I was once one of those people who thought that backing up the computer was unnecessary. After all, I had programs that protected against viruses and spyware so why worry. However, itsy-bitsy did I know I would loose everything, and that if I had backed up necessary files, then I would have been able to replace pictures and other data that was lost.
As I turned on the computer, Saturday evening, August 16, I had no knowledge as to what “hell” I would have to endure. When the desk top came up, I noticed a flashing red square, in the task bar indicating an update for the AVG virus program. One thing that I always kept in mind was that if updates are not installed, then the computer may not be fully protected against viruses, spyware or malware programs.
I started to download the updates, and then shortly received an error message. Apparently, the updates would not download because of a missing bin file. Shortly afterwards, another box appeared, I presumed from AVG, which contained the missing file. I was advised to download the missing bin file and then the updates; this downloading resulted in the loss of the AVG program. The next move was to delete and then reinstall AVG, I went to the add/remove section of the Control Panel and deleted the program. After deleting, I then tried to reinstall AVG but was unable to. An error message stated that AVG could not be installed because the AVG tool bar could not locate AVG. (very strange message) Next, I tried to delete the program again, resulting in a message stating that AVG could not be installed because of an error. For some reason I could not fully delete nor install AVG.
Within seconds, a red shield with a white x appeared in the task bar. This shield is exactly the same icon stale by Microsoft Security Center, when there is a problem with security. The shield warned that the computer was at risk, and that there was also a security problem. Next, a box appeared stating that the computer may be infected with viruses, and asked if I wanted the computer scanned. (Yes or No boxes) I checked no. Apparently, the checked no was ignored, Antispyware 2009 came up, and started to scan. To stop the scanning I had to quickly reboot the computer.
After rebooting, I went to the Security Center, located in the Control Panel, to check if the firewall was still up. I found that the firewall was up, but as far as an antivirus program, AVG was listed as outdated, although the version installed was 2008. I went to Microsoft live and went to help. I entered an online chat with Nesty, who advised me to fully run a scan on the computer; we shortly lost the internet connection thereafter. Since the scan would probably take at least 5 hours and the hour was late, I decided to start the scan and then go to bed.
I checked on the computer Sunday morning and found that the scan had produced 10 items and 10 problems and had removed all except three of them. I once more tried to install AVG, but it failed. I then tried to install other antivirus programs; however they would not download since I already had an antivirus program installed. So again I went to Microsoft for befriend. I spent at least 2 hours with the Microsoft agent and nothing seemed to befriend. The agent took my name and stated a technician would call me Monday morning.
On Monday, August 18, the technician called. She asked for permission to connect to the computer so that she could get an idea of what was happening, however the connection was barred by AVG. She asked me to try different scanning programs, such as Microsoft One Care, or Micro Trend House Call, to get rid of the bug. She would have another technician call me Tuesday, and that there was nothing more that she could do. Later that day, I noticed several more changes in the computer. First of all, the computer was very sluggish and took longer to function. Microsoft Word was also affected. I was allowed to type four to five letters and then the screen would freeze. In order to keep typing, I had to click on the Word shroud after every four or five letters. Another problem with Word was that some of the typed letters would disappear after being typed on the screen. I was unable to play games off-line; the games would either freeze, pause constantly or shutdown. Lastly, my home page kept changing from Yahoo to Goggle no matter what I did. If I went on-line to a secure site such as Microsoft.com, the box with the “Your computer may be at risk” kept popping up, insisting that I scan the computer for viruses.
Tuesday came and quiet no one could get the computer freed of this malware program that had fraudulently used AVG update, and copied the Microsoft shield. The technician asked first if I had a back up copy of my files, the answer was no. Then the technician had me try to restore the computer by going assist to August 13, however that action was also blocked. Again, the technician did all that he could do, and decided that the final step would be to have a more advanced technician call me Wednesday. I was told that “at this time, my only alternative would be to reformat the hard drive” unless the technician that I talked to, had more knowledge of this type of problem.
The very first thing that the technician tried to do on Wednesday morning was to take control of my computer, but he to was blocked. Secondly, he then had me try to restore the computer, but this action was also blocked. The next step was to enter the registry to check on what programs were there. After opening the registry, I found several files that belonged to AVG. I was then told to take no action but to terminate the registry and to open my documents, where I found other AVG files. These files were what kept me from downloading any other antivirus software, by indicating that I had an antivirus program. Secondly, these files were misplaced, and not removed when I deleted the AVG antivirus program. I was then told that the last alternative was to reformat the hard drive, and to understand since there wasn’t a abet up copy, I would loose everything
.As we talked on the phone, a different box popped up stating that the computer could be scanned free by Antispyware 2009 and that they were partners with Microsoft and also recommended by Microsoft. I then reported this to the technician, who then warned me not to let the malware scan the computer. Even though, I did not choose yes or no, the program began to scan on its own, and again I had to reboot the computer. The technician stated that he would talk me through the reformatting because of the malware problems.
