We are so excited that Cool Mom Tech is partnering with Motorola this month to bring you this series that provides tips to help make the lives easier of busy working parents.
One of the things we really like about Motorola as a company is how much they genuinely care about busy parents, and how they’re making our lives a whole lot simpler with products like the Motorola Elite Sliver Bluetooth Headset. It’s not only practical, it’s so stylish that it was introduced on the runways of LA’s fashion week this past fall. (Swanky!)
As busy working moms ourselves, we hope this month-long series will help you find ways to be more productive while keeping your chic. After all, we parents are not new to multi-tasking, ahem. So we’re starting out with home office
organizational tips, for those of us who often turn our (sometimes
cramped) living space into our (sometimes very cramped) work space.
[Get great tips and see how you can enter to win our fabulous Working Mom’s Lifesaver basket valued at more than $750, after the jump!]
1. Create separation between work and home
This is the
hardest thing of all, but so important if you’re going to maintain any
level of organization. You may have a separate office, or maybe just a
desk in a bedroom. Either way, if you’re going to be working at home
while kids are around, clear the space of everything that doesn’t
belong. No using your desk chair as a clothes valet, or the desk as
craft storage.
When you can just shut the door to an office, it’s
much easier to keep other parts of your house (and life) from seeping
into your space. But even if you can only spare a small part of your
bedroom, make it known to everyone that this is your area; whether with
artwork on that part of the wall, a bookshelf to section it off, or a
big sign that says MOM’S OFFICE.
2. Messy desk, messy mind
At least that’s how we see it. Make
sure you have all the filing cabinets, inbox/outbox trays, and
bookshelves you need to keep organized and stay organized. Nothing
creates more stress for us than seeing a desk overflowing with papers
and magazines.
Clear your desk of everything but the essentials.
Use simple trays marked “urgent” or “when I can get to it.” Also use an
accordion file or box for items you don’t need immediate and regular
access to, then tuck it away in a closet. And wrangle those cords with a cord tamer or a pretty surge protector.
3. Make your desk a place you want to be.
A photo of
your kids, a favorite bit of art or an inspiring quote at your work
space can be incredibly inspiring. We also believe in investing in
pretty folders and desk accessories–even a cool docking station for
your smartphone and/or tablet. Then you can rely on your Bluetooth
headset for calls, while keeping your smartphone available (and charged)
as a music player, address book, or uh Angry Birds console on your
lunch break.
4. Find a simple to-do list system that works for you.
As
much as we like paper to-do lists, when your desk is covered in them,
you’ll spend more time trying to find what you need than actually
tackling tasks. We love the free website Teuxdeux,
which is about as basic and intuitive as it gets. You can also make use
of the apps on your mobile phone, especially if they sync with your
desktop. Of course some parents prefer a big dry erase calendar over the
desk, or an old skool desktop planner and a pen. Whatever it is, make
it work for you. But the less space it takes up, the better!
5. Pare down the office equipment.
In
this day and age, there’s no reason to fill up your workspace with
bulky equipment. Printers have come so long from the days that they took
up half your desk; look for a sleek one with wireless printing
capabilities that can sit on a bookshelf, or somewhere a little more out
of the way. You also don’t need a home fax machine any more, with
services like hellofax.com.
6. Go paper free!
Consider investing in a hand-held scanner
for receipts and other essential documents. When your data is stored on
your devices, you’ll be surprised how much closet and desk space that can
free up. That means bills too; see if you can switch all your bank,
credit card, and other monthly statements to a paperless option.
7. You need a Bluetooth headset!
How many times
have you wished for a third hand? Well we can’t give you that, but a
great Bluetooth headset can keep the two that you’ve got, free.
Everyone we know who has taken the Bluetooth headset plunge has
told us that it’s totally changed their lives. And the thing that’s so
cool about the Motorola Elite Sliver
is that it has an extended roam range of up to 300 feet. This means that you can take your style across your home or office – without having to take your phone. The accompanying carry case also acts as a charger and re-charges the headset when you’re on the go, for up to 15 hours of talk time.
EXTRA-COOL: WIN IT! We’re
so excited to give away a Working Mom’s Life Saver gift basket to one
lucky CMT reader! In it, you’ll get two (whoo!) Motorola Elite Sliver
headsets and more to help keep you going–like a beautiful leather
laptop satchel, “Inspire” aromatherapy drops, an eco bamboo calculator,
a pound of coffee plus a stylish on-the-go mug, a desk planner, and
(whoo again!) a $200 gift card to Bliss towards whatever creams
or lotions or pampering you deserve.
TO ENTER: Leave a comment on this post offering your own working parent’s productivity tip, AND tell us why you need a Motorola Elite Sliver. Psst…check the website for more about the headset.
You’ll
be able to enter on each post of this series, with each comment
counting as an entry. Only one entry per post per person, please. At the
end of the month, we’ll draw one lucky winner at random. See our official contest rules for details. US readers only please, must be 18+, void where prohibited by law. Deadline to enter is 3/30/12.
Congratulations to Jennifer S! She won the Motorola’s Working Mom’s Life Saver gift basket.
To learn more about our partner the Motorola Elite Sliver, you can like Motorola on Facebook and follow @Motorola on Twitter, plus see this amazing headset in action on their YouTube channel.
one tip i’d share is using the cozi app. it’s great for my husband and me to both add items to the grocery list, things to do around the house, etc. and we can do it any time of day from anywhere — our iPhones, iPad, internet on our computers, etc.
i’d love a motorola elite sliver because i’m terrible about going hands free while driving. plus it’s super cool looking! 🙂
thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
I sometimes find it difficult to get into work mode when I’m working from home, even when I have my own office. What’s the difference for me between working in or away from home? How I dress. I’ve found I’m more productive and feel like I’m in “work mode” if I shower, dress, and put on make-up, rather than just throw on jeans or worse, stay in my pajamas!
And my NEED for a headset? The fact remains, even if we’re at home working, we’re at home, and are responsible for the day-to-day operations. Repairmen at the door? I’m on it. Animals get into the trash? I’m cleaning it up. And let’s not forget the pit-stop for coffee. There are times when I’m away from the phone and don’t need to be. The Motorola headset would ensure I never miss a call while running around the house during my work day.
I NEED the Motorola Elite Siliver because I don’t have a bluetooth headset…well, I HAVE one but I don’t use it because it’s bad like every other bluetooth I’ve used so instead I don’t use one. Please give me this one and I’ll use it. I promise! My productivity tip: In an attempt to access social media and read the news as well as stay on track and actually get some work done I’ve enlisted the help of an app called Flipboard: One location = all my stuff.
Working parent productivity tip: Do everything in preparation at night – lunches, laundry, dishes, cleaning out email inbox. This way, mornings are more sane and you’re ready to focus on your work day.
Why I need the Motorola Elite Silver: the extended range. Sometimes I’m chasing kids or walking around the house while taking conference calls – the extended range would be amazing.
Set a timer every hour as a reminder to get up and move. A short break to do a few minutes of exercise keeps your brain working better!
At the end of the workday, I pencil in my goals for the next day on my desk calendar. It helps me to start my day focussed (and stay focussed).
With two small kids and working both at the office and at home, who couldn’t use the Motoroloa Elite Silver? It would make calls so much easier!
My working parents productivity tip would be to not sweat the small stuff. There is only so much time in the day. Between work, kids activities, and everything else going on in our busy lives sometimes you just have to forget the cleaning, postpone the laundry for a little bit and spend time with your kids. Everything else will still be there, but those precious children are not going to stay children forever. Cherish the time you do have with them, and it will make the rest of your busy work day easier to get through!
I don’t currently have a blue tooth headset, and having a 3 year old and a baby on the way makes quick phone calls difficult. This would be an awesome prize to win. I especially love that you can text hands free, which would be beneficial when sending quick texts to dad to pick things up at the store, etc. on his way home from work.
Thank you for a great article! I own my own photography and have 3 children. I am honestly unsure why I don’t own a headset yet, two free hands would do wonders for my productivity level!
My tip is to do at much at night as I can. I make lunches, lay out clothes and have backpacks packed so the morning can be an easier transition as I wake up and look over my calendar.
I would love this bluetooth because I am usually “on call” at my job when I am not there, and even a quick trip into the coffee store for my java can miss a call by a frantic co worker!
Cozi has been a sanity saver for my husband and I since we both travel. I’m stll in charge if entering the info, but cozi is in charge of the reminding. As for the headset…so I can do laundry while on conference calls, of course!!
I’m starting a new job tomorrow after 12 years of mostly being a SAHM. (I was at Staples buying pretty office supplies yesterday.) I’ll be working from home, so a headset would make my life so much easier! My tip is that even though it’s tempting to not shower and work in pajamas (well, it is for me anyway), it’s much easier to be productive when I get ready in the morning as if I’m heading into the office. Shower, nice clothes, lipstick. It sets my head on straight.
I could defintiely use the headset. I love the fact alone that it charges in its case. It is sleek and not bulky like a lot of them out there.
My tips for working parents: Meal planning. If I know what I’m making for dinner tonight, I am so much more relaxed at work. And, routine, routine, routine. Set as much as you can on autopilot and keep it simple.
I need a headset because sometimes I really have to answer the phone in the car. And I feel guilty every time.
Use the time in the car. Conference calls are your friend. And if you are desperate to do a call when you have the kids, stick them in the car with the TV on 🙂
I use Dropbox to keep all my files current and accessible. I have never found a Bluetooth headset I liked; dropped calls, not enough range, runs out of charge, etc.. Maybe this is the one to convert me!
My tip is to have everything ready the night before. My little guy’s bag is packed, clothes laid out, hubby’s coffee is ready to go. Makes the morning go so much smoother.
I love the headset for the long reach roaming. No more carrying the phone with you while you’re using the headset! Awesome!!
Even if your office is a closet in the living room. Get up and get dressed like you were going to an office with coworkers. It makes you feel better and makes your family see what you are doing is “real” work. Also, take a lunch break and set an ending time to your day.
My phone would love the headset. I don’t have one right now and am constantly dropping my phone.
Tip–If you’re working out of the house, having separation between house and office isn’t just good for you and your ability to separate work and life, but it’s also really important for tax reasons.
I don’t have a bluetooth headset yet, so the Silver would be perfect for giving me some extra handsfree time trying to be a working mom!
I love all of the items on the list. My tip is to have things ready the night before. Clothing, bags etc. Makes things run smoother in the morning.
We’ve been using the Cozi calendar, and its been really good for todos and shopping lists and reminders for me and my husband. Also, accepting little imperfections is okay.. so the house isn’t spotless and I have dog hair on my suit.. life is still good!
The headseat would be awesome to be able to throw the laundry in the dryer while still on a call!
I have an office and a spiffy door to keep shut but its really hard to work away when I can hear my son making a ruckus while my husband is watching tv. Once I hear something break or my kid start crying for one reason or another I have to put headphones on. Its the only way I can tame my mothering instincts long enough to get work done.
My favorite radio station on Pandora is the Film Score radio! I can almost feel the emotions from the movie while Im typing away…
A big reason why I need the Motorola Elite Sliver headsets is because my husband, being the big important race car driver he is, is always gone. If he isn’t racing he is driving to or from a race. Being able to talk to him while taking care of my son around the house (and knowing he is driving safe while talking to me) would just be a dream come true.
Thanks Cool Mom Tech!
I need the Motorola headset because I have ADD and this will totally help my always flustered self! The case is a charger – WOW! And it has 15 hours of talk time?!? These 2 factors alone will help me not become less frustrated which will help me be a better, happier, more easy going mother. Because being the best mother is the most important role in my life.
I like to take a short nap in the morning after working for a few hours. This gives me extra energy.
productivity tip: make a list of the 6 most important things to do the next day, the nite befroe.
i need this so i can make calls in the car while driving my kids to their activities
I need the headset because I do not have anything bluetooth and this would help. I have great productivity because I run my own business and schedule around family activities.
My working parents tip is to keep a digital recorder in the car. I often think of things I want to accomplish during the day at work on the drive to work. And on the way home, I can record last minute work details I don’t want to forget but I do want to transition back to home without worrying that I’ll forget that detail.
The Motorola Elite Silver would be great so that during the day in meetings, if I hear the beep in my ear, I can discreetly leave a meeting without disturbing it with a buzzing/ringing cell phone if someone from my family or a school calls.
My tip is never go to bed thinking you can leave that prep step until the morning. If it can be done the night before “do it” and leave time for the unexpected the next morning.
I would love to have the Motorola Elite Silver for the range – no more losing a signal when I leave my phone in my purse as I come in the front door and head to the kitchen to start supper.
My work at home parent productivity tip: air printer. Especially if you share an office with your spouse. Office was originally set up for me, but now that he works here too, we have significant tussles over space round the printer. An air tinted would solve the issue.
Why do I need one? I homeschool and work from home. Both kids have activities and I often need both hands while I’m talking. Plus I hate looking stupid with the iPhone headphones hanging down all the time.
Working parents tip: Have enough childcare. A little more than you think you *need*.
I want this pretty headset so I don’t need to wear earrings.
My iTouch is really my salvation! I use the Cozi app to keep all of the family appointments and to send e-mail reminders. When I have to shop, I have apps for keeping my coupons so I don’t have to remember to print them and carry them with me. I can do mobile deposits to the bank, which saves me from having to run to an ATM or a bank lobby. I have books on my Kindle reader and movies to watch as I commute home on the bus. All in one little hand held device!
Motorola Elite Silver would be wonderful to have while I’m on the road (which is a lot). Hands free, who can beat that?
I NEED a Motorola Elite Sliver because I need something with great noise canceling capabilities. As the mom of a three-year-old with a motor mouth (yeah, she gets it from me) I need all of the help I can get. Does the basket come with a third arm, too? I could certainly use one of those, too!
If there’s work to be done, do it FIRST. I can’t tell you how many mornings I’ve wasted because I’ve tried to get a few household things out of the way, and that turned into hours of procrastination…
And the Elite Silver? It’s about time I stopped holding my phone in the car. Shame on me.
