Tag Archives: techchics

Workout Wear for Chic Tech Chicks

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Every once in a while, it’s time for us tech chics to get out from behind our Macs, switch our iPhones to iTunes and hit the gym. Hopefully you’re sitting on an exercise ball for at least a few of those 40+ hours each week but whether you’ve chosen to bounce your way through your day or not, getting the blood pumping is crucial to all office workers. Since we’re all computer nerds here, we buy so much of our clothing digitally and all of these pieces are available to order online.

And you have to look sexy while doing it! Come on, grey sweats and a large white t-shirt you got for free in 2002 aren’t going to cut it.  Take your workout wear up a notch with this guide to the hottest trends in workout clothing for women.

Hot workout tops

The wrap top is a classic go-to and must have for any woman who ever plans to go to the gym. It’s stylish and supportive and shows just a tiny bit of cleavage. You can also wear it to work under a sweater, especially with the wrap-V look. The Athena Sports top from Pink Mascara for $68 is one of the best on the market due to the longer length and thicker straps.

And what would a workout wear post be without some support from Nike? Try on this graphic workout tank for $39 with a built-in bra and Dri-fit technology. While we’re not a fan of the lining being polyester, the top still gives great range of motion for excellent elliptical workouts.

 

 

 

Perfect exercise capris

Capris have always been my favorite workout pant. Shorts can bunch or slide when you stretch and long pants can get too hot. Capris are like the Goldilocks of workout wear: they’re just right. Plus,they’re super comfortable when you’re chilling at your computer, blogging on the weekends. This first pair not only has tummy support and a great, fitting shape, but proceeds benefit the Susan G Koman foundation. Pants are $35 from Kohls.

For the serious athlete only, this $100 pair of capris by Vata Brasil  is sporty, supportive, chic and colorful. Click here to find them also from Kohls.

 

Sexy Sports Bras

As the basis for your workout attire, a good, quality sports bra is a must. BUT WAIT. Sports bras are not recommended for computer work due to the strain put on your neck. Try a bra like the Shock Absorber from Zappos for $69. It’s stylish enough to wear by itself on a hot day but works well under any t-shirt or even layered under one of the tanks above. Zappos says it’s for medium impact activities so if you’re planning to run a marathon, it might not be the choice for you. Not to get too graphic, but the less motion you put your ladies through now, the less downward motion you’ll experience as you age.

Also from Zappos is another Nike product: the awesomely colorful Pro Victory. However, this bra is only recommend for C cups and below due to the lighter weight chest band.  It comes in a few other great colors but like the Shock Absorber above, it can be worn under a t-shirt or by itself.

 

Accessories

Now that you have all of those awesome clothes, you need somewhere to keep them! Enter the hot pink Puma workout bag for $45 from Zappos. It has helpful, convenient and, most importantly, breathable, inner mesh pockets and the whole thing can be tossed in the washer when it gets a little too stinky. The size is just big enough for a laptop or iPad as well so toss in some of your tech gadgets for use before or after your workout.

And, in case you want something more intimate for your iphone.

bra-pocket

Don’t let working out dictate your wardrobe and don’t reach for your boyfriend’s basketball shorts next time you’re headed to the gym!

*Photos courtesy of Zappos, Kohls and Pink Mascara via RewardStyle. Author is a RewardStyle authorized blogger.

ipartygram

ipartygram

 

Fashion Apps for Geek Tech Chic

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Best Fashion Apps for Geek Tech Chic

There are hundreds of fashions apps out there but most cater to high-fashion and designer brands. If you want to stay true to your geek chic – techchics style, a standard fashion app probably won’t cut it. No need to despair, though. More and more developers are coming up with apps that will satisfy the geek in you but without taking away your chic, fashionable side.

Fashion Nomad:  If you’re going to get only one fashion app, this is the one. Perfect for the geeky, quirky fashionista on the go, Fashion Nomad allows you to choose a city (major cities in all continents are covered) and then search for unique clothing stores in that city. Looking for vintage clothing or indie boutiques? What about designer flagship shops? Fashion Nomads tells you where to go and gives you the right directions to get you there. The app sells for $1.99 and comes with free regular updates.

