy yourself! We worry enough all semester long, use the summer to have fun!

10 Steps to a More Productive Day

This infographic from Lifehack offers great tips on getting more done throughout the days. It all starts with a simple list.

Listing the tasks you're hoping to accomplish makes it easier for you to prioritize. Whenever I make my to-do lists I always put the due date next to my tasks so I can make sure the urgent ones get done first.

Even if you're bogged down with work it's important that you're keeping yourself energized by having some fun. Listen to your favorite tunes and give yourself breaks every once an a while for snacks or chit chat to keep your body engaged and focused.

Tip #5 is something to think about. What time of the day are you most productive? If it's in the morning, aim to get the bulk of your work accomplished then. This can help you with tip #9: optimize and reflect. Always keeping thinking of ways you might have improved your productivity.

The end of your productive day will end the way it began: with another list! There is nothing more satisfying than checking off your tasks but sometimes a few remain unfinished. Rather than leaving your list as-is, re-write it without your completed tasks. It will be shorter and appear much more manageable that way.

How do you keep yourself productive during the day? Any tips for moments when you just feel like giving up? Let us know!

Tools for Freelancers: MyPrice

One of my favorite things about PR is that it doesn't take huge teams and corporate budgets to be able to offer services. In fact, many professionals opt to step away from the nine-to-five setting and into the home office to work as a freelancer. Freelance work is an awesome way to do what you love with maximum flexibility and control. But for every pro that comes with freelancing comes a challenge, and one of those challenges (more often than not) is earning sufficient income and knowing what to charge.

Your rates say a lot about you as a freelancer. If your rates are too low, it may suggest that you are inexperienced or only used to working with lower-budget clients. If your rates are too high, you may be reaching too far and miss out on a larger medium-budget clientele. Finding that middle ground rate can be quite challenging, especially when first starting out.

MyPrice, an app available for iPad and iPhone, helps freelancers determine what their ideal rates and wages should be, without all of the extra hassle. MyPrice uses the characteristics and descriptions that you tell it about your projects to help calculate your rates. The app will also take into consideration your professional and education backgrounds, both of which are huge determinants of salary.

MyPrice was originally created with creative freelancers, such as web or graphic designers, in mind. Now, the app also includes projects such as SEO integration and online marketing, which are more useful to PR professionals.This is a great tool to have as a freelancer, and it is offered for only $1.99 via the Apple App Store. A small investiment can make a huge impact in the rest of your professional earnings as a freelancer. Having a tool to help you handle the calculations gives you more time to focus on catering to your clients and building your professional brand.

Have you ever taken on freelance work? Which tools did you use to help manage your business?

Productivity? There's an App for That!

This generation has been fortunate to experience all the existing technology and its perks. Many people now own smartphones, tablets and laptops and the apps created for these devices provide various resources to compliment this diverse society. 

Productivity is wanted by majority of persons in this fast paced world. A common goal in society is to be effective and efficient, but quickly. So, the days of writing on paper and having face to face conversations are slowly dissolving and society is adapting to technology offerings. 

Technology definitely paved a path for people who are always on the go. Some devices have apps to assist such people. 

Wondering how to use your device for productivity? Below are three apps used for productivity:

Evernote: This free service is among the most popular apps and it allows you to document everything.This app collects and organizes notes, photos and web pages. It allows you to record voice notes and organize your notes color coded. Who doesn't love color coded notes?

GoToMeeting: This app allows you to host webinars, online training and digital meetings all on your smartphone or device. GoToMeeting can hold up to 25 attendees and if you have a webcam or camera you can even facetime.

LogMeIn: This app is a software that provides remote access to your main computer. You can control your computer from a smartphone or tablet. With this app, you can forever be productive even when you are on the go. 

What other apps do you use for productivity? We will love to know!

6 Tips to Improve Your PR Career in 2013

2013 has begun and on the contrary to what many believed, the world didn’t end. So, as we look into this upcoming year and we start to make new resolutions (some realistic, some unrealistic) there are many ways that we can look to improve our professional lives as well. Here are my six tips to making 2013 a happier, healthier and more productive year:

1. Take some risks – do not be afraid to think outside the box and offer suggestions that are unique and creative. These ideas and risks will earn you respect from not only your peers but your boss as well. By being able to challenge yourself and bring new things to the table you can grow professionally and personally as well.
2. Stop complaining – be positive! It is very easy for us to complain about what is going wrong in our lives, careers, families and personal lives but instead of dwelling on the negative take control of your life and realize that you have the power to change your life for the better. By staying positive it will not only put you in a better mindset but also stress you out less. Also don’t sweat the little things or the things you can’t control!
3. Save the drama for your mama – there will always be times where you are in a situation of argumentation with someone. However, do not engage in petty drama. Do not always become defensive and feel the need to always prove your point or be right. No one likes a know it all. Remove yourself from situations that are toxic to your stress and energy. As much as we love to engage in gossip, do your best to focus on bettering yourself, not talking about the flaws of others.
4. Realize you are human – everyone makes mistakes. Once you realize that this in fact is true, admit when you are wrong. Always be honest and it will lead to a healthy way to resolve the situation. 
5. Have thick skin – in the PR field there will always be someone who has something negative to say about you or your work. Realize that not everyone will agree with you all the time. Be open to constructive criticism and use it as a learning experience. 
6. Turn OFF your phone – if you are like me and constantly have your phone on and by your side (even when sleeping), we need to understand that this is unhealthy! Being able to be reached 24/7 can create unrealistic expectations. By turning off your phone for just a couple hours a day it can not only relieve stress but help you recharge your body and brain. 