While reformatting, I asked several questions about the Antispyware 2009 malware program and found that the program was a few years old. It first started out with pop ups that enticed the user to download a free scanning program. Later, the malware program began to imitate updates for other antivirus programs and sought new ways of gaining access to computers.
The purpose of the Antispyware program is to gain access to computers and take control. This program will make changes to your computer indicating that there are Trojans, viruses and antispyware present. Next, the malware will offer free scanning of the computer, and often will fraudulently set that they are partners with Microsoft, and also recommended by Microsoft. If the scanning is allowed, then the scanner will find quite a few viruses and spyware programs. Next, the user of the computer will be told that the only way to remove these programs is to purchase the Antispyware or Antivirus 2009 program, which cost approximately $50-$80. These programs only removed what the malware installed on the computer and are then completely useless.
After getting control of the computer, and getting benefit online, my first action was to download all recent updates to Windows XP. Secondly, I downloaded the free 90 day trial of Microsoft OneCare, and then updated to Explorer 7.
I decided to explore and looked for information concerning the Antispyware 2009. The first site of interest that I found was from Metacafe which displays a video that explains how some of the malware programs take over computers. I found the information quite tantalizing and beneficial. Next I went to the Wikipedia site. This site gave more detail about the rogue software, better known as malware or malicious software. This software forces users to pay for the removal of the nonexistent spyware so that they can gain control of their computer. The malware is a Trojan that infests the computer. At times, if the Ok button is clicked on the box, the user is taken to a pornographic site, and if the x in the upper right corner is clicked, the malware is downloaded and activated. Wikipedia also explained that this malware does not actually remove spyware, but can add more if purchased. Wikipedia goes even further and provides a partial list of various malware programs to avoid. Another site worth interest is Sunbelt Malware Research Labs. Malware Labs points out that these malware programs can collect private information located on the computer, plus make the computer very unstable for use. The last site that I visited was Antispyware 101. This site warns that a malware program is using e-mails to gain access to computers. They sent out e-mails entitled CNN.Daily Top Ten stories. Many of the users who received the e-mails conception that the e-mail was from CNN news listing the top ten stories of the day, so they opened it. Instead of getting informative news, they received malware instead. This malware used the Trojan Downloader. Agent. El. This Trojan will fake spyware programs, increase pop ups, give fake warnings, modifies Windows Registry, take over the desk top, crash the operating system and bringing up the blue screen of death. The site goes further and explains how to protect your computer, what a Trojan is, and what can be done if you have the problem.
One thing that I did learn from all of this is that making backup copies of your computer system is very vital and can abet to support needed information and files, especially if you have to reformat your drive. Once reformatted, use your backup copy to bring the computer up to date. Don’t catch the chance thinking that the antivirus programs will protect your computer. They just may not.
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Filed under Free Customer Support Software by on Feb 4th, 2012. Comment. 
In today’s topsy-turvy world of productivity, appearing at ease and relaxed is perceived as laziness, and having too exiguous to do. To the contrary, witness after study expose that the most relaxed and at ease among us are the most productive. Stress leads to mistakes, lack of progress, and fright in the workplace – yet those of us who consciously work to maintain calm can be passed over for promotions, or we get assigned an increasing workload until we are forced to behave in the frantic work-style of those around us in order to get it all done. Appearing “busy” while remaining calm may seem dishonest, and yes, even unethical, but nothing could be further from the truth. These tips are not intended to help you to avoid additional work, but to enable you to do the work you have while maintaining inner calm, yet retain the benefits of those who appear busy. These 12 things will not only make you look busier, but will actually wait on you to cultivate inner calm and increase your productivity.
1) Walk Faster – This is one of the most effective items on this list, and one of the easiest to integrate into your life. Increase your walking pace at work by about half. Brisk walking is good for you, it will increase blood-flow to the whole body, and serve you to think more clearly when you get back to your desk. Brisk walking need not interrupt your zen-like state of mind, and can actually help you to retain focus. Folks look at someone walking briskly as a person on a mission, and need no know that the mission may be simply to take up a paycheck or reload a printer. Walking faster will immediately create for you an image of motivation and drive.