I found I get alot more done quickly if I get dressed first thing in the morning and get out of pajamas!
I could really use this Bluetooth. Right now I don’t have one. I love how long it holds a charge!
Thanks for the giveaway!
i don’t have any working mom tips. i’m still figuring it out.
but this headset would certainly come in handy!
I could definitely use this package because I’m a working-mom-to-be (due in October)!
The headset is awesome because it allows you to be 300 feet away from the phone.
Getting exercise is the best productivity tip I know. After 30 mins of exercise, I am more productive and my mind is clearer, sharper. I sleep better and am a better, nicer 🙂 mother/wife/employee when I exercise. And since a mother’s work is never done, I figure I better get fit for the game (life). I would use that Sliver to take calls while exercising–multitasking at its best. Thanks for the cool opp to share!
My productivity tip is to set a timer for an chunk of time to do one task or one section of a to-do list and write a reward (like surfing CMP or CMTech!) on my list… that i can’t get until the timer goes off!
I need the Silver Elite headset because nothing in my office or my truck (my mobile office) looks this cool!!
My best tip is to do what you can do while you can do it. I’ve tried so many times to segment my to-dos into neat little time slots, but the reality is I need to just take care of what I can whenever I have the chance, time slots be damned.
I need a Motorola Elite because I’m about to have two kids, and I think this means I’m about two arms short of what I’ll need to keep a hold on everything. Eek!
I need a Motorola headset because I am currently without one and I’m working between my home office and outside office and could take it with me!
My productivity tip: Teach your school age kids (5+) how to pick out their own outfits, prepare themselves breakfast, assist with packing their lunches, and generally learn to be self-sufficient. They enjoy the responsibility and it lessens the burden on you!
My working parent tip would be lists, lists, lists. I keep track of everything from what needs to be done today, what needs to be done next week, what can be done when I have free time (what’s that?), what needs to be bought at the store, etc. The more I write it down, the more space it frees up my brain to actually concentrate on work.
I could really use the Motorola Sliver for when I’m making dinner and talking on the phone to my mom or sister about our crazy days!
A couple of times a week I schedule a power hour and break each into four segments of 15 minutes each with each assigned to one – and one only – task. I work on that task until the time is up – I set an actual timer – and move on. This helps keep me in check with things I hate to do, like filing (anyone can do anything for 15 minutes) and with things I can waste a day on, like surfing for inspiration.
I desperately need the Sliver because I cannot count the number of times I have need to be able to type – very quickly and accurately – notes when working with a client and holding a phone or tucking it between the shoulder and chin just doesn’t make for very agile maneuvers!
Read more: https://www.coolmompicks.com/cgi-bin/admin/mt-comments.cgi#ixzz1oO142oX7
My tip – I get out the door on time in the morning by waking my daughter up before I’ve finished getting ready. Then she can eat breakfast and watch some cartoons while I finish getting ready, so she has plenty of time to enjoy breakfast before we have to go to daycare.
And I could really use a Sliver around the house, so I don’t need to stop in the middle of changing a diaper to answer the phone!
Tip… EVERYTHING gets put into the calendar. I send meeting requests to myself and my husband for all of it so we don’t miss out on anything important and we don’t double book.
I NEED the headset for my entire day… Work or home I use a headset to keep my hands free for usually helping a little guy with something.
I would share two hints on organization for busy moms. I have the cozi app, which sends reminders to my family as I choose beforehand. The user creates a shared account, and anyone in the family can set appointments. The second organizational tip I would share is definitely the weekly dinner menu. Everyone chooses a meal. The menu helps create the shopping list, and we rely heavily on crock pot meals (just in case mom or dad have to work late). Finally, I need the Motorola sliver because I am a working mom with kids age 16, 13, and 9. I do not have a Bluetooth headset and feel it would really help the whole multitasking thing on the weekend!
I’m terrible at tip #1, but I’ve found that having a set schedule helps me keep the separation I need to be productive and an active parent. If, like me, you only work a few hours a day instead of full-time, choose a time that your kids naturally entertain themselves. For projects that require intense concentration, I start work the moment they are asleep so that I have hours uninterrupted.
The headset sounds amazing and not awkward or bulky like the ones of the past. Who couldn’t use free hands?
I find it really productive to plan my day’s eating the night before. It’s one less thing to worry about and being properly fueled helps me stay ahead of my hunger so i don’t eat a box of my daughter’s cheddar bunnies while I figure out my lunch. And then llose my train of thought and veer off track. Nutritional organization–very productive.
Ok, I need the Bluetooth headset because I still use a wired earpiece. Despite the fact that doing so caused me to flush my brand new iPhone down the toilet. I’ll try to explain: i often keep phone in my pocket, buds in ears, wire hanging–moving around, bending, etc can cause said wire to tangle and the tension often pulls phone out of pocket and it goes flying. Usually on the floor, but one unfortunate day it was in the loo.
Also, I’m starting my own business and I think I’d be a lot more productive if I didn’t have to spend so much time worrying about my phone going down the pipes.
I don’t work from home, so I find getting everything ready the night before to be super helpful! I get the baby’s bag ready for daycare and leave it by the front door. I get the dogs bowls ready and leave them in the kitchen counter and I lay out all the clothes, shoes, accessories for the next day. If I can, I shower at night too- it makes my morning so much smoother.
I need the Motorola silver because anything that’ll free up a hand for a multitasking mom is a necessity!! It’ll make it that much easier to maneuver with a 9 month old and a full time job!!
Thanks!
Productivity Tip: We do our grocery/meal planning over the weekend and use a dry erase board on the fridge to map out the week’s meals (this is also where we keep a running tally of things to pick up as we run out). We also use Google Calendar to keep track of our kids’ schedules, and our work and play schedules (the kids actually have their own Google calendars and they’re only 2 and 6 months!). Since my husband and I are often on our computers during the day, it’s easy to check calendars to make appointments, plans, etc. without having to track down the other person all the time (though we also chat online quite a bit). I’ve also started using One Note to keep “files” of useful websites, notes to self, work-related things, etc. to keep my paper load to a minimum. I can even “print” to One Note.
Need for Motorola Silver: I am a professor, nursing mom, and I commute 30 miles each way to campus on the days I teach or have meetings. Between nursing, juggling a toddler and infant, keeping up with emails, and driving, I rarely have a hand free. A discreet, attractive Bluetooth would help tremendously!
I agree about Cozi!! It completely changed my life. I work from home 1-2 days per week and in the office the rest of the time, while my husband has nursing classes all hours of the day and a widely variable work schedule. It got so out of control and was impossible to plan anything. Cozi lets us each update our own schedules via our LG smartphones, coding appointments as mine, his, our son’s,or for the whole family. We get email reminders of important stuff from Cozi, and my husband actually just links his Google calendar to the app so he didn’t even have to change his organizational style.
Why do I need that headset?? Well, I am constantly in my car for one thing, driving our son to and from school, soccer, playdates, running errands for my dad, running to and from my garden, and with my husband in class and work for almost 16 hours at a time sometimes, I am the one in charge of everything family maintenance related! Plus that green bag is just WOW. 2 headsets? Even better, then my busy hubby can have one too!!
I am a WOHM and my productivity tip is to make sure your nanny/caregiver has a cell phone and is comfortable texting. That’s the main way mine communicates with me — whether to ask where the chicken nuggets are when I forget to take them out of the freezer or to tell me that my son loved a new music class. And I need the new Motorola headset to replace a crap Plantronics one I bought when my son was born almost two years ago, because I’m hopefully finally upgrading from BlackBerry to iPhone 4S this month!!
CoziApp is my lifleine!!!!!
I want the headset because I would always appreciate an extra pair of hands!
thanks for the giveaway!
well, I’m not a working mom rigth now. But this great headset could work perfect for my husband!
My tip is to have as much as possible ready the night before – clothes picked, lunches packed – that type of thing. Less stress in the morning!
I LOVE working from home and I’m always looking for tips to help me out.
I use PageOnce to keep my life in order and TripIt to keep my business travel in order.
I would love Motorola Elite Sliver to use with my long conference calls. I’m not always clear on a speakerphone, and a Motorola Elite Sliver would allow me to be more productive on my conference calls.
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve gotten is to NOT try to lead separate lives – ie, one is both a parent and a worker and it’s ok to be both at the same time. So, if I need to call about the kids’ doctors appts while at work, I do it. If I need to send an email in the evening at home, I do it. I only have so many hours in day and work levels at home and at work fluctuate. I have to be able to work at all of it when it makes sense for me. A bluetooth headset combined with my very smart phone would help make it easier!
Evernote is my greatest find. I keep personal, business and home business note boards and I share what I need to with my husband. It keeps us organized.
Since I don’t have a headset at all, I could definitely use it. Especially with the long commutes and the need to stay in touch!
Tip: Use google calendar to keep everything in one place – work, personal, kids, husband – so you are never caught in an awkward scheduling conflict.
Why I need that awesome headset: so I can stop getting the seat belt stuck in my headset cords while I talk to my husband about what he is cooking for dinner while I am driving to pick up the kids from school. And I would look really cool, too.
Tip for working moms: prioritize and recruit help when needed.
Why I need a Motorola headset: So I can take calls and drive hands free!
My productivity has increased so much by using the Six-meal shuffle (https://thehappiestmom.com/2010/11/the-six-meal-shuffle-extremely-simplified-meal-planning/). Meal planning and cooking is so much easier, and I don’t waste time having to stop at the grocery store on the way home for “one little thing.” I can be creative when I have time, or fall back on basic meals when I don’t.
I would love to have the new Motorola headset. Between nursing/pumping for the baby and chasing the three-year-old, I need all the hands-free tools I can get!
I use teuxdeux to have my list always with me. And I often use my lunch break to get groceries. I could use a Bluetooth since, with two boys, I literally have no free hands!!
I would say to turn your computer off – that way you can’t work AND if the kiddos get to your computer, they can’t mess any documents/emails/etc up!
A really, really good door lock on my office is the best tool I have. No toddlers on conference calls!
My husband and I each have a drawer in the kitchen that neither of us can comment on or take stuff from. Mine is full of colored sharpie markers, pencils, pens, box tops for school and entertainment book and some coupons. I don’t know what is in his. I can keep the things I need to keep and then we throw everything away. Most people would be shocked and horrified to see how much I throw away (think twins in first grade…I through away EVERY SINGLE PAPER THAT COMES HOME after I look over them and tell them how great they are). Why do I need the headset? Because I am terrible about driving in the car while changing the song on my ipod and drinking a coffee. I am not an octopus!
Productivity tip – Schedule time off. Nothing is worse that pushing myself to do work, and then coming back to find that my brain turned off in the middle so now I need to fix/adjust/throw out and start again.
Why I need this headset? Let me count the ways: I’m constantly forgetting to charge, and/or losing the one I have, so that case that holds a charge would be a lifesaver. I live with my current bluetooth in my ear but really could use the longer talk time and range!
Love the headset – so much more practical (and CUTER) than my iPhone standard issue headset. Would be great for working from home – great for multitasking like throwing in a load of laundry while on a call.
My productivity tip for WAHMs is to take short breaks during the day to throw in a load of laundry, empty the dishwasher, etc. this way there is less to do during the dinner time / bed time rush and you get up and stretch your legs a few times!
Keep cleaning supplies where you use them. i.e. if you have 3 bathrooms, keep everything you need to clean in each bathroom. That way when you have 5 minutes, you can quickly clean the mirror. Or quickly scrub down the toilet.
Cozi is great not just for shared calendar and to do lists, also for the meal planning and shopping list features. I have also been able to connect the homework calendars from the school which makes keeping up on kids assignments easier.
I need the Motorola headset because I do not have a headset and I always need an extra hand!
Good tips. The key is implementation. ;>
My tip is we love google tools: google calendar & task list; everything is there for my husband and I. You can create separate ‘sub-calendars’ that you can turn on or off on the main calendar, and so we have one for work, one for household chores, one for our personal life. The task list is AWESOME for keeping track of all of those little things that you don’t want to forget, but don’t want cluttering your memory each day, so you can focus on the big things.
p.s. I need the headset for the clarity. 😉 Thanks.
My home office is downstairs say from all of my biggest distractions – TV and Aaron kitchen full of snacks! It makes a world of difference when I really need to focus.
Accept that you won’t get everything done quickly. Use lists!
I could use the headset to catch up with girlfriends to unwind!
As a work-at-home Mom, my tip is to work in the same room where my son naps, so that I can sing a lullaby if he wakes up startled, which usually soothes him back to sleep. PS — I need that headset, because said baby is often on my hip when I chat on the phone.
My best tip is to outsource small activities to a personal helper either locally or remotely. You’d be so surprised how much this frees up.
I reckon I could use it to help connect with people over skype 😀
Our family picks out the next day’s clothing the night before! Also, I make as much of our lunches
as possible, the evening before…It makes the mornings go so much smoother and happier. The
Motorola e Motorola Elite Sliver Bluetooth Headset. It’s not only stylish, but has fabulous features!
I like the noise reduction and automatic volume
adjustment! Also, the carrying case with recharge
on the go feature is really handy…
Many thanks, Cindi
The planner for me is the best thing, I can’t go any where without mine. I try to make a list of what I need to accomplish in my day on a blackboard and do at least three things on my list. it helps me keep track of what I am doing daily and reminds me that I am doing something! Also, I just came to the realization that um… a bluetooth is the way to go, I could be using both my hands for something else.
Thanks for the giveaway chance.. Hope I get to enjoy it 🙂
Take. A. Break.
I totally get the temptation to fill every second of the day with amazing, multitasking productivity. But seriously, get outside ( weather permitting) walk, sit, eat, think, do NOTHING work related for at least 20 minutes. Your brain actually needs this. It’s not an indulgence.
