Tips on how workers can manage technology, and not let it manage them. Workplace productivity is being eroded by constant technology-based interruptions because people don’t know how to manage it properly.

Office workers’ attention is being diverted every three minutes by answering the phone, being alerted to an incoming email, responding to an alert on their BlackBerry, reacting to an instant message, or clicking on internet-based distractions such as YouTube or Facebook. These distractions consume much as 28% of an average knowledge workers’ day (Basex research).

As we receive more and more e-mail messages and other technology-based interruptions, it can feel like being hit by a digital deluge Without the skills to manage e-mail and other devices effectively, many people are wasting time just trying to keep up instead of gaining productivity through technology.

These tactics for distraction management can significantly increase your productivity:

1. Turn off the alarm or visual alerts

You wouldn’t let the postman empty a mailbag on your desk 50 times a day and you certainly wouldn’t let them ring a bell with each delivery. That’s exactly what you are doing if you check each e-mail when it arrives. Turn off the alarm or visual alert and take control of your e-mail and your time.

2. Learn how to turn off or manage alerts on mobile devices

As more and more people synchronize their phones and mobile devices they are being distracted by email alerts, meeting reminders at all sorts of inconvenient times. These alerts can ensure you are being distracted at home as well as work!

3. Treat e-mail like regular mail

Try to check your e-mail at regular times in the day, i.e. early morning, mid-day and late afternoon. Even if you receive a high volume of e-mails, you shouldn’t check more … Read More

Ancient history reminds us of people who have traveled and explored the world. Even up to this day, man never stops exploring the universe. These travelers just wouldn’t stop trying to find out some discoveries that they are also willing to share to the world. When before, men use natural instruments to guide them in their travel, today men created the GPS technology to help them track their travel and location more accurately.

Almost all of the best places in the world have already been explored (or so we thought). Man’s intellect has led into the discovery of the instrument called compass. With the use of navigational compass coupled with the ability to read maps, man can already find his away around in case he gets lost or is not familiar with a certain place.

With the introduction of Global Positioning System technology, compass and map reading somehow made a little back seat. Just a little background information, though, GPS technology was once conceived for use only in the military. In 1980s, however, this technology was already shared to the public.

Today, in recent times, tracking one’s position or location is very possible and doable with GPS satellites feeding the receiver with data. Aside from physical location or position getting tracked, GPS also has the ability to accurately track speed during the travel. With the basis of the speed being tracked, GPS can also provide details of arrival time.

Some GPS units are also loaded with maps depending on the purpose; it can be a GPS receiver for driving, sailing, hiking, flying, cycling and jogging. If you have a GPS unit that isn’t loaded with your specific map then you can easily purchase and download that particular map online. There are even maps that are provided for free … Read More