2) Carry Something – Whenever you bag up from your work situation, take something with you. A clipboard, pile of papers, runt shipping box, or a day planner – preferably open. A person carrying something is almost always TAKING it somewhere, and that means work. Try carrying a stack of papers across a satisfactory ways at your original, brisk, roam. Folks will physically jump out of your way, out of respect for your perceived mission.
3) Prioritize Face-Time – Meeting face-to-face with coworkers and customers greatly improves relationships, morale, and be association, your personal sense of well-being. Keeping good personal relationships with those you work with and for can really go a long intention toward overall outlook. In terms of looking busy, though, in-person meetings are a godsend. Folks walking by an impromptu meeting survey two people, tackling a problem together, and out-of-office meetings further create the image of a go-getter while allowing you some drive-time to play your favorite album and chill. Always stop back in at the office between away meetings, as a reminder that you exist, and you’re not sitting at home.
4) Stop Eating at Your Desk – This one is counterintuitive to both of our goals, but very effective when put into practice. Eating at your desk may seem like a good idea – you’re foregoing a break from work, clearly signaling your commitment to your work, and you’re able to enjoy your meal in the only personal space you have at work – your desk. Taking your allotted lunch break away from the office, though, will go a lot further for you on both counts. Getting outside, or grabbing lunch out – away from the office – provides an automatic recharge for your personal energies, and stepping away for a break provided by the terms of your work actually creates a favorable image for you. Employers like someone with a life.
5) Talk Louder – It took me a little while to realize the effectiveness of speaking loudly. Several people in my office – an open floor notion – take their phone calls and meetings at their desks, and spend the whole time talking powerful more loudly than necessary. While the practice was annoying to me, it has a lot of benefits for them. Folks they meet with and talk with know that they have my coworkers’ full attention, and they come across as assertive and able. To those of us sharing their space with them, there can be no question that they’ve been working today – we heard the whole thing.
6) Dress It Up – This is a general rule for success in any workplace. Arrange your work wardrobe so that you consistently dress one notch above the standard dress code for your peers. I work in a relatively casual environment, full of sneakers and polos. My work wordrobe consists mostly of solid color button-downs and casual dress-shoes. I don’t dress so nicely as to stand out too much, but just enough to announce through my clothing that I’m serious about being here. My wardrobe has no real effect on my state of mine, but speaks volumes to those around me.
7) Engineer Some Piles – Make a mess. No, really! Obtain a minute bit of a mess in your workspace. A few pile of papers, binders, software, or whatever you work with, arranged neatly in your workspace, create the sense of a backlog and of productivity. If you have actual work waiting for you on a back burner, arrange it so that it is in concept. This will serve not only as a reminder to you of the project, but announces to those passing through that you’ve got a lot to do, and are working to get it done. If you must go so far as to engineer the piles, change it up from time to time, or you’ll just look like a slob, not busy.
Create More Calls – If you speak frequently to co-workers or customers, use the phone, and not email, whenever possible. In addition to increasing the do of point #5, above, verbal conversations can improve your relationships, and let folks around you know that you’re working. If you run into a lull period, and run out of folks to call, don’t be afraid to engage the services of an auto-call system, such as wakeupland, the awake brothers, or telepixie. Even if you’re not at your desk, getting your phone to ring a few times does a lot for your image.
9) Stretch Your Legs – Take a trot around the office once in a while, even if you don’t have to. It’s extremely relaxing and signals that you’re busy. Stop and check whether the printer needs paper, grab a cup of coffee, or send your outgoing mail in several trips throughout the day, rather than one batch at the end. These mini-breaks are extremely welcome during busy times, and can help you to ground yourself in your work.
10) Collaborate – At work, you’re surrounded by a whole bunch of folks working toward the same end as you. In today’s workplace, we have a tendency to isolate ourselves and our work from others. If you have a particularly difficult scrape to solve, ask your coworkers for help. They’ll be alive to to help, and flattered that you’ve asked. Your relationships will improve, and you’ll be amazed how energizing it can be, working with others once in a while. There can be no question as to what you’re working on, either.
11) Take a Demolish – No kidding, sprint away for ten minutes or so. Answer nature’s call, get a brief breath of air, or have a brief chat with a coworker. You’ll come serve energized and get more work done throughout the day. Good, productive workers do their jobs well and reach in on schedule. They’re not afraid to smell the roses along the way. Taking a smash now and again with confidence indicates to your manager or employer that you have everything under control, and that you don’t play into the fear-based office politics that require you to be seated at your computer, typing away, every minute of the day. Take a break if you need it, and do it assertively.