As for the Bluetooth. Do I ever know where my phone is? hardly ever. I mean, it’s usually around somewhere. A certain spouse would be delighted to be able to actually reach me.
I actually have a tiny table with a couple of ottomans in my home office for the kids. Sometimes they just want to be near me and are happy sitting there doing homework or playing. It’s better than having them at the door saying “Mom. Mom. Mom.”
I take several conference calls a months a this blue tooth headset would let me multitask a bit better while taking calls.
My tip is to use a cloud sync app like cost or drop box….and a good smart phone! I have never used s Bluetooth before and would love to try it by winning this contest!
We use google calendars to keep track of what’s going on. This way I can see my Outlook calendar for work and my google calendar for home in the same place.
15 hours of talk time on the Motorola head set!?! Who doesn’t need that?
The very first thing I do in the morning when I sit down at my desk is to jot down everything that HAS to be done today. Some days that might be only 1 thing, so I can use more effort on non-time sensitive tasks. And other days, there might be 10 things on there. It really helps me get the big picture things done without getting bogged down by minutiae.
That headset would be awesome because my big problem with headsets is the small battery life. That much talk time plus a case that charges it? Heaven!
Great tips! 1 & 6 are my favorites.
My Productivity tip for mornings is to have *everything* ready to go — lunches made the night before, clothes laid out (yes, even for myself and my tween!), school papers signed and back in folders…..so then the 5 of us are on autopilot the next morning!
I *need* the new headset because I just got a new phone yesterday! And spring activities are starting, which means more schlepping kids and taking work calls in the car.
I work outside the home, my husband works inside the home. But we both work hard everywhere to keep our lives/home/family running smoothly. Our helpful tool — shared to do app on our respective iPhones. Nobody is reinventing the wheel and both feel productive when one of us gets something done and its off the list. Really reinforces the “team” feeling.
Why I want the headsets? So that me and my husband both have one and communicate better with each other!
I don’t have a bluetooth earpiece for my phone, so this would be so great for me! Truly a necessity and would be so helpful.
working from home really makes it hard but I think that taking tim to check in with my kids during my day— having a snack together, taking 10 minutes to blow bubbles together, etc. gors along way to help us both to get through the day!
My working mom tip is to find a great boss. Easier said than done, but it makes a huge difference!
I use Cozi to manage our to-do lists and shopping lists. This makes it easier for both my husband and I to add things, simplifies errands and gives us more time to decompress at home and spend family time.
I need a headset because the 30 minute drive to and from work are the only times I have to make appointments, call utilities, etc. Hands-free pumping combined with handset-less talking will make me much more comical for other drivers, but it’d be worth it for less, “just a minute–Mommy has to finish this phone call.”
I’d love the Motorola Elite because Illinois is probably going to vote to go hands-free only in the car, and I’m in the car a lot between home, day care, work and Jazzercise. All of these are great ideas to help working moms! Thanks!
Lots of great tips above! I use ical on my Mac for all of our activities and they are all colour coded by family member so I know that blue is for my son, purple is for my daughter and so on. I print the calendar weekly and post it on the fridge. I sync the calendar with my husband’s iPhone, my iPod, and my sons’ iPods so that we always have the calendar with us – no showing up at the wrong hockey rink or wondering when that appointment is.
Another tip – deal with papers the first time you touch them. If you are opening mail, recycle the envelops right away, file what you need to keep and sort the rest. I hate piles of paper around the house so I like to deal with it right away. Also, as bills come it, I put the due date in the calendar so I know when I have to pay them.
Also, no electronics at the table – for kids or parents. Meal time is a time to focus on each other.
I would love the Motorolo Elite Silver. I get so many cramps in my neck from trying to do dishes while on the phone! Seriously, when I am doing the dishes is a good time to make calls. It would also save me from dropping the phone into the dishwater! Multi-tasking!
Love your newsletter!
I would love an extra hand!!! i would also love this new headset! It would be great to actually hear a voice than static!
“Nothing creates more stress for us than seeing a desk overflowing with papers and magazines.” I completely agree – I always allow myself 5 minutes at the end of the day to quickly clean up my desk surface. Makes the next morning less stressful!
Why I need the Motorola headset? So practical! I spend a lot of time commuting and this would allow me to be hands-free and with the added clarity, I’ll actually be able to hear people on the other end!
I have two kids under the age of 3. My productivity tip: cleaning and resetting everything the night before. Nothing’s worse than waking up to yesterdays mess.
I need the motorola headset cause it’d be nice to have a free hand while talking on the phone
Wow, this prize would be fantastic because I am just in the beginning steps of trying work from home. I don’t really have any tips yet besides scheduling my work as though it were an appointment so my husband and kids know I’ll be busy during that time.
The Motorola headset looks handy because it says its two mikes cancel out background noise. I’m wondering it they tested that with a 4 year old and a 4 month old?
Thanks for the chance to win!
I could definitely use one of these! A great tip for working parents is try not to rush and finish everything all at once.Some things take time to to get done right.
We are big fans of using multiple google calendars to track our appointments.
I really really neeeeeeed that Motorola headset for my numerous conference calls and managing my little ones while on said calls.
The Cozi app and website is the best for family organization! To Do Lists, Shopping Lists, and a calendar that syncs with Google Calendar or Outlook. It’s been a great way to organize everything.
I’d like the Motorola Elite Silver headset because I’m still one of those people who actually HOLDS my phone while driving…not a very good thing to do!
Set a timer for the end of the day. Have an alert five minutes before, but once the timer goes off get up and walk away. Have dinner, put the kids to bed, do whatever you need to do, but no checking email. Only once those things are done can you go back to work. I find if it didn’t blow up in the few hours of family time, it can usually wait till morning.
I would love the headset because I spend much of my job on the phone and I’ve recently started working from home, so there is even more phone time.
My tip is to outsource! Household cleaning, car maintanence, babysitting, etc. Our nanny makes our life so much better, she allows both of us to work full time.
I need the headset so I can have a free hand.
When I cook, I try to have leftovers for the next day, so I can save time and money by not having to track down food at work.
My work at home tip is showering, putting on makeup and getting dressed for work just like you do a regular day at the office. I don’t dress up, but I’m not wearing my pj’s or sweats. It makes me feel like I’m starting my day fresh, rather than wishing I was lounging around or sleeping!
I need the bluetooth because one of my boys (ages 1 and 3) are always leaving my phone somewhere… and when it rings, I can never find it!
Set up a separate Kids Center that keeps your children’s school paperwork, class lists, homework, etc. separate from your work and financial papers. I set up a wire wall file basket in a corner of the kitchen with magnet calendars, deadline reminder chalk board, etc. No more trying to find that last minute permission slip digging through a stack of bills and work papers in the morning rush for the school bus.
I really need the motorola headset because it’s crazy hard to keep a new puppy on a lease for a walk in the backyard at the same time I’m watching my 6 year old daughter on the swing set so she doesn’t go Tarzan AND hold a phone to my ear while I catch up with my mom back home in Louisiana.
To combat the dreaded paper clutter I struggle with, I scan papers with out ScanSnap, then shred them right away. There’s no coming back from that.
Tip: Todays woman is the extreme multitasker. The Motorola Silver Headset will provide an opportunity to accomplish all these tasks more productively. As a Mother of three boys, college student, and a business partner changing hats can be challenging. Having a headset will help integrate smoothly into each task and still keep that eye to eye contact with my kids that reassures them that mommy loves them.
my office is a closet but i painted it hot pink and it’s ALL mine. i love it. organization in a closet-sized office is key. WOULD love the bluetooth….2 kids and work, handsfree is not optional it’s necessary to get anything done.
The Alarmed app. I don’t know what I would do without setting up reminders.
I love using the reminders app on my iPhone. It’s very simple and you can create and edit lists easily. My husband and I use iCloud to share them and it works great.
I need the Motorola Bluetooth because my 8-month ok is constantly reaching for my phone, and it would be so handy to talk without it while I hold him.
My tip is to have everything ready for the next day at night so I can get to the gym in the morning before my husband and child are awake.
Using google calendars have been a lifesaver for me. My husband and both sets of grandparents can see what is for the day in one place. I would love the elite silver because it looks like it would stay put on my small ear. Others I have tried just fall off.
OOhhh, what a GREAT give-away. I NEED that headset…it will help me nurse and conference call at the same time (my new baby is just 4 weeks old and I’m already back to work in my home office!).
It helps me stay productive to plan breaks to check-in on the home front. When I know I’m going to take my ‘coffee break’ to give my DDs kisses, it makes it easier to focus while I’m in ‘work mode.’ I have to say, working from home full-time is great, but it takes planning and disapline!
I approach working from home as if I was in an office away from home. I take periodic breaks for stretching, snack, drink, and it regroups me. I advise structure, getting dressed properly. It makes you more productive and professional. The best feature is the headset, as I watch my granddaughter at times during the week. It would allow me to be scrupulously on top of everything she does, while allowing me to get work done.
I need the Motorola Elite Silver so I can have conference calls without yelling into my computer or (worse) cradling a phone on my shoulder. Yeah, it was fine in the good old days of analog but when you do it with a smartphone, you tend to hang it up…
Don’t be a hero – get someone to come in and clean for you. I work full time with a 6 and 3 year old and it’s hectic! If you can’t afford the National companies, ask around. I found my cleaner through a woman at work, and she cleans for $15/hr!
My tip is to set aside specific work and non-work time. When you can commit yourself 100% to your work and your kids, you can accomplish a lot more than you can by trying to do both simultaneously.
I need the Motorola Elite Silver because I am always wandering while I’m talking and 300 ft is a long way!
Tip: I have a magnetic dry erase board on our fridge where I write down what’s inside the fridge–so we don;t forget leftovers and remember to sue up what’s there, so we don’t waste food…
I want a Motorola Elite Silver to upgrade my whole phone experience which isn’t fun at all right now.
My favorite has been mentioned here: do as much of your morning prep work ahead of time. Make lunches, lay out clothes (and have the kid struggle over outfits the night before instead of in the morning rush), load the car, load your purse. What takes only a couple of minutes each adds up in the morning and can start the day off wrong for everyone.
The Motorola Elite Silver is most important for safety – hands on the wheel, or hands on the kid, or dog…
I just went back to work after #2, and my tip is don’t forget to take some time for yourself so you stay balanced.
I’ve never owned a bluetooth headset so I’d love the Motorola Sliver to bring me up to date with technology.
Keep a schedule. Also, everything you use must have it’s place. I would love to own an Elite Silver in order to manage my calls while keeping two hands on my work. It’s essential to my work!
I need this blue tooth because I never have enough hands! I am always on the phone and speaker phone can be a nuisance. My tip? Have help. Lots of help!
I find that doing as much as I can the night before really helps me to be able to get out of the house on time in the mornings.
I would love the Elite Silver in order to be able to multitask with my 4 month old!!
It sounds geeky but my husband and I send each other Outlook meeting notices for all kinds of things – the pest control service, kids appointments, dinner with friends. It helps us keep up with what’s happening. Hubs will even copy me on meeting notices that will impact the family, like when he has to be out early one morning or attend a dinner.
I would love this Elite Silver for the range. How cool not to have to carry the phone in my pocket!
Productivity tip: Remember that staring into space can be productive sometimes. Ideas may come.
Why I need a headset: to use my time in the car as phone call catch-up time
jscudiere at gmail dot com
What really works for me is spending time every Friday cleaning up my office. Starting with a clean desk on Monday really helps. I’ve been looking for a Bluetooth and this one looks great – you can voice text!
My productivity tip is not to procrastinate, I often think I can get work done at night while the kids are in bed, but in reality I’m too tired by then to be very productive.
I could use the Motorola Silver Elite for the range! I’d love to be able to walk all around my house and yard without worrying about losing reception.
Definitely my tip is to do things WHILE talking on the phone (hence the extreme usefulness of the bluetooth headset). It also seems like folding laundry goes SO much faster when I’m chatting with a friend!
Definitely schedule your work hours…that way it is on the calendar along with every other appt…and keeps you on schedule. I would love the Motorola Elite…I use the iPhone headphones b/c I have never found a Bluetooth that worked for me!
Make notes about everything. When you have little ones and you are trying to do everything, your brain cannot keep everything you think of, but if you make a note about it, it will be there in front of you so you can make sure to complete that task. I would love the Motorola Silver Elite so I could clean and catch up with friends at the same time…I often have to choose between to the two because there is not time to do both!!
I love to use ziplist to clip recipes, add them to my grocery list & share them between my PC & phone or easily email the list to my hubby to pick things up on the way home from work.
As a work from home mom, I’m constantly on the go. Bluetooth technology helps me be a productive employee & mom, throughout my multi-tasking days. My current bluetooth headset is ancient & voice clarity is non-existent. The Motorola Elite Silver bluetooth headset would free me up to be more resilient & productive.
Productivity tip – multitasking! I’m riding the exercycle, as I type. 🙂
Why I need the sliver – I don’t have any blue tooth devices, while having the ability to use them. Would love to talk, hands free!
My advise is to set parameters and stick to them. If you have to carve out certain times during the day to dedicate to your kids, other responsibilities or yourself, build those times into your schedule or daily routine and stick to it. Don’t allow others to pressure you to give up those times for other things or make you feel bad for taking them in the first place. If you are good at what you do and reliable, your colleagues will be forced to respect your schedule and the way you manage your day. My second word of advice would be never be afraid to ask for help or to say NO! I’m preaching to myself with this one. I personally attempt to take on everything that comes my way because I love a challenge. But even a Super Woman has to recognize when her plate is just too full and her cup runneth over. It’s okay to wave the white flag or call for back up every once in a while.
