Category: Free Advice

5 Time Management Tips You Need to Know

Olivia NolesFree Advice, Professional Development, , Leave a Comment on 5 Time Management Tips You Need to Know

When you have an ambitious to-do list, it can be a challenge to accomplish everything. If you’re feeling like there just isn’t enough time in the day, it may be a sign you need to improve your time management skills. As someone who struggles with time management, these tips help me stay on track and increase my productivity. Here are our top tested and proven time management tips.

1. Create a to-do list

Writing down everything you need to accomplish at the beginning of the day clears your mind before diving into work and ensures that you won’t forget any of your tasks. Making to-do lists is one of the best ways to stay organized, and it’s also incredibly satisfying to see items get crossed off throughout the day.

2. Set a timer

If you often find yourself losing focus or getting hung up on a task, you may benefit from setting a timer. Setting a timer for each task tricks your brain into being more productive because you feel like you only need to stay focused for short periods of time rather than hours on end. Giving yourself a deadline keeps you motivated, allowing you to power through the task.

Setting a timer not only helps you complete tasks more efficiently, but it also gives you a realistic look at how long it actually takes you to complete something – a fantastic reality check for people who struggle with time management skills. Realizing how long items actually take will help you with our next suggestion: time blocking.

3. Practice time-blocking

Now that you know exactly how long each task should take, try time-blocking your day. Time-blocking is a game-changer because it reinforces the benefits of using a timer and allows you to effectively organize your day, which prevents you from wasting any time and helps you complete all your tasks on schedule.

4. Don’t fight yourself

If you cannot stop thinking about a certain task on your list, accomplish that task first rather than trying to force yourself to work on something you’re not connecting with at the moment.

For example, if you are working on one project, but cannot stop thinking about the ideas you have for another project, switch to the one you cannot stop thinking about and get all your ideas out so that when you come back to the previous task, you are able to focus.

5. Stop multitasking

You may think you’re getting a lot done when multitasking, but in reality, each task is probably taking longer and is probably not resulting in your best work. Focusing on one task at a time allows you to complete each task more effectively, and most likely, more efficiently.

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5 Tips for Increasing Productivity

Olivia NolesFree Advice, Professional Development, , Leave a Comment on 5 Tips for Increasing Productivity

Overwhelmed by a never-ending to-do list? If you’re struggling to accomplish everything that needs to get done, try establishing a routine that keeps you on track. These tips for increasing productivity are easy to incorporate into your daily routine and will help you check off everything on your to-do list.

1. Determine a system for prioritizing tasks

Identifying which tasks are most important each day helps you ensure that you are allocating your time effectively and staying on track with your goals. Many planners have guides for prioritizing tasks, such as to-do lists with sections for your “top three priorities,” and you can also easily note your top tasks for the day on your own by the order on your to-do list or with stars, for example.

2. Organize your day strategically

Did you know that different people perform better at different times throughout the day? According to Medical Daily, it is important to listen to your body’s natural clock and learn how your mind works best to increase your productivity levels. Once you have determined which tasks are most important and when you work best, plan to accomplish your more important tasks during your high-performance time of day.

For example, I find that I am most creative and productive during the first half of the day, so I always plan to tackle the projects that require more brain power, such as writing blog posts, in the morning and save the tasks that are more manual and less creative, such as posting pre-written social media copy, for the afternoon.

3. Work in an environment where you can focus

If you work from home, creating an environment where you are able to focus without distractions, such as TV, roommates or family members, is extremely important to improve productivity. Having a dedicated space is also beneficial for work-life balance when working remotely because it helps your brain differentiate between work and home.

If you do not work in-office or have an environment in which you can focus at home, try working at a coffee shop, library or co-working space and see what works best for you.

4. Take breaks

Did you know that regular breaks help decrease stress and increase productivity? If you feel yourself losing focus, it’s more productive to take a short break from your task and return to it later rather than trying to push through in the wrong headspace.

5. Do the hardest thing first

Our last tip to improve productivity is to do the hardest thing on your to-do list first. Sometimes the hardest thing isn’t actually that hard, you are just putting it off because, for some reason, you have a mental block with the task. It may simply be that you haven’t given the project much thought yet, or maybe you have to make a phone call that you are nervous about. Whatever the task you’re dreading is, once you get that out of the way, the rest of your to-do list will flow more easily.

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“Tell Me About Yourself”

Clairemont InternBlog, Free Advice, Professional Development, , , , 1 Comment on “Tell Me About Yourself”

As a rising senior in college, many job interviews are (hopefully) just around the corner. However, there is always one question I seem to dread the most.

“So, tell me a little about yourself.”

This question, like it or not, is inevitable in nearly any job interview. How do you answer it? What is the interviewer looking for? What information is relevant? Am I just summing up my resume? How far into detail should I go?

