Increase Your Productivity While Rebooting
By: Roger Dooley
How frustrated are you when you have to reboot your PC in the middle of the day? A full shutdown and reboot cycle can take a several minutes - instead of staring at your screen watching the icons flicker to life, the hourglass grind away, etc., why not capture a few minutes of productivity?
You’ll spend less time thinking evil thoughts about Bill Gates, and you’ll get a mood boost from being productive!
I just ran through a bunch of upgrades on my aging desktop, each of which required a tedious reboot. I resolved to tear my eyes away from the hourglass and come up with some good ways to use that downtime in a productive way. Here’s my list - feel free to add your own!
1. Start a To-Do List. Just about every time management book advises you to create and maintain a list of the tasks you need to accomplish for the day. If you don’t have one, start listing the things you want to get done - I use a brightly colored sheet of paper for this that stands out even on a cluttered desk. If you are so efficient that you already have a To-Do list, start off your reboot downtime by checking it for any needed additions or deletions, and for a task you can kill while waiting for the reboot to complete.
2. Do Some Filing. If you are ultra-efficient (or have a great assistant), you may not have any filing laying around. Personally, I tend to create a “to file pile” on top of the approriate filing cabinent. That lets me get items off my desk or out of my briefcase quickly, and file them later. Reboot downtime is perfect for grabbing a few items and dropping them into the appropriate file.
3. Network. OK, your contacts are all on the PC, right? Well, you can’t access LinkedIn, Outlook, ACT!, or any other Web or PC based tool while you are rebooting. So, scan your cell phone contact list, or the business cards stuffed in your desk drawer, and reach out and touch someone. If you get voicemail, leave a short message that doesn’t require a return call. Maybe you can try a second one if your PC is still grinding away. If you connect, well, your talk time may extend beyond the reboot, but it would be worth it, right?
4. Clear Something Off Your Desktop. Got some unopened mail on your desk? Maybe a pile of stuff you can’t quite decide to throw away? Pick it up off your desktop, and vow to make it go away - trash it, file it, or decide how to act on it if necessary. I find most of this stuff doesn’t require action, just decisive discarding.
5. Make Your Coffee/Snack/Soda Run. If you are never without coffee or soda, take advantage of the reboot to reload.
6. Think Strategically for a Minute. Just about all of us end up becoming slaves to our technology at times - the demands of instant messages, emails, alerts, etc. are all immediate. While you are out of touch for a minute or two, lean back in your chair, and think about the “big stuff” for a minute. It might be a key direction for your business or career, a project that you have had a hard time getting started… a minute or two of quiet reflection may be just what you need to come up with the approach you are looking for.
7. Power-Read An Article. I tend to skim trade magazines, and if I see an article that looks interesting or relevant I’ll rip it out and stick it in a “reading” file. That file is great for airplane trips, or for perusing in the dentist’s waiting room. A lengthy reboot is a good opportunity to reach into that file, pull out a short article, and power-read it. Nine times out of ten, you’ll be able to toss it in the wastebasket; if the article is that good, file it. Either way, you’ve moved a small task from the “future” pile to “done.”
8. Delve Into a Desk Drawer. Are you one of those individuals who keeps their desktop looking clean by sweeping items into the drawers? If so, a reboot is a perfect time to peer into the accumulated debris and determing if there are items that can now be discarded or, perhaps, moved to storage in a more logical and convenient place.
9. Check Your Briefcase, Portfolio, or Laptop Bag. Like desk drawers, briefcases and similar containers can accumulate plenty of debris - business cards, trade show swag, papers you took to meetings, items you obtained at meetings, magazines you planned to read, etc. Take a minute to remove any layers of random stuff you find - it will lighten the load, and you never know what might turn up in there.
10. Check Catalogs or Newspaper Inserts for PC Deals. Wouldn’t a new PC be great? It might boot up a lot faster than your current application-heavy, creaky old one. It would probably require fewer reboots, too. (New PCs never lock up, right?) These hopes are probably not justified, but watching your current PC cycle through the third seemingly endless reboot in an hour definitely gets you in the mood for computer shopping. Pick up one of the zillion Dell catalogs you get in the mail, or your Best Buy sale paper, and see what deals are out there. You could shop online, of course… but only if your computer was up!
Add your ideas below!
March 29th, 2008 at 3:21 am
sexy woman avatars
March 31st, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Hi
Good site
came on this wonderful site
Very all is simple and with taste.
April 6th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Indeed,it is true, it’s always true. Comments ain’t even necessary.