I NEED the Motorola Elite Sliver because I have little ears! I know it sounds strange but its true. I didn’t realize it until I tried to purchase my first hands free device which was similar to the MES but it went all the way around the ear with a microphone on it. It looked cool on my co-workers….who were male btw. When I got mine it hung down around my chin like an earring and just dangled there. It kept falling off and the ear bud piece, even with the smallest attachment, was too big to fit in my little ear. I became known as “little ears” around the office and my co-workers questioned if I how I could actually hear with ears so small. It sounds cruel but when I really looked at my ears compared to theirs, they are pretty small…but they fit me soooo….whatever. That was nearly 10 years ago and I haven’t found ear buds or a similar device that fits my little ears since. I’ve purchased several of the most expensive devices on the market yet I currently use Skull Candy headsets that were designed for gaming as my hands free device. Now that it’s the law to drive hands free, I have to use something. They work well but they don’t look very professional or “grown up”. I’d like to look like a grown up even with my little ears! Thanks 🙂
My tip is to make a list of the things (for the house and for work) that I want to accomplish during the day. It helps me from getting distracted from the task at hand.
I need this prize pack just for the bluetooth alone! the talk-to-text feature is amazing!
A case that charges too? No more hunting for my headset at the bottom of my purse only to realize the battery is dead? Cool!
I need to focus more and create lists. This morning was nearly a disaster because I didn’t work on a list last night. Oops! I need to stay organized with a list!
My working parent tip is to have everything prepared the night before. I can get so much more done without three little people hoovering around me. Plus, the next morning always goes SO much smoother and I start my day out on a better foot.
300 feet away from your phone?! That’s way cool!
I love the Lemon app – it helps keep all my receipts in order and creates great reports! You just snap a photo of the receipt and it scans it! Also, a rolling file cabinet is my go-to office equipment. It doubles as work space, can be stashed in a closet or under the desk if I need floor space, and provides storage. As for the Elite Silver – I’ve dropped my smartphone way too many times while trying to talk and multi-task. It has a serious case of road rash. Being able to put my phone in my pocket or purse while using the headset would spare my phone any further damage!
As a juggling working parent don’t give up so much sleep you become unproductive. 4-5 hours sleep a night just isn’t enough.
Totally need this baby for all the running around I do and for business trips!
tvollowitz at aol dot com
I create carrots for my kids and myself, almost like mile markers. When we finish x we can do y. By creating a finite window to accomplish something, I am vastly more effective. Also, the working mom guilt subsides ever so slightly when I create scenarios that allow me to make good on promises and be honorable to my role as both mom and business owner.
I have never had a make-life-easier kind of thing like the Motorola Elite Silver. The idea sounds, well, it sounds kind of dreamy actually.
I have always found it easierfor me, mom of 5, to write out an action plan for my week. What day to laundry, meal planning, when to call my customers. Being a manager keeps very busy in this busines, but I dont want to miss a moment of their lives. Keep a strict schedule and stay organized. I need that bluetooth for sure. I sell verizon wireless and I have a motorola bionic, that I love. Got keep up with the times with my busy life. It would be a gift that would definatly get used and be much appreciated.
As a working mom who’s commute time each way to and from work is 1 hour, the Audible ap has become my friend. Now I can enjoy some quality time with a good book and not have to worry about being interrupted…that is until I arrive at my destination! I also LOVE my Bose Bluetooth headset and Siri on iPhone 4S. I can make appointments, set reminders, make calls and send texts all hands free!
My productivity tip: schedule free time, actually in my calendar, so that I’m not as tempted to relax when I have a few minutes here and there.
I would love the headset to help me do chores at night, like folding laundry, while catching up with family and friends!
i try to prepare lunches, paperwork and lay out clothes at night for the next day.
my bluetooth just busted so getting the headset would be great timing!
My best tip is to get showered and dressed before working – I always sound more professional when I’m dressed for work.
And my current headset is corded; even though I’d need a new home phone for this headset, it would be so awesome to eliminate the wires!
Productivity Tip::
Have everything ready for the next day, the day BEFORE.
Clothes, lunches, etc.
I put my bag and any papers I need on a table as I walk to the garage.
Thanks!
I have sometimes really wrestled with the awful tug of wanting to be with my kids (thinking I SHOULD be) when I’m at work, but then thinking about work when I’m with them. In an interview, Heidi Klum said that she makes sure that her “heart is where her feet are.” This little reminder helps me be my best wherever I am, and it maximizes the time.
One productivity tip is to tackle a hard task first and get it done and out of the way. All of my friends tell me I need to catch up with the times and get a smartphone and headset. This motorola headset would be great.
Tip: Freezer cooking — I spend one Saturday a month cooking all day, and then I have tons of meals to pull from during the week. Has reduced my stress level enormously. I could use the Sliver to catch up with my friends around the country—with just a cell phone, there’s no good way to cradle it on your shoulder–and I have no time to sit down to have a phone call–gotta keep moving! thanks for the giveaway!
My working mom tip is to write everything down. There are plenty of times when things get a little crazier than planned. If things are not written down at these times, they will not be remembered!
I need a Motorola Elite Silver because I do most of my calls in the car during errands. It’s always to dangerous to be holding a cell phone!
My productivity tip: Turn off my email in order to focus on my tasks at hand. When email is up, I’m too tempted to clean through it and send quick replies. Instead, I set aside specific time for just “email” on my calendar.
I would love the headset because I’ve tried many different versions that I’ve not liked and tossed aside. I could use the extra set of hands and a headset that will actually work!
Prepare in the morning for the evening, and the evening for the morning. In the morning, I make sure meat is thawing/marinading for dinner and chop veggies if I have time. At night, I lay out my jogging gear, prep my coffee, and pack lunches. This really streamlines my mornings and even helps motivate me to get up and jog.
The headset would be really helpful when I’m traveling, which is all the time!
Productivity tip: Smartphone.. for little people. It keeps my child occupied longer than any toy or activity. 🙂 Which leaves me free to… do whatever!
I need the Motorola Elite Sliver to be HANDS FREE! We all know the value in hands with kids. We can never have enough.. this frees up TWO!
My productivity tip is to make sure you eat a good breakfast before starting the work day. I know it isn’t a tech tip, but it is very important. Breakfast gives me time to organize my thoughts for the day and gives me the energy to hit the ground running.
I would love a headset for my phone. I spend a lot of my time on the road between my office and my clients.
I just started my own recruiting and have a 10 month old getting into everything while I try to find time for squeezing in some work. I could really use this giveaway!
Hands-free sounds pretty great! With a toddler and another baby on the way, I’m sure talking on the phone would be so much easier with a headset. Or pushing the stroller! My stroller has often gone in a wayward direction due to a one-handed attempt at pushing and holding my mobile at the same time…
My productivity tip is to keep a pad and pen handy (or an ongoing list in your notes app). I am constantly thinking of things for the todo list, and it is hard to remember everything!
A great tip is to use google calendar to share with hubby so we can both add items and appointments to stay on track.
Definitely use the headset to be able to get things done around the house at night while talking to hubby who travels for business.
Make sure your designated workspace is well lit! As a working mom, I find that lighting plays a huge roll in my ability to focus and get things done. Even though my office is away from home, it feels like home with a sofa, two chairs in front of my desk, and two HUGE awesome lamps instead of those bright fluorescents overhead!
I don’t have a bluetooth and really need one. I have a droid so if I try to hold it with my shoulder, my face touches the screen and crazy things happen.
My tip is I try to stay in my office when working so that I don’t see the dirty dishes etc.
I make sure to do everything that I can in the evening, lunches packed and in the fridge, clothes laid out, everything. It makes a huge difference.
My tip: Wearing noise canceling headphones while you are working in the home office is a fantastic way to cut out the distractions of the kiddies running around or the TV on in the other rom.
Motorola!: This piece would definitely incite Headset envy but for me, the talk to text and the extended range would be key. Since it’s winter, my daughter often rides her scooter up and down the halls of our building…needless to say, it’s all about location, location, location!
Thanks.
Smart use of technology is what makes my work and personal lives run as smoothly as possible. My husband and I work full time, have 3 young sons, volunteer in our community and just try to keep it all together. Without google calendar we would be completely lost!
I don’t have a bluetooth headset and would love to stop getting all tangled up in my cord!
Working tip?….get up early! 😀
The best tip I can offer is to organize emails, voice mails, to dos as they come in. Either handle it when you read it/hear it or immediately add it to your to do list. Try to limit the number of times you have to touch something – re-reading emails or listening to voicemails more than once takes up lot of time.
I am always on the phone when I work at home. I think a Bluetooth would really improve my multitasking!
I find it easier to break my day up into chunks of time so I can accomplish all I need to in my day. It helps me to really focus on each task while feeling like I can “check things off” my list!
I would love a Motorola Elite Bluetooth headset because I could do so much more with my day of I could roam around tidying up while making a few calls!
Another voter for Cozi. That bluetooth headset would make me invincible (or close to it).
My productivity tip for the WAHM is to get yourself dressed and ready in the morning as if you were headed into the office. There is something about pajamas and bed-head that hinders productivity.
My productivity tip – get enough sleep. So basic I know and we all hear about how important it is ad nauseum, but I’ve finally come to believe it. I get a TON more done in a day if I’m well rested. That and gmail to keep my inbox in-line.
I would love a headset because with all the data about the dangers of holding your phone close to your head, the risks are starting to sound like they might be real. Much, much better to use a headset!!
Thanks for the tips – really nice post!
I do my weekly menu planning each Friday night so I can lay out my grocery list for Saturday shopping. Helps the shopping go more quickly and smoothly, especially when I have my preschooler with me.
And as for the headset – hands free is a MUST!
My tip would be to accept help and ask for it when you need it. No sense in diving into the deep end of stress when you have people in your life that can lend a hand when you need it. Not very “techie” but definitely helpful in staying productive.
I would give the headset to my husband so he can return pages from the hospital without driving with his thigh and digging into his pocket for his phone when we’re on the interstate going 70mph 😉
My productivity tip is to make sure you take time out each afternoon to have a good, quiet lunch. I find that between playing with and feeding the baby, walking the dog, going to the park – then trying to get all the work done (writing, conference calls and emailing) during baby naps – I often forget to take care of myself. This leads to low energy by late afternoon. To be productive you need real fuel, not just coffee.
As a work-at-home mom I would love a headset so I’m not tethered to the desk during baby’s nap times. Having the freedom to cook, clean up, or event get dressed while on those long conference calls would cut out hours in my day that I could use to focus on non-work time with my baby. In the summer it would also mean longer walks for me and baby.
I need a motorola bluetooth because I keep hanging up on people as I cradle my phone on my shoulder! HELP!
Wish I had organizing tips–if you saw my desk, you’d know I’m not the person to ask about that. I would use the headset to make personal appointments while I was at work.
my tip to offer up to busy/working parents is to Out-Source and Time-Swap! Out-source housecleaning (if financially possible)and time-swap watching kids with other parents – so you wouldn’t need to pay them….of course with those you know and trust! also do the Grocery Pick up thing where you fill out your list and the store gathers the items for you for a nominal fee. quick and easy! lets for more time with the family.
For the motorola piece – I would most definitely use it while out with my family and also working out at the YMCA. It would allow for me to be even MORE productive while also looking fashionably hip. 🙂
My productivity tip would be to always have enough coffee on hand. Without coffee, you will see a steady decline in productivity. However, one must be careful to not have too much coffee, as that can lead to shakiness and an over arching feeling of the panic. I need this blue tooth headset because after too much coffee (or not enough….see its a careful balance!!) I am known to drop my phone. I have been known to drop my phone while standing up, trying to take a conference call, into the toilet while trying to assist an intern (really my toddler), and in between my van seats while trying to scold a child with only my eyes, while driving and attempting to help a client. We work-from-home-mamas juggle a lot. (all mamas do!) and we could use all the help we can get, to help us *appear more put together.
*word used loosely as noted in my phone fail examples.
Organization is key for me. I use colored folders and organize by color. I actually even organize my clothing in my closet my color…saves so much time! I also never go to bed until my work for that day is done. I may have to stay up late but I sleep better in the end. I do most of my work from home, so the head set would be wonderful to use so my hands remain free to work efficiently on the computer.
my productivity tip is to sync your calendar with your cell phone and home one. By making sure of my schedule, I can find the extra 2 hours to tackle projects, and not start a project and not have enough time to finish it!
i could use a Motorola Elite Sliver, as my cell has become my lifeline and is always at hand, and I need that 3rd hand! LOL
THANKS
I need a Motorola Elite Silver because I have never had a headset and with a 5 month old, I need all the help I can get!
busy moms need all the tools and tips we can get!!!!!!!!!!!!
I make sure to have everything I need for the next day ready the night before, I also prep the coffee maker (big help). Routine before and after work really helps. But I have to say that being a mother is worth every sacrifice.
Productivity tip: Do as much meal planning as you can on weekends, so you know what dinners will be during the week. Our family usually plans on 1-2 nights of dining out, which saves us time, dishes, and allows us to catch up and enjoy an evening together.
Would love the Motorola Elite silver, I appreciate that you can talk up to 15 hours and it comes w/a charge case!
I can’t get over the texting from your Bluetooth. So great!
It helps me to get started with work right away in the morning. When I get breakfast late or let it seep into work hours, I am less productive once I start working. So get up, eat, get working.
I’d love the leather laptop satchel. The case that came with my laptop was so smelly I couldn’t even be in the room with the box it came in! I’m sure the bluetooth would make life easier too!
I need this because between four kids and work, my life is my phone! One of the productivity tips is carrying around an ipad. While no heavier than a hardcover book, it let’s me use every moment of waiting for an appointment or in line for a bit of work or fun. Either checking email or reading the latest magazine.
I LOVE these tips! Another I would add is to work during the time of day that is most productive for you and when you will have the least number of distractions. If you are a morning person, consider heading to your home office at 6 or 7am so you can be done at your least productive time of day (for me it’s after 4pm.
I always check my email before going to bed. This way, I know anything important from the day has been dealt with, and that I will be waking up to a clean inbox in the morning.
The Motorola Elite Sliver would be wonderful to help at work. Since it has a range of 300 feet, it would be helpful be able to walk about my office area to other co-worker’s areas. I could still be on the phone while I am gathering information for my customers.
