Author
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Topic: Productivity and work patterns
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arborman
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4372
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posted 11 April 2005 12:45 PM
Out of curiosity - I'd like to know how people find ways to stay productive in an office environment. I have a pretty good idea how all of you procrastinate... My experience, in school and in the office, is that I am productive in fits and starts. I dawdle, fidget and babble forever, then have bursts of intensive productivity in which I get enormous amounts of work done. As far as I can tell, my productivity is comparable to my colleagues - certainly in revenue figures (controlling for experience in the job). I see other people who seem to spend all of their time actually working, yet we produce the same amount in the end. There seem to be others that have amazing levels of productivity, to which I have no real interest in aspiring. What do the rest of you office worker types do? Am I alone in my fits and starts, or is this common? At times I feel guilty, like I should spend every working moment earning my pay (I work in a non-profit agency). On the other hand, I produce good stuff (I think). I'm pretty sure I'd burn out quickly without the non-productive time.
From: I'm a solipsist - isn't everyone? | Registered: Aug 2003
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Crippled_Newsie
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 7024
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posted 11 April 2005 04:36 PM
quote: Originally posted by arborman: Like I said - in the end, I'm productive. I'm more curious about how other people function on a given day at the office. Bursts of productivity mixed with goofing off (for lack of a better term)? Steady, moderately productive work? Panicked last minute stuff?
I worked rather the way you describe yourself doing when I was in a job that I disliked. I dawdled; I went outside for a smoke; I went to get a cuppa Joe; I worked a little; I went to talk to a friend on the other side of the room; I went for a smoke, etc., etc., ad nauseum. The only thing that could get me to settle down was an impending deadline. Everyone in the room as doing the same kind and quantity of work that I was charged with, but they somehow found it easier to stomach, I guess. In the end, I had to make 'fake deadlines' for myself to keep forward momentum: I'd tell my boss that I'd have X piece of work by the end of the day for her to look over, even though there was no particular need for it to be done that day, as opposed to the next. I'm someone terribly concerned-- perhaps overly concerned-- with making sure I do every little thing that I say I'm going to do, so that practice finally lit a fire under my kiester. The above said, procrastinating was never a problem at all of those jobs that I've liked. If you're at all like me... maybe you're telling yourself it's time to look for a new gig?
From: It's all about the thumpa thumpa. | Registered: Oct 2004
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