April 9th, 2008 at 7:12 am
I’m supporting this idea all the way! I can not imagine who would disagree with it. On the whole - make posts like this more often.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:40 pm
cash advance…
Cash advance easy way to get payday loan
Uk mortgages
Uk mortgage
Uk home mortgages
Small business loan
Secured credit cards
Second mortgage
Reverse mortgage
Refinance
Quickest cash advance
Personal loan
Payday loans
Payday loan
Payday loa…
April 24th, 2008 at 6:42 am
Washington state lottery…
Video poker
Va lottery
Usa casino directory
Us online casino reviews
Us friendly casinos
Us friendly poker sites
Ultimate roulette system urs
Uk national lottery
Uk lottery
Turning stone casino
Top online casinos
Tn lot…
April 24th, 2008 at 7:19 am
National bingo night…
Video poker
Va lottery
Usa casino directory
…
April 24th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Secure us friendly casinos…
Fox sports betting
Four winds casino
Football betting
…
April 24th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Ga lottery…
Nj lottery
Nh lottery
Nfl playoff betting
…
April 24th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Texas holdem…
Texas holdem…
April 24th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Slot machines…
Slot machine…
April 25th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Poker Online…
Online poker…
April 28th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Online Poker Sites…
Online Poker Sites
Casino Games
Play Poker
Online Gambling
Keno
Free Slots
Top Online Casinos…
May 1st, 2008 at 9:14 am
Real music Ringtones…
Disney Ringtones
Download free Ringtones
Download Ringtones
Elvis Ringtones
Final fantasy Ringtones
Funny Ringtone
Funny Ringtones
Ghost Ringtone
High school musical Ringtones
Hot Ringtones�
Idol Ringtones�
Iphone R…
May 1st, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Funny Ringtones…
Star wars Ringtones
Totally free Ringtones
Tracfone Ringtones
…
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:29 am
Alltel Ringtones…
100 free Ringtones
Adult Ringtones
Aflac Ringtones
…
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:03 am
Ringtones mp3…
Cheap Ringtones
Christian Ringtones
Cingular Ringtones
…
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Motorola Ringtones…
Disney Ringtones
Download free Ringtones
Download Ringtones
…
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:13 pm
College Ringtones…
Iphone Ringtones
Lg Ringtones
Make Ringtone
…
May 3rd, 2008 at 6:40 am
Tracfone Ringtones…
Nascar Ringtones
Nextel Ringtones
Nokia Ringtone
…
May 3rd, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Polyphonic Ringtones free…
Ringtone converter
Ringtones for motorola cell phones
Ringtones free
…
May 3rd, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Final fantasy Ringtones…
School Ringtones
Shut up Ringtone
Silent Ringtone
…
May 4th, 2008 at 5:23 am
Aflac Ringtones…
Verizon Ringtones
Verizon wireless Ringtones
Voice Ringtones
…
May 4th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Ringtones for a samsung…
American idol Ringtones
At t Ringtones
Blackberry Ringtones
…
May 4th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Mobile Ringtones…
Crank Ringtone
Crazy frog Ringtone
Create Ringtones
…
May 5th, 2008 at 3:41 am
Cingular Ringtones…
Funny Ringtone
Funny Ringtones
Ghost Ringtone
…
May 5th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Star wars Ringtones…
Mosquito Ringtone
Motorola Ringtones
Motorola Ringtones free
…
May 5th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Paul van dyk Ringtones…
Polyphonic Ringtones
Polyphonic Ringtones free
Potter Ringtones
…
May 6th, 2008 at 2:21 am
Download Ringtones…
Ringtones
Ringtones for a samsung
Ringtones for motorola
…
May 6th, 2008 at 10:05 am
100 free Ringtones…
Sprint Ringtones
Star wars Ringtones
Totally free Ringtones
…
May 6th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Ringtone maker…
24 Ringtone
100 free Ringtones
Adult Ringtones
…
May 7th, 2008 at 2:06 am
Make Ringtone…
Cellular Ringtones
Cheap Ringtones
Christian Ringtones
…
May 7th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Cheap Ringtones…
Dave matthews band Ringtones
Disney Ringtones
Download free Ringtones
…
May 7th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Spooky Ringtones…
Idol Ringtones�
Iphone Ringtones
Lg Ringtones
…
May 8th, 2008 at 1:44 am
Nokia Ringtone…
Music Ringtones
Nascar Ringtones
Nextel Ringtones
…
May 8th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Disney Ringtones…
Ringtone
Ringtone converter
Ringtones for motorola cell phones
…
May 8th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Xmas Ringtones…