My productivity tip would be to try and exercise for atleast 15 minutes in the morning before starting your day. It leaves you more energized and happy to face the long day ahead.
As a new mom who has’nt yet got back behind the wheel, the super cool and safer option of using the elite silver would be just awesome!!!
Keeping an online family calendar has helped us stay organized. My husband is also able to access and use it, which is very helpful!
Would love the headset so I can multi task while making phone calls!
Tip:Break away. Get up and walk around in between conference calls. I block my lunchtime out from meetings as much as I can to work out using my PS3 for 45 minutes at least 4 times/week and eat lunch afterwards otherwise you get lost and caught up in the spiral again.
Why I’d love the headset:First, I’d love to be able to take calls without my leash aka Blackberry. Second, I travel also for my job so hands-free or voice-to-text would be great! Last, LA’s fashion week? Enough said. =)
Tip: Take advantage of your little one’s nap time. This can be your one time of the day to do focused brain work without having to multitask.
Use: a three year old in one arm and a six month old in the other- boy do I need a hands free headset!
I agree that WAHMs need a short break during the day (that doesn’t involve laundry or cleaning!).
The headset would definitely be used around here to call the grandparents more often!
I have a house cleaning chore chart calendar and that is my saving grace. I can keep my house presentable with 30 minutes of cleaning a day and I know exactly what needs to be done with just a glance at my chart. This frees up a ton of time to get work done.
I’ve never had a headset, but I think I need the Motorola Elite Silver because of the extended range.
To stay productive I like to be sure to get dressed in actual clothese each morning (sounds so simple but it’s so easy to stay in PJ’s), be sure to get out of the house at least once per day, and be sure you have your own space that is yours and yours only!
I really need this because I am just about the last person on the planet without a bluetooth and this would help me multitask like crazy, which is a big thing for me. I love to try and do a million things at once (hey, what Mom doesn’t, right?)
I have been a telecommuter for the past 10 years. My productivity increases if I pack myself a lunch when I am making the kids’ lunches. That way I don’t take too much time and get too carried away with lunch time. I keep a pretty carafe of water on my desktop. I keep nature deficit disorder at bay with a bloom in a bud vase, pretty house plants, and breaks to work in my garden while on conference calls. My morning coffee stays warm in a thermos, also good for the environment.
The Motorola Bluetooth – what better way to banish the collection of half-functioning headsets and earphones?!? My ears are child-sized and regular earphones pop right out. Only the Bluetooth will work consistently. And I need the extended range so I when I take a break to weed my lettuce patch I can leave my phone safely on my desk.
ps. The bag/brief case looks fabulous. Time to leave my shabby backpack behind.
Keep a short to-do list that gets updated daily — helps me stay on track and not get distracted by email and other things that pop up during the day!
I’d love the Motorla bluetooth — great for when I’m out and about and especially my early morning walks with the dog when I can make some calls to the east coast!
My best working mom tip is find your brain station on Pandora! The right music keeps distractions at bay and my mind focused. As a student working mom, having my hands free is a luxury, headsets can help that!
I try to have everything packed and ready to go in the evening. With 2 kids, a dog, and a less than helpful husband, I am constantly juggling work and personal calls. Would love to try the Motorola Elite Headset to increase my multitasking capacity!
You’re definitely right about the to-do list! Much better than a stack of post-it’s everywhere. 🙂 Very excited about the contest!
I find that if I stay organized life is much simpler at home and work.
I would love this headset because I don’t have one. I’m still tied to wires, and they’re fraying, causing people on the other end to wonder if I’m on a 1990s cell phone.
I will echo a tip that has already been mentioned, the Cozi app. Gotta have it! As for why I need the Motorola Bluetooth…why don’t I need it. Everything about this device screams productivity, from the self-charging case to the sleek design. It’s a working mom’s “little helper”.
I need the headset because mine is SO bad! It has tons of static and only sporatically works yet I try to talk all the time while driving, running errands or working. My favorite advice is to use a planner and SCHEDULE everything! I love the Erin Condren planner…it’s a lifesaver!
I always work with NPR on in the background when working from home. I feel less lonely and thus work longer. Would love to try a bluetooth headset that works!
Productivity tip: I leave voice memos for myself when I am out running errands – faster than typing things into my to-do list. When I get home I can quickly listen to them and get started checking things off my list. This way, I don’t have to try to remember multiple times that the baby’s vitamins are almost gone or a preschool parent wants a certain recipe for those awesome allergy-safe cookies.
The Motorola Bluetooth: I would be a phone-call-making-laundry-and-dish-doing superstar! Waiting on hold while folding the kids’ clothes? Awesome!
The one thing that keeps me sane it to take 10 minutes every night to clean up the kitchen. It makes a huge difference in my attitude in the morning when I kitchen is clean already! And I need that Motorola Elite Sliver because I don’t have a bluetooth…. (There, I said it)
I love cozi! After working from home for 30 years while raising my family I find all the technology so helpful! Trello is great for keeping those tasks in order when you are juggling mothering, community service, and the office. You can multi-task on many projects. The other technology I have never liked: the bluetooth. Never had one that worked well. Really hoping Motorola Bluetooth fits the bill!
My tips have been mentioned a lot above, but are real lifesavers! Lay everything out the night before – packed lunches, clothes for the day. And I keep lots of lists on my phone so that I have them handy in case I have time to dash into a store.
Google calendar to keep track of everyone’s activities and then scheduling is not as difficult. Using a smart phone to access and make changes helps immensely with 2 working parents, no more calling each other- what are we doing on Saturday? We also schedule in travel times so that we can leave and get to places on time.
As for the bluetooth headset, since I have to run after toddler twins, I need as much hands free accessories as possible!
My tip is to always prepare the night before. Go over calendar with kids in the evening, lay out expectations, then when surprises come along, they are easier to manage.
As for the Motorola headset, the range far exceeds my current headset, plus the case sounds awesome-self charging? Wow. I will take all the help I can get.
I would love to use a headpiece so that I can work while chasing after my wild toddler! Last week I had to change a CRAZY diaper and give him a bath all while on the phone with my rep!
I make printable checklists to stay focused and productive at home!
I will have to check out this Cozi app! My tip is buying essentials online. Skip the coupons and save time and get great deals, not to mention things like diapers and staples delivered. Otherwise, I spend all my free time shopping for this stuff instead of with my kids!
I need the headset because my 3 year old keeps dropping my phone…and it’s smashed beyond repair. This would be a great way to be handsfree in the house when I telework!
love all of these tools! I would love the headset to do client calls while walking around holding my baby…without having a headset cord for her to grab on to!!
My tip is to take time each evening to get organized and ready for the next day – for both you for work and for the kids at school.
My last comment… I forgot the reason I wanted the headset. Please delete that and use this one – sorry!
My tip is to take time each evening and get organized and ready for the next day – for both you and the kids. It’s also helpful to take a 30 minute window for “me” time prior to bed – this helps me alot!
I’d love the headset because the one I just bought is great but the ear adapters either are too small or too large! This looks perfect!
Thanks for the chance!
I guess we all have the same solution, the Cozi app! A friend at work introduced me to it and it is wonderful. Even though my husband and I have offices that are less than 30 feet away from each other, we often don’t see each other at work so it helps us to coordinate everything from knowing who has to work late when, planning social events, to the grocery list. Before Cozi, we’d both end up buying milk on our way home on the same day.
And I need the motorola bluetooth to help me make all of those important work calls as I’m running around the house trying to get ready in the morning. Dressing a toddler while setting up a meeting would be much easier hands free!
Parent productivity tip: Do a little bit every day! There’s nothing worse than waking up on a Saturday morning and the house is a mess, the laundry is piled up, and there’s no food in the house. So I try to do a little bit every day…wipe down the bathroom Monday, clear the fridge Tuesday, grocery shopping Wednesday, do an extra load of laundry on Thursday, and vaccum the house Friday. It makes life a little less overwhelming on Saturday and I end up feeling more productive 🙂
I need a new headset because the one I have is broken.
I need this headset. I am a working mom of 3 boys, we also homeschool, and I have a 45 min commute to work which is about the only time I have to myself all day. I use it to think, plan, and make appointments. I need this headset so I can have my own personal assistant. And I love the other stuff as well. As the only girl in the house, I need a chance to girl it up some. 🙂
My productivity tip is to prepare everything the night before for daycare the next day. I also have a spare diaper bag in the car with plenty of diapers, wipes and clothes in case they need a refill at school.
The headset would be great for the times when I need to watch the kids, cook dinner and talk on the phone. I will never have enough free hands but one extra will help!
I find it useful when working from home to have a schedule, even just a general one, and stick to it. So, for example I block out the same times each day to deal with emails, make phone calls, run errands, etc.
As for the Motorola Bluetooth, I spend a lot of time on the phone, both on the run and in the office. I would love a headset that doesn’t fall out of my ears and that actually works!
For a tip – try to do as much online as you can, we even grocery shop online, just frees us up to spend more time together and with the kid.
Two parents here need two headsets! My husband works out in the field and drives a lot to sites, this would be so helpful for him. I’m usually behind at home chasing the kid…needless to hand hands free is a must 🙂
I usually try to set time limits for work – somehow if I know I’m only going to be working for an hour or two then I am a lot more productive.
My best tip is to use Evernote to organize digital items. I scan items at work but my next big push is for a neat receipts scanner at home so I can maximize my scanner and get rid of paper! My current headset is wired – what a mess and the moto one is so cute. Thanks!
Set aside time that is strictly family time – I get home from the office and don’t take my laptop out of my workbag until after bedtime – best time of my day!
My most helpful parent productivity app is Wunderlist. This app, not only pops up reminders, but also emails you when you have something to do or when you have missed something.
As far as why the Motorola Bluetooth would be helpful. Let’s be honest, the noise canceling and the fact that you have a 300 foot radius is great news. With a noisy and busy 3 yr old, I could carry on a conversation with a student, without the student being bothered by a noisy and busy 3 yr old.
My tips is to be stingy with your time when you are working. Nobody expects people working in an office setting to spend hours chit chatting about last night’s Bachelor episode, yet when you work from home people think you have tons of free time. Get a separate line or use caller ID to cut down on the “I just called to chat” distractions!
I am a list maker and with a toddler always distracting me, I have to add to my list when I think about it. Lists help me to not only organize my to do lists but also to prioritize them.
Having the Motorola Elite would allow me to be so much more efficient not only at home with such a huge range but also at the office being able to text by talking.
Our parenting tip: We put out everything we can for breakfast the night before: Dishes, cereal boxes, cereal bars, vitamins. We fill up our son’s sippy cup the night before and leave it in the fridge.
My husband recently started commuting over an hour to work. He could use the bluetooth so he can safely call us on his way home from work while we’re on our way home.
I work from home with a toddler in tow. I make sure he has food on his little table, his favorite programs on, lots of toys and crafts around. Then I can buckle down and get some work done.
I need the Motorola headset b/c of course when you’re on the phone, is when the little guys needs you to change his diaper or wipe up juice spills before they stain.
I work from home one day a week, and it’s crazy to try and bring the whole office home for that one day. So, I use LOGMEIN.com to wrest control of my computer at work from the home desktop. It works great, and keeps all the files in one place.
I need a Motorola bluetooth for all the times when the only moment I have to make a phone call is in the car on the way from point A to point B.
Awesome prize. I’m hoping I can get paper free. the mail piling up is always a hassle.
I buy as much as I can online.
My tip: don’t be afraid to take a break and just run up and down the halls with the kids if you need to. Many times this has helped me get motivated again when I go back into the office.
but I need a bluetooth headset so when the phone rings and I’m still down the hall, I don’t have to sprint back to the office to answer it. 😉
Agreed on separating work and home life to stay focused and productive. For my to do list, I maintain it in Evernote. Though not specifically for To Do, there is a great task checkbox and it keeps my to do list in a place where I store as much of my work/life information that I need to stay productive. I like having one place.
Suggestion: HELP, i’m still figuring it out after working from home for 5 years! 🙂 I love keeping my exercise ball in my home office…with marathon conference calls, I’d be stylin’ AND fit with my Motorola Blue Tooth! 🙂
I love all of these tips!
Evernote has been mentioned previously, but it is my lifesaver. Our household maintenance records go in there, car maintenance, pet health records, packing lists, it is my brain.
On the way home from work I will call and leave myself voicemail messages which are forwarded to my email to remind myself to do things at work. That, and that I sometimes catch up with my employee who works in a different timezone while I’m driving. I don’t have a Bluetooth headset yet and I definitely need to be hands free. I would LOVE to have a Motorola Elite Silver.
I use Astrid for my to-do list. I need the headset to keep my phone out of sight from the kids, thus minimizing the demands of the 16-month-old, who wants to play with anything that has buttons or lights up.
Wow, the Motorola Elite Silver sounds amazing! I had a bluetooth headset when they first came out, but I didn’t like it all. It never worked right and was uncomfortable to boot. This Motorola has me thinking that I should give them another try!
Working parent productivity tip: at the end of every workday I make a list, in priority order, of the next days items to complete. I also include anything kid-related so nothing slips through the cracks.
Why I need the Motorola Elite Silver: extended range would be nice as I wander around the house on a conference call, plus, it looks comfy!
I would love this, as it would allow me to “be at work” even when I’m away from my home office phone! One tip that I have about working from home is that during my work hours, I dress like “Dr. A” (my work name), and then I change into the more casual gear that “Lydia” (what I go by socially) likes to wear when I’m done, lol! Sounds like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde kind of thing, but it helps create that mental boundary between home and work!
My best advice is to make a list at the end of each night so that when you sit down to your desk at whatever time it may be the next day, you have a plan of action at your fingertips! I would love a Motorola Elite Silver, not just beacuse it would make talking on my cel so much more comfortable but also because it is so stylish!!
When you’re renovating your basement, don’t let them store the “crap” in your office. I can’t find anything. I spend half my day confused as to what I’m supposed to do b/c I can’t think or find anything!