12) Help Out – I love helping out around the office. It gives me a chance to visit with coworkers, gives me a break from difficult work, and shows that I’m part of the team. I’ll walk around the office with a box of staples and offer folks a quick refill, or help the maintenance guy carry the trash out to the dumpster. Those who advance quickly hold themselves above nothing, and a little unusual work can break up the week in a very pleasant way.
Be productive, be busy, and look it. Maintaining your sanity in a fast-paced work environment is easier for some of us than it is for most, and even if we do have to work hard to maintain aloof, we should be able to do what we can to cease in a good headspace. Use these tips, and pause ecstatic and productive.
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Filed under Free Customer Support Software by on Jan 28th, 2012. Comment.
- Don’t allow your a/c condenser get clogged up with leaves and debris this fall. Attach a wrap around filter (available in several sizes) around the condenser using the elastic cords and hooks included. A wrap around filter is bound to be much less expensive than a service call to clean out the yard debris-or a replacement!
- Don’t let snow and ice keep you indoors this winter! Roll out an ice/snow carpet and you won’t even need to scrape ice off the sidewalk. No need to use salt or chemicals that harm grass and are dangerous for animals.
- Another convenient way to beat the icy conditions is to attach shoe ice treads to your shoes – available for men and women. The rubber sling pulls on over each shoe and the stainless steel spikes dig into the ice to prevent slipping and sliding.
- Prevent frozen outdoor faucets by installing faucet covers. Foam insulated faucet protectors seal your faucet from the wintry and keep it insulated all winter long.
- Protect your walk-behind lawn mower from the elements all year long with a lawn mower cover.
- Don’t forget about your lawn tractor or other lawn equipment. Keep them covered and protected with a Lawn Tractor cover, available in several sizes.
- Distribute the heat from your fireplace or wood stove more evenly throughout the house with a room-to-room fan that mounts easily in the corner of your door frame. Won’t interfere with door closings. Circulates air in a 10″ x 12″ room three times per hour.
- Replace your floor registers with filter registers. They are rustproof, scratchproof and never need painting. They come with a reusable filter that helps reduce the dust and pollen that blows through registers. These can be rinsed under the faucet periodically, filter and all.
- A quick, inexpensive and convenient way to absorb your room with original scents is to install register filter pads fair inside your floor register. They release a fresh, clean fragrance throughout the room every time air blows from the register and trap pollen and dust particles at the same time.
- Save on your heating and cooling bill all year long with a magnetic register sheet. In the winter, cover up the ceiling level return register so only cool air is returned and in the summer, mask up the floor level return so warmer, ceiling-level air is returned.
- Keep a rechargeable heated ice scraper plugged in and ready to go this winter. A built-in, heat-conducting, de-icer rod that melts ice and snow off your windshield quickly means no more pouring hot water on your windshield, or scraping and “chopping” away at ice.
- Don’t damage your vinyl siding by hammering or drilling into it to hang decorative items. Purchase vinyl siding hooks and that hook beneath the siding and they’ll never rust because they’re stainless steel. Easy to move or re-position. Holds up to 10 pounds. Perfect for hanging an outdoor thermometer or outdoor decoration.
- No more spilling gasoline in the grass or on the garage floor when filling up your gas-powered lawn mower or other yard equipment. The Petro Pump safely dispenses gasoline from the five-gallon container that sits on the ground. You can control fuel flow with the hand pump and nozzle, and there’s no heavy lifting to use a funnel for pouring gasoline from the can into the mower.
- Don’t be late for work this winter waiting for your car to warm up! Commute in warmth with a heated car cushion. Plugs into cigarette lighter and heats up almost instantly!
- Cut down on tracked in dirt and make your outside steps and landing safer by using rubber stair treads. They’re hobble resistant, raised treads so rain, snow and dirt drop down through the treads and they look like wrought iron.
- Don’t let your garbage cans or a/c condenser units detract for your landscaping. Hide them behind a resin or hardwood privacy cloak set. Sets include four 23″ x 44″ tall panels plus five connector posts that you push into the ground to add stability.
- Create a beautiful, realistic-looking, natural-stone patio surface in just minutes. No prepping the ground or pouring cement when you beget your patio using Flat Rock Patio Blocks. The UV-stabilized polymer blocks are 16″x16″x1″ thick and have bottom grabber “teeth” that keep the blocks in place.