 

 

LUCKY: Using technology to look good –What could be more techchic? The LUCKY app was created by Lucky Magazine, which scouts the racks of thousands of fashion stores every month to bring you the best of the season. Now you can use your phone or iPad to choose your favorite item and then let the app track it down at a store near you. You’ll get directions to the store and you can even put the product on hold if you plan on picking it up the same day. Nothing near you? LUCKY will suggest places to buy it online. Besides sections for shoes, kids, bags and clothes, the app also gives you Shop Deal of the Day and Editor’s Daily Picks, in case you need some help deciding what to wear. The app is free.

SHOP SAVVY: Shop Savvy takes fashion right into the future. Simply point your iPhone or iPad camera to a barcode and click “scan.” The barcode will appear on your screen and the app will immediately start searching for the product in nearby shops and online stores. You’ll get not only price comparison among competing stores, but also complete inventory information, so you know where to go if you want to buy something right now. The app is free and new versions allow you to scan the barcode of products you own and sell them to other ShopSavvy users.

Netrobe: Need some help coming up with a stylish look? Rather than searching through countless magazines and websites trying to find somebody who understands the geek chic look, work with what you already have. Netrobe allows you to photograph and upload photos of your own clothes and accessories and then helps you create stylish combinations. Feeling adventurous? Choose the random option and Netrobe will create a unique, quirky combination of items. Need something more “put together”? You can create your own combinations or make a couple of selections and let Netrobe suggest how to complete the set.

Whatever your style, there’s always an app out there for you, so don’t be afraid to experiment to make the most out of your look.

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ipartygram

iPhone and iPad Maintenance Essentials

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Apple products are famous for being low maintenance, however it’s important to remember that the iPhone and iPad are powerful devices, and even the former is more like a portable computer than a phone. Both devices run using operating system software and contain apps, which are software programs themselves. As with computers, it’s helpful to carry out maintenance on your iPhone and iPad occasionally to keep them working efficiently and help prolong their lifespan.

Protection

The first step in iPad and iPhone maintenance is to invest in a sturdy case. A case isn’t just to prevent scratches and screen cracks, but it can also limit the amount of dust and dirt that gets into your iPhone casing. A screen protector is also helpful as it keeps your device’s screen free of dust and oils. The touchscreen is one of the most crucial features of an iPhone and iPad, and damage can stop the this working, so you need to take adequate steps to ensure your screens are protected properly. I just got one from iFaceMall.com but not sure if you don’t actually go to China you can get it but its a seriously great case.  Our other fav is Case-Mate, however you can get good values at Target, Wal-Mart and other places.

Cleaning

Cleaning is an important part of iPhone and iPad maintenance, even when you have a case. To clean your device, turn it off and unplug it to prevent static electricity forming. Clean the device with soft, slightly damp microfiber cloth. If you decide to use screen cleaner, only use brands that are specifically designed for iPhone and iPad cleaning, and never use household or commercial-strength cleaning solutions.

Battery

As your iPhone and iPad age, the battery life will diminish, however you can take steps to prolong its lifespan. Take your iPhone or iPad case off to charge the device, as otherwise it might overheat, which could lower the battery’s capacity. Apple recommends running through at least one full charging cycle every month for each device to keep electrons moving, which means fully charging the device, then completely draining the battery. It’s also important to keep your iPhone and iPad out of the sun, as heat lowers the amount of charge the battery can hold.

Content

Free up extra memory on your iPhone and iPad by deleting apps you don’t use on a semi-regular basis. When performing iPhone and iPad maintenance, close programs in the multi-tasking tray. Back-up your content regularly to avoid losing data through a software crash, or when updating the iOS.

Upgrades

When you connect your iPhone or iPad to iTunes, you will receive a notification if a new software upgrade is available. Keeping software up-to-date can affect how your device functions, as upgrades can help fix bugs, can contain new software that helps your iPhone run more efficiently and can contain security patches that help make your iPhone data more secure.

Reboot

Rebooting your device can help cure any minor iPad or iPhone software issues. Just like turning off or restarting your computer can help reset software problems, the same happens with your Apple devices. When rebooting an iPhone or iPad, press the home and sleep/wake buttons at the same time until you see the Apple logo.

