On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Be More Productive When Youre Crazy Busy

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Be More Productive When You're Crazy Busy If youre not able to self-regulate to shift gears when necessary then you may find yourself burned out and unproductive. A new book looks at how to find the right gear at the right time in order to thrive. Next time you dont want to beinterrupted while working, try posting a 5 on your office door or cubicle. If your co-workers are familiar with the idea that this means you are in fifth gear and are totally immersed in what youre doing and shouldnt be distracted, then they will leave you alone. Could it really be that simple toeliminate distractions at workand be more effective? According to a new book, 5 Gears: How to Be Present and Productive When There is Never Enough Time, authors Jeremie Kubicek and Steve Cockram say that if everyone would learn the various gears and what they mean, then they could operate in a communication shorthand and help everyone be more productive. Much like the gears in a car, the authors say their gears are: 1stgear:This is your time to fully rest and recharge. 2ndgear:You take time to connect with family and friends without an agenda or pressure to work or be productive. 3rdgear:This is your time to socialize. While you may believe this isnt important at work, Kubicek says that you must be really, really good at it to be productive. Thats because if you shut yourself away in your office and dont interact with your team members, you canmake the entire team more unproductive. 4thgear:Youve now moved into the work gear. This means checking off your to-do list and often multitasking. Most people spend their day in this gear. 5thgear:As mentioned earlier, youre in the zone andthinking strategically. The reason its important for teams to learn these gears(read more here)