- Stop a watery mess before it starts! The Water Eater absorbs 10 times its weight in liquid and can be molded to any shape needed. No need to danger about water seeping in that lower elevation door. Air dry and reuse over and over again.
- Decorative Privacy Film creates the look of stained or etched glass, providing privacy and allowing natural light into a room or garage. They’re self-clinging so can be easily repositioned. Cut to size with scissors and peel off back.
- Protect your table from spills and stains with an Elasticized Table Pad. These any-shape table pads fit any table, round, square or multi-sided from 36″ to 48″ in diameter or corner to corner. Heavy duty vinyl with fleece backing. Wipe clean and tough enough for outdoor tables.
- When you’re short on state, but like to stock up on grocery items on sale, get the Thin Pantry Caddy. The unique originate of the Pantry Caddy allows you 56″ high and 24″ long storage, but is so narrow it fits in a 10″ wide station. Great for maximizing previously unused space between a refrigerator and the end of the counter.
- Don’t set off the smoke alarm every time you preheat the oven! Use a non-stick oven liner on the bottom of your oven to catch drips and spills, and just wipe them off. Available for electric and gas ovens.
- Those wire shelves seemed like a good understanding at the time. Now you can prevent small items from falling through the shelving with a Shelf Liner. Heavy duty, plastic liners wipe clean and can be ordered in 12″ or 15″ width.
- Retract able Outdoor Clothesline saves the trouble and expense of installing poles and unsightly clotheslines. The vinyl coated line pulls out to 60″ length and then retracts when your clothes are dry and you’re finished using it.
- Nellie’s Dryerballs save you time and money. No need for fabric softener liquids or dryer sheets! As the Dryerballs drop in the dryer they separate fabrics, increasing air flow and reducing drying time up to 25%. The nodules on each Dryerball relax clothing fibers to earn clothes feel softer.
- Linen organizers set aside time and frustration looking for bath towels, hand towels and wash cloths. Three sizes of Linen Organizers accommodate all your linens of all sizes from blankets and pillows to slight hand towels and wash cloths, and withhold them neatly stacked and organized.
- Holiday lights, whether indoors or outdoors are handsome, but they can be so frustrating to hang and it’s so unsightly and risky to run extension cords everywhere. The Multi-Outlet Extension Cord solves that problem with three grounded outlets spaced at equal intervals, along the 25′ cord. UL-approved for indoor or outdoor use.
- Your Outdoor Light Display can be even more spectacular – and arranged exactly as you envision when you spend the Outdoor Power Center/Timer. The Stanley Weatherproof Power Center brings 6 grounded outlets plus a 7-day timer right where you need them. Protected outlet covers keep rain and snow off the outlets and the swivel stake pushes into the ground so you can install it easily, anywhere.
- Don’t risk burning yourself by lighting rolled newspaper to originate a fire in your fireplace. Fatwood sticks are loaded with organic resins that ignite instantly. Two sticks start a fire. They burn with an intense heat and get fires going quickly.
- Stop overnight heat loss through your chimney with a Nite-Guard. The folding steel panels are held in place by your fireplace screen and prevent warm air from pouring up your chimney at night after your fire has gone out.
- Don’t forget about your feathered friends when cold weather settles in. Hang birdseed ornaments, made from all-natural mixed seed in your trees. They’re a perfect present for bird-lovers and for the birds!
- Love lighted greenery along your walkway, up your stair rail our window boxes but can’t bear the conception of wrapping lights around all that expensive new greenery? Pre-wired faux evergreens with clear mini-lights earn decorating the outside of your house and yard a snap!
- Never know what to buy the ecologically conscious folks on your Christmas list? How about a solid pewter ornament, heirloom quality with a satin hanging cord. For each ornament purchased, a new tree is planted.
- Whether you’re supplementing your child’s school lessons, or keeping them brushed up on academics over the summer, wipe-off workbooks for math, spelling, and many other subjects are a great way to help your child review. Reuse over and over again.
- Self-teaching flash cards are a expansive way for your child to quit occupied on a road trip, waiting in a doctor’s office or even sitting in the cart at the grocery store.
- Need a home office, but don’t have an extra room available? The Office/Home
Desk & Organizer will fit in any corner of a room, at 24″W x 31″H x 18 1/2″ deep when opened. Closed, it fits in the space of a file cabinet. - For the man in your life who can’t find his watch or his cuff links when he needs them, the Microsuede Men’s Dresser Valet eliminates dresser-top clutter and organizes his loose change, watches, cuff links, and wallets in four roomy compartments.