Other Tips

Other tips that will help maintain your devices and help prolong their lifespan include keeping them away from magnets, as these can affect their functioning. If you use your iPhone to listen to music during a workout, you should also be conscious about whether you are shaking the device, as this could cause it to malfunction. Avoid using your iPhone or iPad in the rain and snow, and keep them well protected in these conditions as water inside the casing will cause damage.

iFlipTips

iFlipTips

Social Media Addicted? – The Text You Take is the Life You Make

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Social networks were once an extension of our everyday lives, something we used when we were bored and had some free time in our hands. Over time, socializing over the internet has taken over our lives, to the point where many people are now suffering from social network addiction and shunning real life relationships in favor of virtual ones.

A number of studies are now showing that our love for virtual socializing has become an addiction for many. Gadget-advice site Retrevo conducted a study in 2010 and found that 42 percent of people open their Facebook or check their Twitter account as soon as they wake up – sometimes before they even get out of bed. Probably more telling is the fact that 24 percent of people text message while in the bathroom and 32 percent would interrupt their restaurant meal just to answer a message. Begin by look at your own uses and think about how annoying it can be to others when you interrupt a conversation for a text message.  One of the best movie lines is from “The Devil Wears Prada” where her boyfriend says to Emily, “the person who’s call you take is the relationship you are in” when Emily takes a call from Miranda while in a conversation with him.  Also, if you’re text message is more important than the person you are with then they run your life because you don’t.

That need for virtual interaction has moved beyond social networking places. Social shopping is a new form of e-commerce that allows you to interact with virtual friends during the actual shopping experience.
Social shopping marketplaces such as Groupon act like a bazar of sorts, where you can get in touch with others who are buying or selling their wares, while shopping communities such as Kaboodle allow you to discuss products with fellow shoppers or ask for advice on an item you’re considering.

Social shopping apps such as Pose and Fashism are blurring the lines between social shopping and social networks. Pose allows you to take photos of your shopping experience (or the items you take home) and immediately upload them online, so you can get feedback from the virtual community.  Fashism is a similar app, although Pose has a “friends-only” setting option, while Fashism allows everybody in the network to see your posts. Part of the attraction of these sites relies on the fact that they allow you to “take a friend along” when you go shopping, even if it’s not a real one.

Experts believe people with low self-esteem problems or suffering from depression are more likely to become virtual addicts. Virtual lives don’t present the same level of challenge and risk than real-world connections, which is why many people decide to rely on them to find friendship and “conversation.”

Could you be a social media addict? Experts recommend looking out for these clues:

  • You spend more time online than interacting with real people
  • You cancel plans with your real-life friends in order to follow a Twitter chat or series of updates
  • You feel panicky if you’re on vacation somewhere and you can’t access your Facebook account regularly
  • How important is it to check for updates? In the Retrevo study, 19 percent of people admitted to checking their Twitter account in the middle of the night if they happened to wake up to use the bathroom, and 40 percent admitted to doing it while driving. If this sounds like something you would do, you might have an addiction problem.

As long as you use it in moderation and not as a replacement for real-life interaction and relationships, social media can improve and enrich your life. It’s only when it becomes an excuse to hide from the world that you should start to worry.

 

 

Desk Accessories for Tech Chics

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If you’ve been keeping an eye on ChicsTech, you noticed that we posted the coolest gift guide you’ve ever seen this week. Click here if you missed it and you’ll find a ring shaped like the enter key, some of the best ornaments for your tree as well as a Hello Kitty backpack. For more gift ideas and tips for geek gals, check out the Twitter feed over to the right or follow @BeautyApps on Twitter.

While this post is also full of great ideas for holiday gifts, it’s more about decorating that place where you spend 40+ hours per week typing, twittering, facebooking, blogging and, well, working. Spruce up the ole desk with our guide to chic desk accessories.

The first must-have desk accessory is a mouse pad. But not something you picked up for free at a conference or your printing company gave to you so you think of them each time you move your mouse. No, no. Instead, find something cool, calming and stylish like this Click and Swag $15 mouse pad from ModCloth. 

To keep track of the day of the week while you’re “wired in”, get a cool calendar like this one that has cubes for day, month and year. It’s about 5 inches long and is $15. It’s fun, colorful and will trumps even the most best wall calendar.

