Well I hit the panic button last week and really had to put my head down and tail up to get back on top of things. I feel like I'm back to treading water again but at least I'm not drowning anymore. The trouble is when everything is due in at the same time and I have to rush, I feel like I haven't really given each task or assignment as much attention as it needs and I'm not 100% happy with the end result. I second guess myself a lot!
Over the last few weeks while I have been researching different online communication tools, I couldn't help comparing the differences between using Microsoft programs and Google. Microsoft runs like a well oiled machine, with all the kinks ironed out and really is as good as the person using it. Google on the other hand is like the budget version. A cheap knock off that offers the same things but just doesn't quite get it right. I do like using Google as my main search engine and I will probably stick with gmail but I don't think I will ever bother replacing Word with Googel Docs or facebook with Google+. I think so far this term I have had a chance to test drive a lot of different programs that I wouldn't normally have looked at, as I'm not very adventurous trying new things online and I tend to just stick to what I know, So I'm certainly more aware now that there are better options if you take the time to look.
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
Monday, 12 March 2012
OK now I'm starting to panic !
Yep. Its official I'm a little worried about getting everything handed in on time.
I'm not sure how it happened, one minute everything was going according to plan and the next, things started to get on top of me. It's not like I havent been putting the effort in. My youngest son told me; "I'm never going to TAFE mum coz you do way to much homework". I told him that it will be worth it in the long run.
Despite my whining, I am really enjoying it. I've discovered something about myself that I didn't know before, and that is I actually like learning new things. I never had that attitude at school, although that was over 20 years ago, and a lot has changed. I don't think I could have attempted to go back to school even 5 years ago as my life revolved entirely around my kids schedule and my excuse was that I just didn't have the time. I think I just didn't have the inclination.
Im not sure where all this rambling has come from. I better get back to examining my last week.
Started work on my 5 year plan. This was harder than I thought it was going to be. I've never really mapped out my life before. I have had ideas about where I want to be in the future, I've just never written it down before. I like the idea of having goals, although I'm my own worst critic and tend to be a bit negative when I think of anything good happening for me. The 5 year plan was a good way to see my life in a different perspective and not just inside my head.
I have also had a look at SPAM and online collaboration techniques. I only ever thought of SPAM as annoying junk mail designed to catch the gullible which probably sums it up, but I also got carried away reading up about the more sinister side of this where hard core SPAMers can access and control peoples computers. I know it happens but I always think it sounds like something that happens to 'other' people.
Online collaboration was interesting too. I looked into some Google features that I've had access to for a long time, but just never bothered checking out. Like Google+ and Google docs. I thougth these were great but I think my ignorance in computers let me down, because I couldn't get them to work for me the way I wanted.
In my last post I mentioned that I havent really used my Google calendar or Due dates table. I do actually think these are a good idea and useful. If I was working in front of a computer every day these would be a great tool, I just meant that for someone who is on the run from school to work to home to kids sport to dentist and back again a paper diary works better in my situation.
Speaking of running around every where I have to go and pick my son up from training.
See you next week.
I'm not sure how it happened, one minute everything was going according to plan and the next, things started to get on top of me. It's not like I havent been putting the effort in. My youngest son told me; "I'm never going to TAFE mum coz you do way to much homework". I told him that it will be worth it in the long run.
Despite my whining, I am really enjoying it. I've discovered something about myself that I didn't know before, and that is I actually like learning new things. I never had that attitude at school, although that was over 20 years ago, and a lot has changed. I don't think I could have attempted to go back to school even 5 years ago as my life revolved entirely around my kids schedule and my excuse was that I just didn't have the time. I think I just didn't have the inclination.
Im not sure where all this rambling has come from. I better get back to examining my last week.
Started work on my 5 year plan. This was harder than I thought it was going to be. I've never really mapped out my life before. I have had ideas about where I want to be in the future, I've just never written it down before. I like the idea of having goals, although I'm my own worst critic and tend to be a bit negative when I think of anything good happening for me. The 5 year plan was a good way to see my life in a different perspective and not just inside my head.
I have also had a look at SPAM and online collaboration techniques. I only ever thought of SPAM as annoying junk mail designed to catch the gullible which probably sums it up, but I also got carried away reading up about the more sinister side of this where hard core SPAMers can access and control peoples computers. I know it happens but I always think it sounds like something that happens to 'other' people.
Online collaboration was interesting too. I looked into some Google features that I've had access to for a long time, but just never bothered checking out. Like Google+ and Google docs. I thougth these were great but I think my ignorance in computers let me down, because I couldn't get them to work for me the way I wanted.
In my last post I mentioned that I havent really used my Google calendar or Due dates table. I do actually think these are a good idea and useful. If I was working in front of a computer every day these would be a great tool, I just meant that for someone who is on the run from school to work to home to kids sport to dentist and back again a paper diary works better in my situation.
Speaking of running around every where I have to go and pick my son up from training.
See you next week.
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
Where does the time go?
The difficulties, the joy, the usefulness (or not) of planning ahead.
I like to be organised, I like to be on time but somehow I always feel like Im rushing and disorganised.
Time management is something I've never really got the hang of. As far as time management at work, I tend to do what needs to be done in order of priority and then run out of time to put 100% effort into the things I leave to last.
I can certainly see the benefits of planning and organisation at work. Taking a moment to get orgnaised or plan the approach I wan't to take would probably save a lot of time in the long run.
I think I'm more organised as far as GSIT and my home/kids schedule goes but I don't think my personal life is what you would call a 'high pressure environment".
I've always been aware of my lack of organisation at work but in all fairness to me, working at Kmart isn't exactly rocket science and it never has had a negative affect on my work quality.
I have set up my goolgle calendar: I admit I haven't really used this because I prefer the old fashioned paper diaries and I have a calendar in the loo at home which is more accessable than the computer.
I have made my Assessments Due Date chart: This is more helpful but again once I made it I haven't really used it.
I have created my weekly priority list: This I find very useful and I use and update it all the time. This is something that allows me to see in the short term what is a priority and what I have already completed. It didn't take me long to set up and I can certainly see myself using something like this in the future.
I like to be organised, I like to be on time but somehow I always feel like Im rushing and disorganised.
Time management is something I've never really got the hang of. As far as time management at work, I tend to do what needs to be done in order of priority and then run out of time to put 100% effort into the things I leave to last.
I can certainly see the benefits of planning and organisation at work. Taking a moment to get orgnaised or plan the approach I wan't to take would probably save a lot of time in the long run.
I think I'm more organised as far as GSIT and my home/kids schedule goes but I don't think my personal life is what you would call a 'high pressure environment".
I've always been aware of my lack of organisation at work but in all fairness to me, working at Kmart isn't exactly rocket science and it never has had a negative affect on my work quality.
- I show up
- I do my work (what I don't finish today will still be there tomorrow).
- I go home.
Same stuff different day!
But I can understand how the need to use time and planning would be important in a different role.
As I am at GSIT to try and find a different work path, this would definately be a skill I would have to work on to improve.
I want to work in a reception or administration role and I would image this work day is all about priorites, and schedules.
I have never really thought about using a plan in regard to my career path until I did this class.I have set up my goolgle calendar: I admit I haven't really used this because I prefer the old fashioned paper diaries and I have a calendar in the loo at home which is more accessable than the computer.
I have made my Assessments Due Date chart: This is more helpful but again once I made it I haven't really used it.
I have created my weekly priority list: This I find very useful and I use and update it all the time. This is something that allows me to see in the short term what is a priority and what I have already completed. It didn't take me long to set up and I can certainly see myself using something like this in the future.
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