- Using century-old technology, the Effusion Lamp wipes out odors in your home or office by converting special lamp fuel into ozone (O3) that binds with airborne particles to purify the air and destroy many airborne bacteria. This lamp is a recent and attractive gift for the woman who “has everything.”
- China and Stemware Storage systems are made of padded cotton twill. Each piece has a zippered top and extra padding between items that insert to place between plates and to protect glass and crystal.
- Get those treasured photographs out of the bottom of your drawer! Store them in the Photo Storage Tray. It organizes and stores up to 400 4×6 prints and each compartment lid has a built-in 4×6 frame so you can display a picture that represents the topic of photos stored in that area.
- Hanging Locker Storage has a mirror, photo frame, 5 mesh pockets and dry erase message board. Comes with a D-ring and an S-ring so it will hang in any locker. Everything your child needs for their school day will be at their fingertips and easy to find.
- Keep your compost pile contained and out of site with the Slatted Compost Bin. It’s made from pressure treated timber pieces that simply slot together. This fine bin has no base and is guaranteed for 15 years against rot.
- If you consume time on the road, commuting, traveling for work, or visit out of town often, the Rear View Lens is a must-have. This lens is easy to install-adheres to your back window-and eliminates blind spots behind, on the side and below the rear window of your larger vehicle. Enhances your line of vision and makes backing up and changing lanes safer.
- No need to lug your heavy vacuum cleaner up and down stairs just to vacuum each step or an upstairs hallway. 12′ long extension hose provides the reach you need to vacuum and entire flight of stairs. PVC plastic hose comes with a universal adapter to fit most vacuums.
- Stop digging through drawers and bags of old make-up, fresh make-up, whose makeup!? Organize and store all your cosmetics in a revolving cosmetic organizer. Everything is easy to see, easy to accept and neatly stored. You’ll be amazed at all the extra space you’ll have where your make-up used to be!
- No matter what your stage in life, you’ll never be caught off guard when you decide to trade in a car, refinance a mortgage or sell a home, or resolve to write or update your will with “My Personal Affairs.” This unique software file for organizing your life is a 15 section e-workbook that helps you organize all your personal papers and important information.
- The worse sound in the world is that of a heavy item scraping across the top of your wood furniture. Don’t you wish you had a blueprint to fix that item so it didn’t damage surfaces in your home? The Scratch and Plight Protection Kit includes a variety mix of self adhesive and nail-on felt pads, slides, and vinyl bumpers to prevent nicks & scratches on furniture and floors, protect surfaces such as countertops and glass tables, and reduce noise throughout your home.
- The Kidde Combination Carbon Monoxide & Smoke Awe provides two significant safety devices in a single unit. The alarm includes a voice warning system that announces “Fire, Carbon Monoxide or Coarse Battery” so there’s no confusion about the nature of the emergency.
- Dress up your dining room or cover up those well-worn chairs with a dining room chair whisk cover. Available in multiple styles, colors and sizes. What a great way to get a new room without the expense of new furniture.
- Winter nights seem especially chilly, even when you use an electric blanket, if it gets kicked off the bed. Those coils are so uncomfortable too. Stay warm and toasty at night, by covering your mattress with the comfortable and convenient Deluxe Sleepwarmer Heated Mattress Pad with 10-hour shut-off, multiple heat settings, and extra coils by feet that offer perfect heat where and when you want it!
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Filed under Free Customer Support Software by on Jan 21st, 2012. Comment.
In today’s topsy-turvy world of productivity, appearing at ease and relaxed is perceived as laziness, and having too little to do. To the contrary, study after study show that the most relaxed and at ease among us are the most productive. Stress leads to mistakes, lack of progress, and scare in the workplace – yet those of us who consciously work to maintain calm can be passed over for promotions, or we get assigned an increasing workload until we are forced to behave in the frantic work-style of those around us in order to get it all done. Appearing “busy” while remaining calm may seem dishonest, and yes, even unethical, but nothing could be further from the truth. These tips are not intended to help you to avoid additional work, but to enable you to do the work you have while maintaining inner calm, yet retain the benefits of those who appear busy. These 12 things will not only make you look busier, but will actually help you to cultivate inner calm and increase your productivity.