I recently attended a workshop at UNC-Chapel Hill entitled “From School to the Working World: Tips and Advice for Landing Your First Job.” Here is where I finally understood what interviewers are looking for when asking this very question (or, at the very least, where I found a good starting point for crafting my answer).

One of the speakers described it to us this way. “Think of your answer as an elevator pitch.”

An elevator pitch: a short, sweet and to-the-point summary that defines you and shows your value. This narrative should explain how you got to where you are today and what has led you to the job interview. It should be concise enough that it could be delivered during a short elevator ride.

Want to deliver the perfect elevator pitch? Here are a few tips.

  1. Create your own brand identity. In any job interview, you’re essentially selling a product: yourself. Think of your brand identity as the mission statement of a company and the purpose of a product. Your mission statement describes who you are and encompasses your professional values; your purpose should explain why you are interviewing for the job and why you’re the best candidate for it.
  2. Develop your storyline. Think of your elevator pitch as a quick story (emphasis on “quick”). Give some background on yourself, explain where your “spark” was (for example, you gained interest in the marketing field after X experience), describe your growing interest and relevant experience in this area, and finally, explain why you are at the interview today. Make sure to have good transitions; don’t leave the interviewer connecting the dots on his or her own.
  3. Do your research. Have a good understanding of the company and its work. This will also help you stay calm and cool during the duration of the interview. By the end of your elevator pitch, you should have somehow tied what you have said back into the company and the job for which you are interviewing. With that in mind, your elevator pitch won’t be the same for each job interview. Tailor it to each specific job.
  4. Dress for success. Rumor has it that most interviewers generally make up their minds on a candidate within the first few minutes of the interview. Make sure your first impression is a strong one by first and foremost dressing the part. Then dive into your elevator pitch and get that job!
  5. Practice makes perfect. Give your elevator pitch some serious thought and make sure it represents the best version of yourself. It will take some trial and error, and it helps to practice with others. Most universities offer career centers where soon-to-be graduates can arrange mock interviews. You can also run through common interview questions and practice your elevator pitch with a friend or family member. Get some feedback! Find out if your elevator pitch is memorable or not.

Looking for other ways to develop your professional skills? Clairemont team member Tracy Lathan shares insights from the book Lean In.

Written by Sissy Rodriguez, junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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Photo of the Week: Growth Energy

Jasmin SessomsBlog, Free Advice, Photo of the WeekLeave a Comment on Photo of the Week: Growth Energy

Have you ever stopped to think about what is in your gas tank? Last week I learned more about ethanol while working with Carolina PR and shooting a video for Growth Energy.

Did you know? Ethanol can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 86 percent, and this percentage continues to increase with ongoing innovations in advanced biofuels. Global ethanol production and use is estimated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 110 million metric tons every year – the equivalent of taking nearly 20 million vehicles off the road each year.

Using E15 is an easy, convenient way drivers can help safe guard the environment. E15 is cost efficient which is something everyone can support!

Want to see more of the Clairemont Team’s fun during the week? Check out our weekly photo posts here.

 

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Friday Five: Mother’s Day Edition

Sarah HattmanBlog, Free Advice, , , , , Leave a Comment on Friday Five: Mother’s Day Edition

Mother’s Day is less than 48 hours away, which means there is not much time left to find a gift that lets your mom know just how much you love and appreciate her. It’s the one day of the year set aside to show her gratitude for all she does, and finding that perfect gift can be tough – especially if you are looking to find something other than the standard flowers or candy. Yes, it might sound a little daunting or even down right worrisome given the time crunch, but fret not, here are five ideas that are sure to hit the mark.

Special Memory from Your Childhood

Does your mom have mementos from your childhood? I am guessing she probably does. Perhaps there’s a picture of a younger version of you helping her in the kitchen or the two of you on a family vacation. Whatever the photo, have it framed so your mom can display it in a prominent area of her home and be reminded of the happy memory often.

Hobby Goodies

Moms spend much of their time taking care of everyone else, but this doesn’t mean they don’t have other interests. Does she play a sport, spend her free time in the garden or have a passion for reading? A great way to encourage her to take time for herself – other than just on Mother’s Day – is to stock a basket full of goodies that reflects to your mom’s hobbies or interests.

Creative Cards

Skip the store-bought card, and send her a sweet message that comes with a sweet treat. Real Simple offers six fantastic ideas to help you design a card or craft that is sure to melt her heart and possibly curb a craving.

A Good Night’s Sleep

Chances are your mom stayed up many nights to take care of you. Now you can thank her by creating a homemade good night’s sleep kit.  The internet is full of recipes for lemon, lavender, peppermint and chamomile teas to help her relax and drift on into dream land. But why stop there? Natural Living Ideas offers seven DIY ideas for a perfect night’s sleep.

Journal

This gift is recommended for the sentimental mom. It will allow her to express her feelings and encourage her to take time to reflect. You can take it to the next level by writing the first entry that captures on one or two of your happiest moments with her.

What have you done for your mom that has been meaningful to her?

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