 

 

 

 

 

Now this next desk accessory is super unique. And at first, you might not even think it would work. But trust it, it does! Urban Outfitters makes this Bamboo Keyboard that works on any PC (not Mac, sorry) and is easy to clean and, they claim, easy to type. For $80 it’s a heck of a statement piece and even if you don’t decide to use it on a daily basis, it makes a great decoration and looks vintage.

Oh ho! I disgused desk ornament. This little guy might look like the keys on a keyboard but is in fact a stapler, paperclip holder, keyboard brush and hole punch. Everthing is mini as the whole set is about 6 inches long. Urban Outfitters also sells this (so you can buy your desk tools and your keyboard on the same shopping trip). The whole set is $18 and well worth it. If you’re gifting it, this makes a great stocking stuffer.

 

 

 

Finally, what would your desk be without some speakers? This little panda-shaped groove box plugs in wherever headphones are accepted and is highly portable. While it doesn’t deliver Bose-quality sound, it will definitely get you through your day and make you smile each time you look at it.

The speaker can be purchased by clicking this link and it’s $20.

 

 

 

 

 

And, if you are in college, school or just studying, here’s a great app:

and for your parties and events:

 

 

College Tutoring & Business Coaching Idea Tracking Using iFlipTips – Q&A Tool, Organizer & Session Notetaker-Recorder

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iFlipTips is a new study and training app for iPhone and iPad from TECHtionary. Useful for students, facilitators, and trainers, this app is invaluable for professionals in a coaching role. Not only can iFlipTips help you facilitate coaching sessions, but it can also help you record and organize client records, and send them notes of what you discussed afterwards.

Whether you’re engaged in business or life coaching, iFlipTips can help you prepare and record successful sessions. As a note-taking app, it allows you to create flashcards containing bite-sized pieces of information using different mediums.

The app is divided into two sections: iTips-Ideas Cards, which help you create training notes, and iFlipCards, which use a question and answer format. Each iTips-Ideas card or iFlipCard contains a box for text, an image, an audio recording and a video clip. Using different mediums, you can create notes for clients using a format that suits their learning style, and that they feel most comfortable with.

Some clients might prefer brief text notes covering only the most important points of the session, while others might prefer receiving audio or video recordings of key moments, or even the whole meeting. By sending them notes in different formats, you could help speed up their learning process, and increase the rate at which they retain information you discuss during their sessions.

iFlipTips’ folders system helps you organize your notes in a way that enables you to store and retrieve them efficiently. The folders are fully customizable, so you can create a filing system that suits your way of working. Potential methods of organizing your notes include using main folders as a calendar system, creating a separate folder for each week or month, then sub-folders for individual clients you will see within that time period. Ordering the folders in this way helps you organize session material in advance, and plan when you need to conduct mid-contract evaluations and reviews.

Alternatively, you can use the folders to organize notes and prompts structured around your methodology or framework. For example, if you use the GROW method, you could create a main folder for each separate session, with separate sub-folders containing prompts for each step of the framework detailed on individual iTips-Ideas cards. This can help remind you of useful questions at key moments in the session, and to stick to a boundaried framework. You could also consider organizing prompt cards by issue, creating separate folders for motivation, procrastination, indecisiveness, and so on, so you can reference relevant questions depending on what struggles your client raises during a session.

While iTips-Ideas cards can be helpful for making general notes about sessions, you can use iFlipCards to create questions and answers around key issues for your client. For example, you can prepare sets of questions before a session, then record the client’s responses during your meeting using brief text notes, or through the audio or video functions. This can be helpful discussion material during the session, and you can also share the notes and clips with the client via email afterwards, giving them material they can use for reflection in between sessions.