1) Walk Faster – This is one of the most effective items on this list, and one of the easiest to integrate into your life. Increase your walking pace at work by about half. Brisk walking is good for you, it will increase blood-flow to the whole body, and help you to believe more clearly when you get befriend to your desk. Brisk walking need not interrupt your zen-like set of mind, and can actually assist you to retain focus. Folks look at someone walking briskly as a person on a mission, and need no know that the mission may be simply to rob up a paycheck or reload a printer. Walking faster will immediately create for you an image of motivation and drive.
2) Carry Something – Whenever you procure up from your work area, take something with you. A clipboard, pile of papers, small shipping box, or a day planner – preferably inaugurate. A person carrying something is almost always TAKING it somewhere, and that means work. Try carrying a stack of papers across a trustworthy ways at your new, brisk, hobble. Folks will physically jump out of your way, out of respect for your perceived mission.
3) Prioritize Face-Time – Meeting face-to-face with coworkers and customers greatly improves relationships, morale, and be association, your personal sense of well-being. Keeping good personal relationships with those you work with and for can really go a long way toward overall outlook. In terms of looking busy, though, in-person meetings are a godsend. Folks walking by an impromptu meeting see two people, tackling a problem together, and out-of-office meetings further create the image of a go-getter while allowing you some drive-time to play your favorite album and chill. Always end back in at the office between away meetings, as a reminder that you exist, and you’re not sitting at home.
4) Stop Eating at Your Desk – This one is counterintuitive to both of our goals, but very effective when keep into practice. Eating at your desk may seem like a top-notch idea – you’re foregoing a break from work, clearly signaling your commitment to your work, and you’re able to enjoy your meal in the only personal space you have at work – your desk. Taking your allotted lunch crash away from the office, though, will go a lot further for you on both counts. Getting outside, or grabbing lunch out – away from the office – provides an automatic recharge for your personal energies, and stepping away for a break provided by the terms of your work actually creates a favorable image for you. Employers like someone with a life.
5) Talk Louder – It took me a little while to realize the effectiveness of speaking loudly. Several people in my office – an commence floor plan – take their phone calls and meetings at their desks, and spend the whole time talking much more loudly than necessary. While the practice was annoying to me, it has a lot of benefits for them. Folks they meet with and talk with know that they have my coworkers’ rotund attention, and they approach across as assertive and able. To those of us sharing their area with them, there can be no question that they’ve been working today – we heard the whole thing.
6) Dress It Up – This is a general rule for success in any workplace. Arrange your work wardrobe so that you consistently dress one notch above the standard dress code for your peers. I work in a relatively casual environment, full of sneakers and polos. My work wordrobe consists mostly of solid color button-downs and casual dress-shoes. I don’t dress so nicely as to stand out too powerful, but just enough to instruct through my clothing that I’m serious about being here. My wardrobe has no accurate effect on my state of mine, but speaks volumes to those around me.
7) Engineer Some Piles – Make a mess. No, really! Make a little bit of a mess in your workspace. A few pile of papers, binders, software, or whatever you work with, arranged neatly in your workspace, create the sense of a backlog and of productivity. If you have actual work waiting for you on a abet burner, arrange it so that it is in view. This will serve not only as a reminder to you of the project, but announces to those passing through that you’ve got a lot to do, and are working to accept it done. If you must go so far as to engineer the piles, change it up from time to time, or you’ll just look like a slob, not busy.
Create More Calls – If you speak frequently to co-workers or customers, use the phone, and not email, whenever possible. In addition to increasing the do of point #5, above, verbal conversations can improve your relationships, and let folks around you know that you’re working. If you run into a lull period, and run out of folks to call, don’t be afraid to engage the services of an auto-call system, such as wakeupland, the awake brothers, or telepixie. Even if you’re not at your desk, getting your phone to ring a few times does a lot for your image.
9) Stretch Your Legs – Take a walk around the office once in a while, even if you don’t have to. It’s extremely relaxing and signals that you’re busy. Stop and check whether the printer needs paper, grab a cup of coffee, or send your outgoing mail in several trips throughout the day, rather than one batch at the end. These mini-breaks are extremely welcome during busy times, and can help you to ground yourself in your work.
10) Collaborate – At work, you’re surrounded by a whole bunch of folks working toward the same extinguish as you. In today’s workplace, we have a tendency to isolate ourselves and our work from others. If you have a particularly difficult quandary to solve, ask your coworkers for help. They’ll be eager to help, and flattered that you’ve asked. Your relationships will improve, and you’ll be amazed how energizing it can be, working with others once in a while. There can be no question as to what you’re working on, either.