Do you have any other tips for the PR professional in 2013? Let us know! Wishing everyone a productive, and healthy 2013!

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Virginia Laskowski

Shhh... It's Quiet Hours

Ask any PR professional what the first thing they do in the morning is, and I'll bet anything that 99% report they check their smart phones. Smart phones and PR pros seem to go hand in hand, no pun intended. They allow us to have news, emails, contacts, deadlines, and alerts all at the tips of our fingers. Though your job hours may be 9-5, smart phone alerts can often extend way past those hours.

While having the world at your beside is convenient  it can also be detrimental to your personal health. 67% professionals report feeling "phantom vibrations," or thinking their phones are ringing and vibrating when they are actually silent. Other professionals say they have woken out of their sleep in the middle of the night to return or send an email from their smart phone. 44% of professionals sleep with their smart phones.

With the new year in full swing, many companies have made it their personal resolution to create less smart phone dependent employees. It's great that you can get a client's story placement in a major publication by 8am, but not so great that you pass out from exhaustion in your cubicle later. That being said, many companies are taking the following steps to insure happy, healthy, smart phone free employees:

• "Blackout policies" that include turning off all work related devices from 6pm-6am, and keeping it off on the weekends.
• Auto deleting emails during vacation times so that employees don't return to a flooded inbox.
• Limiting the use of smart phones during business trips.
• Providing employees with phones just for work so that they can leave them in the office at the end of the day.

While these initiatives are a great way to make happier and healthier employees, I wonder if it is even feasible in the PR world. Public Relations often requires going beyond office hours to get the job done. A PR pro returning from vacation with a wiped out inbox may actually do more harm than good. 

What do you think? Will the smart phone and PR pro relationship ever become more laid back? Let us know!

Strategy is Key to Scheduling Social Media Messages

Have you ever wondered what the most effective time to send a tweet or Facebook post is? A strategic analysis of audience, content, and research can help pinpoint the optimum time for your next social media update.Audience comes first when scheduling a social media update. Are you targeting the tech-savvy soccer moms? How about workaholics or maybe college students? It is important to consider your audience’s schedule in order to maximize the impact of your message.

College students dread mornings, so scheduling a message around lunch or in the afternoon may be more effective. Saturday and Sunday mornings and afternoons may be a good time if you are targeting parents with active kids. This audience may be checking their social media on mobile devices during soccer games, swim meets, or hockey practices.

The content of your tweet will also help determine timing. If you are releasing a report that could affect the stock market, make sure you schedule the tweet immediately after the press release. However, if you are tweeting an event advertisement that will attract working families, think about scheduling the tweet for a Friday lunch hour or the evening commute.

Finally, the most strategically timed updates are based in research. This ADVERBLOG article has great statistics to help social media gurus time their updates. Important takeaways from the article include:

· Almost half of the U.S. population is based in the Eastern Time Zone
· The percentage of retweets per hour peaks at 6 p.m.
· Twitter click through rate by hour spikes around noon and again at 6 p.m.
· Facebook shares peak around noon

With this said, why is timing important to social media messaging? Simple: your message will fall flat if your targeted audience doesn’t see it or if they don’t have time to click a link. So before you schedule your next social media update, be sure to take into account your audience, content, and the facts to make sure your message makes an impression on the correct audience at the correct time.

All Work and No Play Means Trouble

For many of us, twenty-four hours is not enough in a single day! With classes, internships, jobs, and the hope of a social life, each of us is cramming as much as we can every day. While we are trying to keep up during this highly competitive age, working too much has some negative, lingering effects.

CNN, Fortune, and the Today Show have been investigating what happens when people overwork themselves. Ellen Langer, a psychologist at Harvard University, finds that a vacation is essential for mindfulness, which is mediating in a non-judgmental way. This allows individuals to be present while clearing their minds and has plenty of health benefits, like lowering both heart rate and blood pressure.

In the article, “How Many Hours Should You Be Working?” author Laura Vanderkam helps workaholics decide how much work is too much. She quotes the authors of Rework, saying that workaholics aren’t the heroes but that the real hero is at home because she figured out a faster way to get everything done. While a study of Italian CEO’s found that working more hours does increase overall productivity, it is contingent upon how these hours are spent. For example, when executives spend more hours meeting with employees, productivity increases, but not when they meet with clients or outside vendors.

A recent segment on the Today Show highlighted the problems with overworking yourself. When juggling so many balls in the air, the one that usually drops is your own. This segment explained how women are at a greater risk for depression, arthritis, cancer, and other chronic illnesses than men. In their quest to have it all, a career, a family, women often neglect their own health. The Healthy Woman’s Forum, held for the first time this year in Princeton, NJ, offered solutions and suggestions for workaholic women. One idea was for women to join an exercise group or find some kind of hobby just for themselves. In the end, it is all about balancing your priorities.
It is extremely hard to shut down the computer, turn off the phone, and just unwind. Most of us have this ridiculous fear that we will miss some amazing opportunity or not respond fast enough to the "oh-so" important email. But, at the end of the day, our health, sanity, and well-being must be put first. There is nothing wrong with working hard, but we all must strike a balance between work and play.

Are you a workaholic? Do you think there are ways you can change to better yourself?

To read more on the benefits of taking a vacation, click here.

To read more on the value of your time, click here.

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Alex Crispino.