Reputation Management: Business Warfare – Top 5 Steps to Respond to and Diffuse Negative Comments and Attacks

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 Business Warfare – Top 5 Steps to Respond to and Diffuse Negative Comments and Attacks 
As a midsized business, it’s always nice to receive positive comments and feedback so you know what you’re doing right. But criticism and negative feedback are just as useful, sometimes even more so. If you can take a step back and avoid taking negative comments personally, they can also serve as a guide toward greater business success. Being on the receiving end of unpleasant feedback or even insults and attacks can turn out to be the catalyst that helps you build your business. To use them in the most effective manner, follow these five steps for responding to negative comments and diffusing insults and attacks.
  1. Be Quick to Respond. According to a study conducted by Cone, a Boston communications and strategies agency, 80 percent of all consumers opted not to purchase from or frequent a business due to negative feedback they read on the internet. Review sites such as Angie’s List and Yelp have the power to impact your business positively or negatively depending on the reviews left there by customers. Although you might not be able to stop a bad review, you can respond quickly to avoid it escalating and damaging your business in the process.
  2. Be Personable and Professional. Respond to negative feedback in a personable and professional manner. Introduce yourself and your title, whether you’re responding online or in-person. Rather than making excuses, acknowledge that you appreciate the person’s words and will convey them to the rest of the team.
  3. Refrain From Defensive Behavior. When responding to a dissatisfied customer or bad online review, refrain from comments made out of anger or defensiveness. Stooping low in your response only makes the company look worse and may cause the situation to escalate.
  4. Listen and Take Action. New Jersey-based marketing expert JC Dawkins told Entrepreneur.com that she and her husband decided not to try a new restaurant in the area based upon a horrible review she read online…one that had been left unanswered by the owners. Whether the negative review was warranted or it was left by someone who’s being insulting and attacking for no reason, it’s important to listen and take action to avoid a repeat situation. Ask yourself if there’s a kernel of truth in what’s being said. If so, how can you change things for the better?
  5. Follow Up. Whenever bad reviews or negative feedback prompt you to make changes in your business it’s important to follow up with the customer to let them know. This gesture of good faith can be the deciding factor that converts an unhappy customer to a happy and loyal one. Take the time to post a follow-up comment or contact the customer via email, by phone or through the mail.

The perceived value of your products and services can decrease significantly based solely upon negative reviews. By responding promptly and in a professional manner, you can diffuse bad reviews and negative comments and turn them into business-building opportunities. Although negative feedback can impact your business, it won’t cause as much damage as your lack of response.  

Following these steps shows that you care about your business and how you can best serve your customers.

Business & College Presentation Development and Improving Presentation Skills Using iFlipTips

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Good presentation skills are crucial. We use them in our careers and our personal lives, and utilize these skills even when we might not realize it. Developing your onsite and online (webinar) presentation skills can have a positive impact on many different areas of your life and, for that reason; it’s beneficial to improve your presentation skills, even if public speaking isn’t a key part of your job role right now.

iFlipTips is a study and training app for iPad and iPhone that revolutionizes the way we deliver and absorb information. As well as being an invaluable tool for students of all subjects, iFlipTips can also help you when you’re teaching yourself new skills. The app avoids the traditional text-based learning style, and instead focuses on providing you with a variety of tools to help you create flashcards that increase your learning speed and help you retain and recall more information in less time.

The iFlipTips app is divided into two sections: iTips-Ideas cards and iFlipCards. Each card contains four different formats: text, image, audio, and video, so you can record and store information using different mediums. When studying and improving your presentation skills, you can use these different formats to learn new skills more efficiently.

If you’re working to improve your presentation skills, the best place to start is to evaluate where you are at the moment. iFlipTips helps you do this, as you can record yourself giving a staged or real presentation using the audio and video functions. Doing this can help you identify and improve aspects of your presentation, such as your body language and tone of voice.

The ability to record videos and audio clips means you can also capture snippets of public speakers and presenters you admire, and use the recordings to compare their style to your own practice sessions. Watching other successful public speakers, you can identify what you enjoy about their delivery, and attempt to reproduce that in your own presentations.

As you develop your skills, recording yourself can also help you prepare for live public speaking engagements. Thorough preparation helps you gain confidence in your ability to give an engaging and interesting presentation. Practice is the key to success, and using the iFlipTips video function, you can simulate what it feels like to have a live audience.

The text function can help you make key notes about presenting skills, for example that you should never start with an apology unless you’ve made an error, and that you should always credit the source of quotes you use. By saving these “notes” in ordered folders, you can easily refer back to them later to remind yourself of key messages and tips.