Samsung Ringtones
School Ringtones
Shut up Ringtone
…
May 9th, 2008 at 12:19 am
Ringtones free…
Us cellular Ringtones
Verizon Ringtones
Verizon wireless Ringtones
…
May 9th, 2008 at 5:09 am
24 ctu ringtones…
Aflac ringtones
Adult ringtones
50 cent ringtones
50 cent ringtone
24 ringtones
24 ringtone
24 ctu ringtones
24 ctu ringtone
2 pac ringtones
2 pac ringtone
100 free ringtones
100 free ringtone
Idol ringtones
Hotli…
May 9th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Free tracfone ringtones…
Britney spears ringtones
Britney spears ringtone
Blackberry ringtones
…
May 9th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Free motorola ringtones…
Free cingular cell phone ringtone
Free cell phone ringtones
Free cell phone ringtone
…
May 9th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
6c6176e87c62…
6c6176e87c6251cecb9c…
May 10th, 2008 at 4:44 am
Download free ringtones…
Free verizon wireless ringtone
Free verizon ringtones
Free verizon ringtone
…
May 10th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Cheap ringtones…
Complimentary right ringtone
College ringtones
Cingular wireless ringtones
…
May 10th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Hotlink maxis caller ringtone…
Free motorola ringtone
Free mobile ringtones
Free mobile ringtone
…
May 11th, 2008 at 3:37 am
Free ringtones…
Hotlink caller ringtones
Hotlink caller ringtone
Hot ringtones
…
May 11th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Free cricket ringtones…
Download free alltel ringtone
Download cingular ringtones
Download cingular ringtone
…
May 11th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Download free alltel ringtones…
Free real music ringtone for nextel
Free polyphonic ringtones
Free polyphonic ringtone
…
May 12th, 2008 at 2:17 am
Britney spears ringtone…
Adult ringtones
50 cent ringtones
50 cent ringtone
…
May 12th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Get free ringtones…
Download ringtone
Download free verizon ringtones
Download free verizon ringtone
…
May 12th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Free real music ringtone sprint…
Free t mobile ringtone
Free sprint ringtones
Free sprint ringtone
…
May 13th, 2008 at 2:16 am
Free cell phone ringtones…
Cell phone ringtone
Caller ringtones
Caller ringtone
…
May 13th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Cricket ringtones…
Free composer ringtone
Free cingular ringtones
Free cingular ringtone
…
May 13th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Aflac ringtones…
Funny ringtone
Free virgin mobile ringtones
Free virgin mobile ringtone
…
May 14th, 2008 at 5:23 am
Free verizon ringtones…
Crazy frog ringtones
Crazy frog ringtone
Crank ringtone
…
May 14th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Free nextel ringtones…
Free music ringtone
Free mp3 ringtones
Free mp3 ringtone
…
May 14th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Download ringtones…
100 free ringtone
Idol ringtones
Hotlink maxis caller ringtones
…
May 15th, 2008 at 4:55 am
College ringtones…
Download free mp3 ringtone
Download free cingular ringtones
Download free cingular ringtone
…
May 15th, 2008 at 9:44 am
baseball handicappers…
christmas crafts
chubbyland
cibc
cigars
cindymovies
circut city
cityvibe
clips4sale
clitgames
clitical
closet oranizers
closet organizers
club penguin
coccozella
cohf
colbie caillat
cold fusion certificat…
May 15th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
improve memory by selfhypnosis…
epiko ng pilipinas
epikong pilipino
erosguide
…
May 16th, 2008 at 4:08 am
san diego condominiums http…
condolence phrases
consolidate student loans http
consumption junction
…
May 16th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
aer lingus…
bridal shower invitations
bridgett walther
brooke burke
…
May 16th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
gigagalleries…
asredas
assfilled
assisass
…
May 17th, 2008 at 3:54 am
powerball results…
18qt
2008 honda accord
2adultflashgames
…
May 17th, 2008 at 11:46 am
webkins…
vicks vaporub
victoria schattauer
vidchicks
…
July 4th, 2008 at 3:09 am
SG 4D Prediction…
winning Lottery is easy with the help of Supernatual Force…
July 20th, 2008 at 7:08 am
hammer fantastische filme downloaden…
Wo kann ich filme downloaden?…
August 18th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Acai Berry Diet…
Acai Berry Diet…
August 18th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Cd1602…
Cd1602…
August 19th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Cd9005…
Cd9005…
August 19th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Liberty Tax…
Liberty Tax…
August 19th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Cd9947…
Cd9947…