Tip: if a task takes less than 2 minutes, DO IT! Don’t postpone. This mindset helps to minimize or omit the “to do” lists. I need a Motorola Elite Sliver Bluetooth Headset so I can participate on more conference calls, do dishes and do laundry. Time is precious. I can also listen to music while I’m taking my walk and text my hubby with voice. Yay!
Why do I need the Motorola Elite Silver? So I can earn my Amazing Mom Certificate, of course (we get one of those, right?)! Ok, not really, but a little bit. I am just another unemployed public school teacher and work-at-home mom. In my blossoming family, hubby works about eighty hours a week – and I do too, as a full-time mom, trying to get my sewing business off the ground. I just know that the Motorola Elite Silver would make the business happen sooner and in a way that transcends the abilities of your every day run-of-the-mill Bluetooth. What’s more, I’m confident the Silver would help me achieve nirvana, resulting in a more joyous and loving household. How could I not NEED it?
My tip; don’t forget to play with your kids, it really helps to alleviate any mommy guilt!
My husband and I review the upcoming week every Sunday- in case there are any major issues with pick up/drop off.
I could use the Elite Silver so I can multi-task, exercise hands free and safely.
I think having a support system of other working moms and dads has been invaluable. Work and family (and self!) can be a tough balancing act so anyone who can help you balance the load is a welcome guest! I would LOVE to have a Motorola Elite Silver Bluetooth Headset because it is safer for me and my phone (one more mobile phone IN a cup of coffee and I am sunk!) and I love being able to have the option to charge it in the case. Brilliant!!!
My working parent tip is a little old-fashioned and cliche, but it really helps. When I’m making something for dinner that will freeze easily, I make 2 or 3 times as much and save it for later. If I get stuck at work, my husband can throw that dish of baked ziti in the oven and we can eat as soon as I get home!
I need the Motorola Elite Silver because I’m still living in the Dark Ages. That’s right…I have a corded hands-free device…which was fine and dandy until I started working from home and carrying my 6-month son around the house. He is fascinated with the cord and I’ve had the earbud ripped from my ear more than once. OUCH!
15 hours talk time on a single charge on the Motorola Elite Silver, that’s what I am missing. I have had 2 BT headsets and both required a standard battery (lots of changing batteries) or didn’t last more than an hour on a single charge. My tip would be to use Copy Talk or VLingo or another speak to type kind of app where you can quickly dictate a verbal note before you forget. My notes then get emailed and stored according to how I set them. Very handy for reference on clients. I would love to win this set, besides the headset, I have been shopping for a new laptop bag & would love the leather bag.
The only thing that keeps me sane as a busy working mom is the support I get from my husband and mother. Without their help I’d be much less productive.
I’d like the elite because I’m constantly trying to juggle two little guys and my phone. I frequently end calls or push butting unintentionally because I’m trying to hold my phone with my shoulder.
My productivity tip is to make a list of things that you really need/want to get done in order of priority. That way, if your kid needs something, wakes up from a nap, etc., you have the most important things out of the way and didn’t waste your little bit of free time.
I need the headset because my son will grab and throw anything he notices in my hand when he wants my attention! A headset can be hidden behind my hair if necessary. 😉
I neeeeeed the Motorola Eite Sliver so badly! IT would simplify my life around the house!
Best tip–try to only handle mail one time-put it in its folder – to pay, to do, to respond to and then let it go til the due date on the folder. It’s kept me from missing stuff!
Tip: Get yours kids involved & let them “work” alongside you when you have to work during traditional family time.
Headset: Because I don’t have one!
I put everything in my work calendar with reminders. I’m always at work or checking my work email so it’s nice to get the little pop-up that says hey you need to do this. After two kids I’ve become beyond forgetful.
I need the Motorola Elite Silver headset because I have a toddler and an 8 month crawler. There is no way i can hold a phone and chase them, get their juice or whatever else they need at the same time. I barely talk to people anymore!
3 Goals – I love to do lists and apps but the best thing for me is to not overwhelm myself with a long list at the beginning of the day. I set 3 goals for the day – they can be as simple as “email sister back” – but no matter what chaos ensues, if those 3 things are done then I feel good about what I’ve accomplished for the day!
My timesaver is just getting everything set out at night before going to bed. My coffee is set to brew, lunches for myself and my boys are made, etc. Mornings are hectic so anything to save time then is a plus. But since the majority of my clothes do not hve pockets, a bluetooth would be so very nice, especially this gorgeous Motorola one!!
In addition to sending reminders via email, phone, I’ve started leaving notepads/pens in places where I get ready every day. My “vanity” in my bedroom where I put on my makeup, the hallway closet across from the main bathroom where I go to replenish cotton balls, store first aid, manicure & other supplies. Every day before I leave the house, I grab these reminders & incorporate them into my “to do” or “to buy” agenda.
Technically, I don’t need a Motorola Elite Silver Headsite but I sure would love to have one! Hands free & upgraded cool technology, who can argue with that?
I try to keep work at work as much as possible, but sometimes, I can’t help but to bring it home. So when I do, I try to the kids busy and happy while I work. The best time for me to work though is when they are asleep! I get so much done!
Apps that sync between my husbands phone and mine are excellent! We use Out of Milk the most, and a non-syncing Chore List for our own to-do lists. They just save to much time and paper! Also syncing our google calendars to our phones has been a great help.
As many others here have said, getting anything you can get ready the night before is helpful.
For head Motorola Elite – I don’t have a headset now and would love to be able to have my hands free to get other things done while I listen to a rambling family member! 🙂
I love my iphone but they aren’t easy to hold between your ear and shoulder!
Set a timer for work and rest. If your works not done, you can get back to it after a short rest time. Maybe even have a clearer focus after the rest period.
My MotoSpeak=on the go empathy for the stay-at-home dad/husband.
I swear by my Momagenda planner – it’s got spaces for each day for me and up to 3 family members. I “sync” it with my husband’s Google calendar, and then we’re ready to go.
I think the MyMotoSpeak feature seems the coolest!
productivity tip for working at home with kids:
my home office has glass doors-putting sheer curtains on the inside of them makes it so my kids can’t see me. changed everything!
I need a motorola headset so i can talk and drive!
I love the many apps on my phone that help “try” to stay organized. I know that having seperate area for my office space makes it so much easier to get and stay focused.
Set a timer for how long you will work specifically on the one task that needs to be accomplished that day and focus exclusively on that task and then reward yourself with a cup of coffee, stretching break, etc. Love that the Motorola headset has a long range for use!!
My productivity tip is to stay organized and clutter free. Keep things close to where you use them. Keep a calendar near where you start the morning to know what you have to do. Do a little the night before to plan for the next day. Meditate @ night to clear your head for the next day. I need the headset as my hearing in one ear is diminished and it blocks out everything else.
My productivity tip is to stay organized with a calendar or notebook listing each priority and tasks out for the day. And I could use the Motorola Elite series to help me be handsfree while trying to keep up with my 9 month old baby and my 3 year old toddler!
My new favorite thing that makes mornings better is letting my kids sleep in clothes for tomorrow. Yes, it means that they might be food-smeared at breakfast and head to school already grubby…but I don’t actually worry about that.
And I could really use the CrystalTalk technology when calling from the car, because the kids’ incessant repetitions of “Mama? Mama? Mama? S/he won’t give me XYZ!” is annoying enough to me. I would really like to keep it off of the phone call.
Working mom tip – I don’t go to bed until my house is workday ready. That means everything in its place and ready to go out the door so that the only things I have to manage in the morning are the kids (and that’s more than enough!!)
I don’t have a Bluetooth and desperately need one. Trying to change a leaking diaper while taking to a client means holding the phone with your shoulder – and sometimes dropping it. Blech.
My tip is to use google calendar and sync to all of my devices. I also send my husband invites for events so that they go in his calendar too.
i’d like the elite silver for clearer handsfree talking when driving, shopping, etc…
Whenever possible, I stay home in the morning one day a week and keep my son with me. He gets the best part of my day and I’m more productive later on knowing that I have bonded with him. I need the headset for talk to text. It’s a bad habit I MUST break!
Use your calendar to set audible reminders for both repetitive as well as one time appointments… hearing that tone has really kept me from losing track of which day is which, going off on a tangent and forgetting to pick up the kids from after-school activities.
I really need this headset so that I can break my lifetime habit of picking up my phone and reading texts while I drive…this headset will save others from my stupid bad-habit.
Make your work space pretty! Fresh flowers and a nice glass pitcher of water with some fruit and herbs in it. Its the little things!
My tip is to make a list at the beginning of the day (or the night before) with everything that needs to be accomplished that day. That way, you don’t have to keep remembering when you get distracted, and you can watch your accomplishments as you check them off.
I do not even have a headset yet, and now that I’ve heard about the Motorola Elite Silver (courtesy of this website), I don’t think I could bear to have any other one!
best tip is to work from home when the kid is born! it worked so well for me.
and i need a bluetooth headset becuase i need to be hands free all the time. right now i do everything on speakerphone.
Love the laptop satchel. Gorgeous!
My tip is to file, file and file. I have very specific files for everything but that way I know where to put something away and where to find it.
I would love a Motorola Silver Elite as I currently without a headset of any kind!
Simple suppers, clean as you go. Safety, free hands while taking on the phone.
As a single, working mother I think that the best tip I can give is to make sure to devote some undivided attention to your child. I feel less guilty (and more productive) if I give some quality time to my son and then have to return to a task. He feels better, I feel better, and he isn’t trying to get my attention and interrupting me.
I would love the Elite so that I could talk and still be using my hands to perform a task. Dishes and preparing dinner go so much faster when I am able to chat!
Productivity tip, for me at least, is that I prepare all of my child’s food for the week on Sunday. I package it in small portions and that way through out the week they are ready to go! And I need the Motorola elite silver because, for one I don’t have any blue tooth headset and second the voice text option would be awesome while I am driving.
My tip: prepare for the week in advance, it eats up a little of the weekend, but saves so much headache throughout the week when clothes are planned for everyone, sports gear is packed and you know what you are in for! I would love the Motorola Silver Elite because they say it’s much improved for hearing quality over earlier models!
My tip is to get everything ready the night before–clothes picked out, lunches and bags packed and a plan for breakfast. It streamlines the morning routine!
I need the Motorola Silver Elite as I don’t currently have a Bluetooth headset and with an active two year old and another on the way, I would definitely benefit from having both hands free!
We have a whiteboard in our house with things we need to do for the day/week. What all our house appts, work appts, kids appts, sports, etc. It helps us get stuff done for the week and we can all visually see it.
Planning our weeks menu on Sunday night makes it easy to get dinner out of the way for the rest of the week. Also, would love to win because with two kids in the car, one needs to be on Bluetooth only when on the phone.
I see lots of great tips that I think I need to incorporate in my life.
My tip is- the kids can really help more than you (or they) sometimes think they can. It’s the little things, like folding laundry, putting dishes in the dishwasher, packing their own snacks, that really can help in a time crunch. And if you make a game out of it for little ones, they love it!
My old blue tooth headset leaves a lot to be desired, and barely holds a charge anymore.
I need that headset b/c my 2 y/o is nothing like his laid-back, cautious older brother was & requires 2 hands almost all the time!
My tip is to make a schedule & try to stick to it. My kids don’t see the difference b/w me actually getting work done or surfing twitter, so I try to go to my desk & tackle all the work I can while the kids are occupied with a nap, reading, etc. I save social networking for times when multi tasking is more acceptable.
My productivity tip is to definitely plan and organize the night before. It really saves you time and energy in the morning and if something comes up, you are more able to deal with it. Having the Motorola Elite Silver would really help save me time with being able to voice to text!
I absolutely love that you can charge the headset on the go. Seriously brilliant for all of us on the go! And my tip? Simplify and celebrate all the things you DID get done both at home and work that day.
My tip is to not try to do everything, but see if you can do a few things at once. Put laundry in while dinner is cooking. Switch it before the kids go to bed. Make cleaning up a game.
Love the ability to text handsfree with the headset!
The two worst things about working ( anywhere) are being away from your kids/family and being stuck inside on a nice day. I work at home but make sure that I have breaks where I can definitely be outside to play with the kids. It makes the day much more enjoyable. Even better, wireless. Take your work outside if you can.
One thing as a mom that I do is make sure all my kids things are ready the day before. That saves lots of time in the morning.
Here is my working parent productivity tip: do a little food prep on the weekend so dinner is healthy, inexpensive and, most importantly, NOT STRESSFUL! Chop veggies for. The week, chop a couple days worth of fruit, put pork chops or chicken breats in a ziploc with marinade before throwing them in the freezer. I find it much easier to find the momentum for dinner when the first step is done 🙂
I need those beautiful bluetooth headphones because the speaker phone on my phone is broken! I am often breaking the law when I drive now (bag over head).
I keep my life organized by using my family planning board. Every apt and playdate is on there. Kids and parents know what is going on when. The bonus is it make the kids more responsible for their own time too!
I need the Motorola Elite silver headset because it is chic and stylish, has portable carrying case that holds a charge so I can charge my headset on the go. Two mics cancel out unwanted noise so I come through loud and clear. It’s easy to use and I can stay connected to my phone up to 300 feet away.
This package would be an amazing win!
My own helpful tip would be to stay organized but not too restrictive. Schedule the big stuff (recommended method of gmail calanders to sync up all of your droid and ios devices) and to not sweat the small stuff.
Never lose focus of why you chose to be a working mom…eventhough you come home exhausted and ready to put your feet up, always take time to even just sit with your little one and read or just be.
My suggestion is to clean up your workspace at night so you’re starting work “fresh” in the morning. Otherwise, I spend half my “work” time doing cleanup.
It took me forever to realize it, but I wake my son up after I take a shower but before I dry my hair, so he can have some time to play before breakfast. Before I figured it out, the mornings were so rushed!
Also, is that Eva from ANTM in the first photo? God I’m such a dork.