As well as helping you improve your presentation skills, you can also use iFlipTips to keep you on track during presentations. Use iTips-Ideas cards to outline the structure of your presentation, and record key quotes and facts you want to remember in the text box. If you want to, you can also share your notes with others via email, Facebook or Twitter directly through the app.

If you plan to include a question and answer session at the end of a presentation, the iFlipCards can help you prepare. Create a separate “question” card for each question you anticipate being asked, and then create an ideal response on the “answer” card. Avoid memory blanks and feelings of panic, and instead enjoy confidence in knowing that you’ve prepared as thoroughly as you can.

iPocketBra or iBraTop – iPhone Pocket Running Bra – Ideal for Running or Running from Thieves

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According to Seattle-based JoeyBra, “Our unique design will hold most cellphones, ID, key, and other small items regardless of bust size – no amount of items will change the way your bra fits you. When the pocket is empty, our patent pending design will look exactly like any other bra which means you can wear it night or day. Never again will you have to reach down the front of your dress looking for the key that slipped out of place. Our product places all pockets within easy, yet appropriate reach.”

Here’s a little more on the Bra Design:

  • Sexy lace detail
  • Lightly padded push-up
  • Convertible and removable straps
  • Comfortable fit and design

This is a cool concept for any girl who goes anywhere who just wants to take her iPhone, ID and credit card to the bars without having to worry about pickpockets or thieves who assault especially women for their valuable iPhones.

 

Frazzing: Frantic Multitasking – Efficiency Turns Into Stress with Tech-Based Multitasking

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Smartphones, pads, pods, tablets, PDAs, laptops and other mobile devices are all supposed to make life easier. After all, you can do just about anything and go just about anywhere without missing an important email, phone call or text message. But when technological multitasking becomes a consistent part of your day it can serve to distract you from important tasks, rather than help you complete them.
According to the ABC News Online science section, this phenomenon is growing so rapidly that it even has its own name: frazzing. “Frantic multitasking” is the meaning behind the word “frazzing” and there’s nothing efficient or stress-free about it. If you’ve fallen into the trap of regular frazzing, you’re likely to experience these issues:

  • Time-Wasting Interruptions. Professor Gloria Mark of University of California, Irvine, studied a group of office workers over a 13-month period and found that technological multitasking led to work interruptions every 10 ½ minutes. To make matters worse, it took the average worker more than 23 minutes to get back to their task after being interrupted.
  • “Where Was I?” Syndrome. Not only do frequent interruptions stop work flow, they also cause people to lose their focus. After stopping for emails, text messages or phone calls, many people find themselves wondering out loud, “Now, where was I?” Consulting firm Basex states that these kinds of interruptions can cause workers in some industries to lose over two hours of productivity per day, while costing up to $588 billion each year.
  • Overloaded & Overwhelmed. When you get down to it, frazzing leaves a person feeling frazzled. There are those who feel they cannot meet their productivity requirements without it, but the expenditure of energy and adrenalin can leave you feeling overloaded, overwhelmed, and physically and mentally fatigued.
Setting boundaries is an important part of dealing with the stressful impact of multitasking. It might not be realistic to eliminate certain technologies from your life, but it is wise to limit, consolidate and organize your usage of them so they can truly help you, rather than cause undue stress. Use these tips to help you convert frazzing back into efficiency:
  • Schedule Tech Checks. Since you’re able to see if most new messages or emails are urgent without opening them, there’s no reason to stop what you’re doing each time one arrives. Set specific blocks of time aside to catch up on email or respond to text messages to eliminate unnecessary interruptions.
  • Create Boundaries & Communicate Them. The boundaries you set are only as good as your communication of them. Let your coworkers or family members know you can only respond to emails and text messages during specific times. Stick to your own boundaries so others can follow your lead.
  • Use Silence Mode & the Stop or Off Button. No matter how resolved you are to reduce the stress of multitasking, a buzzing smartphone or “You’ve got mail!” sounding off every few minutes is going to distract you. Make it easier on yourself by turning your devices off or putting them in silent mode.
Smart use of technology can make your life easier and your workday more productive. Remain in control of your usage to prevent multitasking from controlling you. Keep it simple and balanced-technology is helpful and important, but it’s not everything.