OPTED Magazine

Have you ever found blocks of your day that turn into “dead” time?  You might face an unexpected line at the DMV (okay –there’s always a line) or a delay on the commuter train.  As you wait to accomplish the tasks that you’ve set out to accomplish, you find a window of time where you could take advantage of multi-tasking.

For this reason: always have a system for portable “read and review” material that is readily available to help you maximize your time.

Read and review is a concept that comes from David Allen’s book about getting things done and he talks about the importance of categorizing inputs in your life into read and review material.  These materials can range from magazines and books, to emails and catalogs.  Basically, it’s anything that requires you to read and digest material that may or may not have information you will need to act on later.

Here are some strategies to make sure that you make the most of your dead time by keeping read and review material available:

• Always carry a book or magazine with you – keep one in your car, your bag or purse.  You never know when you’re faced with a block of time where you can substitute reading and getting through your paperwork for staring into space
• Create a folder in your email box for “read and review” – many meetings and conference calls that professionals are required to sit through have numerous opportunities for multi-tasking.  Having readily available email organized in its own space that you’ve determined is for reading and absorbing information  makes it simple to hit print before you begin your meeting.

This strategy is one that I have already integrated into my life and it doing wonders for eliminating wasted time and helping me get through the large volume of reading required for my everyday life.  I highly recommend it!

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