11) Take a Break – No kidding, walk away for ten minutes or so. Respond nature’s call, find a brief breath of air, or have a brief chat with a coworker. You’ll come back energized and get more work done throughout the day. Good, productive workers do their jobs well and near in on schedule. They’re not afraid to smell the roses along the map. Taking a demolish now and again with confidence indicates to your manager or employer that you have everything under control, and that you don’t play into the fear-based office politics that require you to be seated at your computer, typing away, every minute of the day. Take a break if you need it, and do it assertively.
12) Aid Out – I love helping out around the office. It gives me a chance to visit with coworkers, gives me a smash from difficult work, and shows that I’m part of the team. I’ll walk around the office with a box of staples and offer folks a quick refill, or help the maintenance guy carry the trash out to the dumpster. Those who approach quickly contain themselves above nothing, and a little unusual work can break up the week in a very sterling way.
Be productive, be busy, and discover it. Maintaining your sanity in a fast-paced work environment is easier for some of us than it is for most, and even if we do have to work hard to maintain calm, we should be able to do what we can to quit in a grand headspace. Use these tips, and finish cheerful and productive.
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Filed under Free Customer Support Software by on Dec 2nd, 2011. Comment.
Learn to type
Today’s library and university resources are almost all computerized, and access to data stored in data banks (both on PCs and mainframe systems) is vital. If you can handle a keyboard accurately and reasonably lickety-split, you will not only save time but give yourself a much wider range of information sources, especially through the so-called information superhighway (the Internet).
But you need to be able to type for another important reason.
Learn computer skills
Word-processing on a PC saves essay preparation time because there is no need to retype or rewrite corrected material. You simply call the rile up on to the screen, earn whatever changes you want and then print the revised copy, maybe only one page out of five. The time saving is vast and you can hold the final version on hard or floppy disk for later use. Some of the search, index sorting and layout functions of a good software program could be useful, too. ‘Find’ facilities can help you to salvage specific information quickly without having to raze reading time.
As an support to recognize and essay preparation the PC is indispensible. So if for some reason you are not computer literate or cannot keyboard, commence your studies by mastering this tool. Most schools and further or higher educational institutions have training courses in computer use. These are very popular and you should enroll as early as possible. Learning to access and use the system well doesn’t take long in these days of user friendliness but keyboard skills take time to refine. Even if you are insensible to start with, persevere, do all your work on the computer and you will soon find the process becoming automatic.
Beware the fanatic who insists everything has to be done by the book. Most people can manage to earn good work out of a computer with runt theoretical understanding of the system or the software. And you don’t have to touch-type (type with all your fingers) to gain reasonable hurry, whatever the experts say. Many two-finger typists can rattle along at a good rate, good enough to retain pace with their thoughts anyway. One necessary word of warning: computers crash. Perform back-up disks of all your work so that, in the unhappy event that the system lets you down (and it will one day), you have a copy of all your work.
Identify sources of information
Locate and familiarize yourself with all the information resources in your academic and wider community. Sometimes material in a major public library is more accessible than in a school or university library. This may be because the demand for the book
If you don’t know how to get the best out of a library, go to the enquiries desk and ask a librarian to talk you through everything you need to know and show you how to use card or computer-based catalogues. These are usually straightforward, but a few tricks of the trade can greatly speed up your work. Don’t be shy or afraid to ask, however elementary you reflect your question may be.
In pinning down information sources never overlook people or contemporary accounts. If, for example, your work in modern history covered the period of the Great Depression and World War II, there are still many people around who were there and remember their experiences clearly. Firsthand sources are often much more exciting and revealing than dry textbook accounts of raw facts. An essay rounded out by reports of firsthand experience of particular events will fascinate the reader and score advantageous marks in comparison with a dull parade of dates and monotonous academic assessments.
You can also expand history sources by looking beyond the set texts. For the period referred to above, many popular magazines and newspapers are available in bound editions or on microfiche, and these offer detailed accounts of events. In terms of social history from around the mid-1850s to, say, the 1970s, the humorous publication Punch contains a wealth of superb material, much of it sharply indispensable. Slide editions of old journals like the Toiler give fascinating accounts of fashions and social mores of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
In contemporary terms students who are computer literate enough to salvage on to the Internet have the world (and possibly some big bills) at their fingertips because they can access university and library resources worldwide. They can also communicate with people anywhere in the world and share information (at a price).
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Filed under Free Customer Support Software by on Dec 1st, 2011. Comment.