Death Bed Declaration

On their death bed, no one ever said, "I wish I had spent more time in the office."

Reducing Paper Use

Concerned about waste? Finding ways to reduce and reuse paper is one way to be eco-friendly and save money, too. Try these easy ideas:

print and copy double-sided

e-mail your documents as attachments

edit documents on screen rather than printing out and hand editting

Conserve Energy with Laptop Computers

Laptops computers use only 10% of the energy required by desktop computers, take up less desk space, and are virtually noiseless (no power supply fan noise).

Relieving Eye Strain

Look away from the computer screen regularly (stare out the window!) to exercise long-distance muscles of the eyes. Sit directly in front of your computer. When answering the phone, push the keyboard away and “swivel” your chair.

Paper Saving Fax Ideas

Reduce paper usage at the fax machine by faxing documents directly from your computer. Also, instead of using a cover sheet, use a transmittal sticky note or a rubber stamped transmittal block.

Screen Savers

Although screen savers are fun and you can get so many different and interested patterns and pictures, don´t rely on them to save energy. They are only meant to save phosphors in the screen.

Saving Energy

Turn off lights, computers, photocopiers, radios at the end of the day to save energy.

Remember to Send Thank You Letters

Thank you letters are an often overlooked, but nonetheless important part of your job hunting. Think of a thank you letter as an investment in your career —they reflect well on you and further your reputation.

Virtual Meetings Reduce Air Pollution

Be kinder to the environment by conducting meetings by telephone, teleconference, video conference or web conference when possible.

Reducing Computer´s Energy Use

Activate your computer´s ´sleep´ or ´quiet´ mode option so that when the machine is not being used, it will automatically switch from full power to sleep mode. This can reduce your computer´s energy use by as much as 70%.

Avoid Crowds and Save Time

Find quicker ways of doing things and you will reap the benefits in reclaimed time. One way to save time is to avoid crowds by buying postage online or by mail. The same principles apply to purchasing office supplies or doing banking.

Keyboarding Setup

Make sure your keyboarding setup is a good fit for you. When seated in your chair, with your feet flat on the floor, do your elbows and knees form right angles? If not, you are inviting discomfort - and possibly debilitating injuries to your back, arms and legs.

Reusing Format of Existing Letter

If you want to reuse the format and/or text of an existing letter, Word 97´s Letter Wizard makes it easy. Open the document you want to emulate, then select Tools/Letter Wizard from the menu bar. When applied to an existing letter, the Letter Wizard ´reads´ the document and displays a tabbed dialog box that lets you change only the key parts of the letter (such as the sender and recipient info). You aren´t forced through every step of the Wizard.

Storage on the Cheap

When organizing a home office on a budget, consider using discarded school lockers, which work great for coats and boots. A slightly battered metal cabinet with lots of drawers can hold bills, cheques, invoices, stamps, office tools, etc.

Caution: if you will be seeing clients in your office, err on the side of professional.

E-Mail in the Workplace

E-mail is not a completely private or confidential method of communication. Although directed to one person or a group, an e-mail can easily be forwarded to others. For this reason, e-mails should be written with care and should not include subject matter that you´d be uncomfortable sending to anyone other than the intended recipient.

Proper Alignment

For maximum comfort and to avoid injury, adjust your computer and chair properly. The bottom of your chin should align with the middle of your monitor. When keying, ensure a 75 to 90 degree angle at elbows and a straight line from elbows to tips of fingers. Angle seat pan back slightly to the left curve of lower back into back support, or roll up a towel to protect the curve of your spine. Make sure your hips and knees are bent at 90 degrees.

Control Your Conduct

Want to be taken more seriously on the job? Then, don´t use vulgarities or swear words. Crying, shouting and other emotional outbursts will also detract from your professional image. If you´re uncontrollably sad or angry, close your door or go to the rest room until you´ve regained control.

Writing Thank You Letters

Thank you letters should be warm and to the point. Try to avoid formal language. Instead write sincerely and express your honest feelings. Extend your thanks in the first paragraph. In the second paragraph, make a personal and specific comment about doing business with the client. Lastly, write another paragraph expressing your appreciation in a sincere manner and then close by thanking the client again.

Be Unselfish at Work

Unselfish co-workers contribute to effectiveness and productivity in the workplace. By putting team goals and objectives before personal interests, teamplayers increase their value to the team and at the same time boost their own self-esteem and confidence.