Sep 22 2006
Industry
Lovin’ this week’s Friday 5! What do you say?
1. At what time of day are you most capable of producing your best work?
Early evening, around 7:00 - 10:00 pm. (Notice: Not during normal “work hours.” Go figure.)
2. When you have lots of things to get done, are you more likely to get all of one thing done before moving on, or to do a little of one thing, a little of another, and a little of still another?
I tend to multi-task, but I often feel that this isn’t the most productive way to accomplish things. It’s often done out of necessity, but other times just because of a short attention span or boredom with a particular task.
3. Do television and music help you or hinder you when you’ve got work to do?
Music helps, TV hinders. When I was in high school, I used to be able to do my homework with my stereo blaring heavy metal as I sang along with every single word and played air guitar and drums. Now, I prefer music without words if my task requires deep concentration or if I am writing a particularly difficult paper.
4. When you realize you’re working inefficiently, are you more likely to grit your teeth and power through it anyway, or to put it all down and come back to it when the vibe is better?
If I have the time, I will put it down and come back to the task later when I am more focused. If I’m not seeing results at what I consider a reasonable rate, I will get frustrated and that becomes counterproductive. However, if a deadline is looming, I’ll put my nose to the grindstone and get it done.
5. What are your ideal working conditions?
Working on my iMac in my den with the air conditioner running, some smooth jazz playing softly in the background and a steaming cup of matcha green tea on my desk.
A 30-something Christian girl, blissfully wedded to her perfect match (the yang to her yin) of 14 years. Living life in Hawaii, less than 5 miles from her hometown, a slave to her mortgage payment, but seeking balance in her pursuit of family, faith, recreation, and rest.
1. At what time of day are you most capable of producing your best work? Early morning. After lunch - fuhgetaboutit.
2. When you have lots of things to get done, are you more likely to get all of one thing done before moving on, or to do a little of one thing, a little of another, and a little of still another? I’d rather do things sequentially. “Multi-tasking” for me is dangerous.
3. Do television and music help you or hinder you when you’ve got work to do? Both tend to hinder me. Unlike most people, I start really paying attention to the music and get distracted.
4. When you realize you’re working inefficiently, are you more likely to grit your teeth and power through it anyway, or to put it all down and come back to it when the vibe is better? Depends - most times I just try to get through it. Recently I had to do a write up for a project that will be published by the Electrical Power Research Institute (EPRI) and I had to come back to some portions where I was stumped and do a rewrite. I completed the draft and still have some editing to do.
5. What are your ideal working conditions? Lately I find myself getting bored and lulled to slee (really!) if I stay in the office all the time. I actually like going out “into the field” to do data logging, trouble-shooting and other tech stuff.
Hi Mark, thanks for sharing your answers!
Have a great week!