My tip is to deal with things right away – not file them away to be addressed later. I need a new headset because my last one just broke! You gotta have one to multi-task!
Baskets, folders, and any other organization tool is priceless when you are a family of five like ours. We have baskets for books, toys, jackets, and other things and the kids can put things in there to help clean up. Also, grocery shopping during lunch hour, crock pot cooking, and spending 20 minutes every day doing some chores make a world of difference.
The Motorola Silver Elite would be wonderful to have as it seems easy to use, has great speakers for our loud house, and would help me juggle the three kids a little easier.
Work with your husband to divide and conquer around the house and with the kids.
I second all the ‘night before’ and ‘simple meals planned in advance’ comments. I’ve also found Evernote to be a huge help. All my notes are available whenever and wherever I need them and it’s free!! I use it for work and personal to dos – super awesome. I also use Hellowallet for budgeting – saves time chasing down bank statements. Also awesome and free!
Working from home with kids at your beckon call can be tricky. Staying organized, and having a plan for the day helps save those few hours alone that you need each day. Make sure to get as much done during nap time that you can so you aren’t stressed about the lack of production during the day.
As handy as technology is, I still find that I can’t live without my “family center”. I have a giant corkboard with a large desk calendar attached to it, hanging in our kitchen. It also has a pen holder that contains a different colored pen for each family member so I can quickly look at the calendar and know who has what going on. Any papers the kids bring home with info I need to remember get pinned right up there, also. With a family of 7 I have a lot to keep up with. I also keep a dry erase “To Do” list on the counter so I can make sure I accomplish all I set out to do that day.
As for why I need the Motorola Silver…I did mention there are 7 of us right?…anything that keeps my hands free so I can feed babies, break up fights, and just plain be a mom, is always welcome in my life 🙂
One tip to boost parent productivity is always prepare ahead of time. Getting ready on the go is bound to leave you with forgotten things etc. so get it all ahead of time and be ready for anything. I would love the Motorola Silver Elite because it is super hard juggling 2 kiddo’s around and being hand free and stylish would be an amazing feeling, help boost personal confidence and productivity.
I use my lunch break to either have a few moments of time completely to myself or I run errands. Both help me get through my week.
At least one night a week, I use my commute home to catch up with family members who live at a distance. This headset would really make that a lot more pleasant.
I work part time, one day my child is in school and one day she is not, so my productivity tip is saving my errands, house work, etc. for the day she’s in school or at night after she goes to bed. This way I can spend real quality time with her with no distractions. I could really use Elite Silver so that I can get my errands done faster, especially if we end up with a baby number 2!
My only tip is to prioritize – and always clean the kitchen before bed so you have a fresh start in the morning. It’s the little things the help me the most!
Always have a go bag ready for the tot – crayons, coloring book, small car/train, book. At a restaurant and the food taking forever? whip out the go bag… long car trip? whip out the bag… impromptu shopping stop? whip out the bag while you try on those shoes.
I need the Motorola Silver so at least something on me looks stylish and sleek while I have oatmeal crusted on shirt form breakfast!
Love love love your blog. I NEED this headset! I could perhaps accomplish a conversation during the day by being able to leave my phone out of my toddler’s reach and talk freely! Every time I chat on the phone, she tries to steal it out of my hands! This would be a lifesaver. And I’ve tried four headsets to no avail- everyone complains they can’t hear me!
My tip is getting a great nanny camera. Our nanny knows it is there and it is so nice to be able to check on my daughter from work. If I want to see what they are up to, if she is sleeping, or if the TV is on too much. I would love motorola silver elite as I especially like that it can travel farther than any other headset.
Great article. I would love to win this Motorola Silver headset. I do not have one & always have to pull over to make a safe call. My tip would be the old fashioned lists. Couldn’t get through the day without my lists. 🙂
I do as much prep as I can for the next day before I go to bed – laying out clothes, packing lunches, even prepping smoothies in the blender for breakfast. This way, when I inevitably hit the snooze button, I’ve got a jump start on the day and can focus on herding the cats. Er, I mean, getting the kids ready.
Working tip :: An organized space really does mean better productivity. A daily cleanup is the best way to keep your office space uncluttered. At the end of each work day take a few moments to organize and put things in “their” spot.
Why I need THE Bluetooth :: CMP already said it best, if we can’t have a third hand – this is the next best thing to help a mother of small children!!
I learned to keep a small to do list so when i get home from work with the kids, it keeps me focused on what needs to be done that evening.
I would love the bluetooth, since the one i had just died. And having 3 children ages 5, 4, and 15 months, I needs to be hands free!
I make a list to try to be more productive. I need a Motorola Elite Silver because I need a more comfortable headset.
I am a working mama who pumps at work. those sessions are like little day breaks of me time where I can read my favorite website. but I also find it is a good time to return calls and check up on emails. Rubberbands make any bra hands free. 🙂
I would love that bluetooth simply because there is no front check hugger for my little one to grab and yank out of my ear.
Why I need the bluetooth? I am a hip mom that wants to stay on the right side of the hands-free law here in CA.
My productivity tip? Using *one* master calendar (Outlook for Mac) that everyone in the family has access to. We use color coding to distinguish between parents and 1st grader. Works great!!
My working parent tip – leave your work at work (easier said then done, I know!) It helps me be a more present parent when I make a conscious effort to try to stop thinking and stressing about work related anything as soon as I get out of my car at home.
As for the Motorola Sliver Elite – going hands free would allow me an extra hand to extract the Cheerios that are currently in EVERY crevice of my car!
I keep a homework kit in the car, for my daughter and myself. It contains a zippered pouch with pencils, erasers, a ruler, etc., and a clipboard to write on. That way if we get to piano lessons (or where ever we’re going) a few minutes early, we can take advantage of the time and get something done. Leaves a little less to do once we finally get home.
I find getting the kids’ backpacks and lunches together the night before is a life saver. I need to be better about it because the morning is definitely smoother when I’m organized. I would love the headset, the ability to text without picking up your phone would be invaluable!
My productivity tip is to file papers every night, or at least set a time once a week when you will do this. When the paperwork gets backed up everything else becomes a mess and it’s hard to dig out of.
My wife does daycare out of the home and used to use her bluetooth religiously so that she could talk on the ohone if need be while cooking meals, holding crying babies, etc. That bluetooth decided it wanted to stop working, plus the range was never that great so when she walked to another room in the house without her phone the call would start to crackle. She could really use this bluetooth headset.
Organizing tip … before you go to bed, do as much as you can in preparation for the next day. Why don’t I need this bluetooth?! Seriously, handsfree is much safer than fumbling. Thanks for the opportunity.
never enter contests, but COOL MOM PICKS picks the best products – so jonzing for ALL of these! and the cherry is BLISS.
My tip is to set expectations with your pre-school aged children and above about when you really need to hurry and when you can be a bit more relaxed around things like getting dressed and ready for school and activities, night-time routines, etc. For me, this has worked because I don’t always rush the kids around…and when I do ask them to kick it up a notch in terms of cooperation, they seem to get it and follow up because I only do this when I absolutely need to. Otherwise, I budget a certain amount of time for something, add 15 minutes to how long I think it should take, and remind myself to breathe and let the kids breathe a bit too…
I’m a busy working mom (like all moms) without a headset at all, and I just got my first smartphone, in part to be able to Skpe/video chat with my kids when I have long hours or am traveling. I work for NOAA fisheries in Woods Hole, MA but travel a lot. I have a 1.5 hour commute to work (we live in Boston and my husband works North of Boston). I also travel both locally in New England and by air for work frequently. Having a headset would be great for life at home, making calls during the commute, but also be great for work – calling into conference calls if I am home due to someone being sick, etc, or when I am actually on-site doing outreach with commercial fishermen at fishing docks.
In any case, I love CMP and especially CMT, so keep up the great work!
I like the http://www.onereceipt.com free download. It allows you to take a picture of your receipt and send to your account you’ve set up and it will keep what you’ve spent all together. I’am using it as my budget sheet to see what I spend every month. 🙂
My tip as a work from home mom is to get help with childcare. Trying to juggle work and the kids can add to your stress level. Invest in a sitter, daycare or help from family. You’ll be more productive in a quiet home.
I would love to have a motorola silverlight elite headset as I often have conference call and would love to be able to take notes on my computer, access files, websites, etc. without cramping my neck holding the phone all the time 🙂
Working mom tip: prepare ahead of time. Cook meals on the weekends that you can reheat during the week for dinner. Put together clothes for kids and yourself ahead of time so you don’t waste precious time looking for something to wear or put on your kids. Prepare lunches and bags the night before.
Why I need the Motorola Sliver: I am really bad at using hands free when driving. Also, the extra hand would be great while chasing after my active toddler and his infant sister!
One of my tricks is to use a kitchen timer — I use it to put constraints around how much time I spend on each work task/project. Otherwise it’s all too easy to look up from the computer and see that I’ve spent way more time on something than I should have. I’m a big fan of Bluetooth but I lost my (very basic model) months ago and haven’t been able to find it. The Motorola Elite Sliver would solve that problem… and I love the idea of the charging carrying case!
My tip is planning dinners for the week to help me stay organized and not have to stress each night about what balanced meal I’ll put on the table!
I would love the Motorola Silver Elite to help both me and my husband follow the hands-free law while driving! It will also be nice to have extra hands to multitask while on the phone!
My working parent’s tip is to not compare yourself or your parenting style to others. You have to do what works and what’s best for your little family.
That Motorola Silver Elite headset would allow me total domination over my housework, while tending to my small people and catching up/paying bills/scheduling play dates! I also love the fact that the case holds the charge of the headset (up to 15 hours!) so when I need it, it will be ready to go and not just one more fun, but ultimately useless-when-uncharged piece of gadgetry.
I’d love it! Thanks.
My working parents tip is to have a laptop or ipad if you don’t have a out of home or in home office space. I don’t have such a space and wouldn’t be able to do anything without being able to go to a coffee shop to work!
I’d love to have the motorola headset so I can wrangle my two kids peacefully while taking business calls at home which is never easy but would be so much easier with two hands. Also, sometimes I have to call clients while I’m on the road and unable to pull over and this hands free set would be so much safer.
Wow – this looks like it would actually stay in my ear!!!
My tip is getting as much done the night before as possible. And early bedtime for the kiddos!!!
Working parent tip – ASK for help and let the small stuff go. You can’t do it all! Or if you try you’ll end up costing yourself more. Make an effort to unplug and be present so the kids don’t always see you in work mode.
I NEED a Motorola Silver Elite as my Jawbone doesn’t hold much of a charge and therefore more of a pain to use. AND it only charges in a plug 🙁 LOVE that the case charges the Elite. I might give it to my hubby who drives constantly for work and REALLY needs a hands free device that holds a charge.
good music helps me focus!
Looks GREAT! Would love to own all gift basket items.
I don’t really have any tips. I think being super organized would help out. I’m working on that. I do love the Cozi app for my phone. It helps my husband and I stay in sync on appointments, bills and grocery lists.
On why I need the headset. Well, I have 5 kids, ages 1-7, and a husband. I NEED this. I don’t currently have a handsfree device, and this would be so helpful.
I keep productive by listening to audiobooks. I’m a stay@home mom and crave adult interaction. The TV just distracts me so having that on is a productivity killer, but I can listen to audiobooks and keep my hands and eyes free to fold laundry, pick up toys, clean the bathroom and etc. Currently I’m using standard headphones with a cord. Sometime I hang myself up on a door handle or laundry basket so the hands free device would be an amazing improvement! I hope I win!!
My Tip: We use dropbox to sync our files between computers along with shopshop to keep track of our groceries.
Thanks for the opportunity to win the Motorola Silver Elite! Good luck to everyone!
Tips – as you schedule everything else it (appts, games, practices, meetings) make sure you schedule in simple playtime with the kiddos. Knowing I have 2 hours of uninterrupted fun time with my child make me work hard and focus more on the tasks I have to get done.
Would love this headset would be sweet – especially with the traveling my spouse and I do and the commute we deal with.
I try to get as much done as possible while my daughter naps, and after her naps, I make sure to spend time with her and forget all the other things for at least 30 minutes. I do not have a Bluetooth, and with 4 kids, the Motorola Elite Sliver would be a great help!
Oh my goodness this would be so cool and so helpful! a) SAFETY first; b) if I don’t have to be holding my phone, my toddler won’t be trying to get it or having a meltdown b/c I won’t give it to her; c) I love your site and all the useful tips, sites, discounts and info you provide, I’m always telling people about your site! Thanks for all the great stuff you do and provide!
My productivity tip is to make daily short term achievable goals daily and review nightly of the accomplishment for the day. Having a blue tooth would be fashionably awesome since It would seem I am currently out of style… Plus my neck hurts from my cell phone use… LOL
The sharing of productivity tips is great! I love that we are all learning from one another.
My productivity tip is to turn off email alerts and schedule three times a day for email review and response: one in the morning, one after lunch and one at the end of the day. This allows time to focus on projects and not be distracted by every email entering your inbox.
Productivity tip for home is to get your kid’s clothes ready the night before. My very independent daughter is just turning 3 and is particular about what she wears right down to her underwear. This has been a HUGE timesaver.
I would love the Motorola Elite Silver to aid in productivity at home and in the office. With a newborn and 3 year old, I can use the extra hand! I am constantly hanging up on people, trying to hold the phone between my ear and shoulder. It is SO frustrating and embarrassing when it’s a client.
I’d love to have this bluetooth – I currently don’t have one but love my car’s bluetooth feature so I can only imagine how a hands free device would make everything so much simpler.
My working parent tip is that it’s important to take a breather so between 6-7pm, from the time I pick up P from daycare to 7pm, I shut down technology and focus on playing worry free. It’s amazing what an hour of play time does for my “low battery”.
My productivity tip is to set out everything the night before – homework, office work, kids’ clothes, mom’s clothes (and accessories) – makes the morning go much more smoothly. I could really use a bluetooth headset because I have a long commute by car and use the time to connect with friends and to stay in touch with the office.
my tip: plan your weekly dinner menus over the weekend, so you aren’t distracted at work about what to make. nor will you be frantic in the kitchen when you start to prepare dinner.
my need for a headset: i don’t have one, and that seems unacceptable now that i think about it.
thanks for the giveaway and for the great tips!!
Research convinced me to remove screens from my bedroom. I’ve been trying it for about a month, and I do think I’ve been sleeping better. The thing is–I still bring work to bed. Even when it’s just a pen & paper & paperwork, it gets out of hand after a couple of days. So, I plop my goods in a cute little basket, used solely for this purpose, and tote it up and down the stairs.
I’d love to try a bluetooth–especially when I’m driving. Also, outside–sometimes it’s hard to hear on a cell outside or in the airport. It must be easier to hear if it’s right there in your ear!
As a mom of two young boys working outside the home, my tip is to try to fit in a little bit of mommy time here and there. I’m sure I am not unlike most working moms – we multitask because we have no choice, always balancing work, family and home duties. The easiest thing to leave out is ourselves. I would often play a game or browse facebook on my phone while pumping(nursed until 11 months) or eating lunch at my office – just enough of a break to clear my mind. If you can afford it, splurge on something just for you – all the items in the giveaway are great ideas for mom and if it helps keep things in order then you don’t have to worry about feeling guilty for doing something for yourself!
I’ve never used a headset before – never wanted to spend the money on one =/. I can imagine how nice it would be to have a phone conversation at home without all the background noise. I often revert to text responses if someone calls me while I’m home b/c its too difficult to talk while doing everything else that needs to get done from the time we walk through the door til bed.
Ooooo!! I need the headset because my iPhone ‘cheek dials’ completely random people – including my husbands contacts!! I can’t talk on my phone at all without being tethered to my earbuds.
My tip is TAKE BACK YOUR TIME. Make a schedule for your day and stick to it. Don’t answer emails every time something beeps. If we weren’t at home it would be perfectly normal to get back to people after the ‘meeting’. Slip ‘answer emails’ on your scedule ffrom 9 to 10, and 7 to 8, then get other things done uninterrupted in between.
My productivity tip is to simply remain as organized as possible. I use several apps to help with that: Cozi Family Organizer, Grocery IQ, Evernote, Menu Planner, and recently, Teux Deux. As a working mom with three very active and busy kids, I am always on the go. I like that pretty much all of the “organizer” apps I use are universal and able to be synced on multiple devices. This helps keep my husband organized as well! 😉
Why do I need a headset? Because I am always on the go and do a lot of my “talking” on my iPhone while I am in the car. Calling my husband; calling the school; calling daycare; calling other parents, doing volunteer work, etc. And, I tend to use the speaker phone because I don’t like to get the screen dirty. It’s not always easy to hear over the noise of the kids in the car and the traffic noise. So, a hands-free headset would be ideal!
My tip is not to worry about the little things and focus on things you can control and matter. Does it really matter if red is paired with purple? Not when you are in preschool 🙂 I am still working on this but have found it makes a difference and doing as much when the kids are asleep as possible is a lifesaver!
I love that this headset doesn’t have to be near the phone. If I have to be attached to the phone than a headset isn’t helping as much as it could. Texting handsfree would be great…I often forget to send those silly little texts until I’m in the car after pickup so would be a quick, SAFE way to get it done and not take my focus off the road or my daughter.
I use the Cozi app because it’s so much easier to have my calendar and to-do lists on my smartphone. Now if I can only get my husband to enter info at Cozi as well!
I need the headset because I have a bulky ugly one that I never use!
As a grandmother caring for her granddaughter my tip would be to PLAN. Make a to-do list of 3-4 ATTAINABLE tasks . As the child gets older, he/she can help- if not, plan duing naps and after bedtime. IF they cannot be done then a bluetooth would be GREAT!! Do not say “I’m busy” those moments can never be retrieved . I would love to win that blutooth!
Oh. The juggling act of working moms. Slaves at work, slaves at home. I kid. First, I make sure I have a clean kitchen before I go to bed. Second, I make sure I have a clean desk top before I leave for work. This enables me to start the day in both places on the right foot. I need that headset. Oh yes, I need it. Because then I would feel much more glamorous cleaning the kitchen and cleaning off my desk. I would love to call my sisters while I clean the kitchen. They live far and that would be an awesome way to reconnect!
One thing that I need to work on is the am routine. I think it’s important to be present for the little ones, making sure all those needs are met, then when it’s time to work in the home office,you can focus on that. So bascially setting up routines that work for you and the family!
Why I need the Crystal Talk tech….keep my hands free and safe while in the car. I’m so used to picking up my phone while driving…and my daughters remind me I shouldn’t be do that…and they are right!!!!!
My biggest tip to share is to take advantage of Amazon Mom and Subscribe and Save Discounts. Not only can you save on diapers/wipes but you can have them delivered to your door on a regular schedule. I don’t know about you, but dragging my kids to the store for diapers is the LAST thing I want to do! I need the bluetooth because my hands are FULL!
Working part time at home and part time in the office I have found that keeping copies of critical items (such as drawings) in both places is my lifesaver. I would love the headset – make car travel more efficient.
I put appointments and school events for my three kiddo’s immediately, IMMEDIATELY, into my google calendar. I could use the Motorola Elite Sliver on my daily 3 hour commute.
I have a color coded calendar on the wall at home (a cool Pottery Barn version) to keep us organized. My son gets a color and I have two colors, one for personal and one for work. We even gave our pet Bulldog a color! It’s easier to glance at this than pull it up on my Iphone and it keeps us super organized.
I would love to have a Motorola Elite Sliver Bluetooth Headset so that I could go hands free. My neck is constantly aching from trying to hold the phone with my shoulder while doing all the tasks of a working single mother!
My tip is to keep a sick day bag of toys like stickerbooks so if you have to stay home with a little one you can get a little work done. Using mine today!
I need the headset because I don’t have a Bluetooth and am stuck using speakerphone when I need to be hands free. Doesn’t work too well.
I need to set standard office hours when you may not be disturbed for anything other than drastic emergency. No, “my brother is bothering me” does not count.
I check e-mail at home, but I use filters so that work e-mail goes into a folder which I don’t have to check when it’s family time.
I don’t have a headset – I usually throw the phone into speaker mode – but this would be much more elegant, and a lot easier to hear!
My tip would be schedule 15 mins of “me” time each day. Put it on your calendar. For the busy working mom trying to make work and family schedules we often tend to forget our own emotional and mental health. That time should be spent doing something completely unrelated to work or family needs – I will talk a walk, read a couple pages of a book I can’t even seem to get to or sometimes just doodle & dream.
My tip for working at home is to get together with other stay at home or work from home moms and set up a play date exchange. This helps out all the moms in the exchange group and the kids too. The kids get needed interaction with other children and you get a couple hours each week to really get some work done in exchange for letting the other moms gets some much need “away” time from their kiddos.
Also, I really need a new Bluetooth ear piece – the charging port on mine just broke so when the battery dies, I am out of luck. So a new Elite Silver would be perfect timing for me!
My productivity tip is to set up calls during my drive time. I have both business and personal contacts call me when I know that I’ll have a set amount of time to talk like my commute to work, the time from home to pick up the kids at daycare etc. I also stop by my house before picking up the kids to get dinner started so that I can spend quality time with my kids when I am home.
I would like the Motorola Elite Sliver to enhance my calls when I am on the road. Right now I use my hands free in the car but it picks up all the noise around me so it is not optimal for business calls. Great product!!!
Working at home is a lot more difficult han I thought it would be. My suggestion is to block out time, but don’t be too rigid. Catch as catch can does not work so well for me, and I don’t want to spend my afternoons with the kids with me on the computer if I can help it. Why do I need the Motorola Elite Silver? Simple – I don’t have a headset at all! Ready need one for home and the car.
I think we ALL need one! These are awesome. My best productivity tip is to NOT WORRY about getting it all done. Do things based on priority – God (if you’re a believer), family, friends, work.
My working mom tip is to look for an opportunity to turn what you need to do into a game. During hide-and-seek, I hide with the laundry basket and see how much I can fold before I’m found (and then I’ll fold the rest while I’m counting). My younger son and I “race” all the time to see who can clean a room faster (if he wins, I might demand a rematch!). My older son and I do our “homework” together in the office. -I find he doesn’t want my “help” so much as my presence, and by letting him share desk space with me, we both get to cross something off our to-do list.
A Bluetooth device that filters background noise? I dunno. I’ve given up every other Bluetooth device because I don’t think my clients needs to hear two boys fighting over a remote or whining about how gross broccoli is. I’ve gone to some pretty astonishing lengths in an effort to keep up the impression that I’m in a “quiet office” instead of a hectic household. Once, I even stood barefoot in the SNOW in a panicked effort avoid escalating levels of background kid-noise while wrapping up a VIP client call. A Bluetooth device that promises to “cut clutter” means that if nothing else, I’d have free hands to put on a pair of BOOTS next time I need to dash for quieter ground!
Working parent productivity tip: Do everything in preparation at night – meal planning and preparation, chores, drafting and scheduling calendar/emails/social media. The next day is far more productive and enjoyable this way. Not to mention I run five different businesses from home, so every ounce of organization counts!
Why I need the Motorola Elite Silver: Not being tethered to a traditional headset that my little girl can swat out of my ear would be amazing!
My tip is for all you moms out there who work from home (of which I am one of them) and have help: Leave the house and work somewhere else! The library is my office. I am a screenwriter and this is the only way I can get anything serious done.
Why do I need the Motorola headset? Because my daughter literally RIPS my cell phone from my hands when I’m on it and starts talking to whomever’s on the line. This includes business calls, mind you. Everyone I work with knows my daughter! Cute, but not sure it’s the most professional way to go!
I recommend keeping a small notepad or post its on you and in your vehicle at all times. If you have a smart phone, the apps Evernote and Idea Tree are perfect for.this. This way you can write down or type out anything you might need to remember. Also using you phone on your camera cones in handy when you see a business or advertising sign you have an interest in, works well for web addresses too.
I’m the kind of person that has to.physically write something down to remember anything. I even have to set alarms on my phone to take breaks, to remember to eat and for appointments.
With full time college classes, 2 kids in different schools with different schedules, a husband that works 70 hrs/wk and wrestles on weekends and helping care for a father with cancer, we have a LOT going on. Add a blog and training for a 10K to all that, and I’m lucky I ever sleep. 🙂
This package would do SO MUCH GOOD for me with all the running around and it would.make my constant driving (350+ miles/wk) so much safer!
My one tip is to have a calender that will sync to your computers AND phone (and other such devices). Currently I use Google Calender but I just started using TeuxDeux also. It helpful to have reminders so I don’t forget anything. With 4 kids that is important!
I need to win because I do not have a hands-free set for my phone! i used to but it died and buying a new one is, unfortunately, not high on my “need right now” list.
When it comes to taking care of the house, everything is on a schedule. My kids are required to complete two chores a day prior to my getting home at night and I set up the dinner schedule a week in advance so I can get something on the table quickly and effectively. I firmly believe that sitting down for dinner with the family is extremely important so I go out of my way to make sure this happens.
For the blue tooth, this is a must for anyone who spends alot of time in a vehicle as I do and it is truly a lifesaver!
My advice would be to use up the spare moments to take little chunks out of big projects. Plan ahead with a list so that you’re not spending half of nap time figuring out what you can get done. If you’re organized into hour or half-hour goals then as soon as baby goes to sleep or starts a movie then you’re golden. The hard part is not curling up next to them for a little rest.
I’d love a bluetooth. Especially one that’s so sleek.I would use it in the car. Now I just silence my phone… no call is more important than my kids’ safety
Thanks!
As a mom of a new baby and a 2 year old, I’m looking for all of the productivity tips that I can get my hands on! I’m still finding my way with 2 kids, but a blue tooth headset would be an awesome addition to my productivity “toolbox”.
You know what has made my life easier? Getting my work calendar synched to my Iphone calendar. My husband won’t do Cozi so that’s out for me, but having my kid’s appointments, parties, etc on my Iphone and then getting my work calendar to synch right in has been a God send! No more scheduling kid’s doctor appointments during an important conference call. As for needing the new Motorola Elite Sliver – well I love the case! I’m a sucker for great packaging and if I get noise reduction that’s just an added bonus! Love it, want it, need it!!!!
Set a timer for 15 minutes…you will be amazed how much you get done.
I would love to be hands free because I am so busy chasing a two year old.
Working parent tip: leave as much as you can ready the night before and have your children help you. And what’s key is to explain to them what things your leaving ready and why like “we are leaving our clothes out so we can get dressed Tomorrow when we get up, so we won’t be late.” it kind of prepares them and sets up expectations.
Why I need and would love a Motorola elite silver: it woul just make multitasking and talking on the phone so much more pleasant and less stressful than dealing with other less reliable and uncomfortable bluetooths. Plus it looks great,,
My husband and I have a calendar hanging by our garage entrance that we put our work schedules and appointments on. I also us Wunderlist to make lists of EVERYTHING- things to buy/do for my son’s birthday party, grocery lists, appts to make, etc. I need a Motorola Elite Silver to stay in touch with everyone and still be able to get things done and chase my toddler around at the same time!
Do a little everyday so you’re not overwhelmed.
Working mom productivity tip: I plan dinners and most lunches for the week on Sunday afternoon, then run to the store and get all the ingredients for the dishes. It makes it lots easier when we both come him tired from work and don’t have to think of what to make or wonder if we have the ingredients.
I’d love the headset because any I’ve tried sound terrible and i am always putting my phone in a room that I end up not being in for several hours. It would be nice to have that extra range so I don’t miss calls! AND chasing the toddler around with two hands will be much nicer!
My tip: I put all activities and appointments on my Outlook calendar…ranging from dental appts, bday parties, school holidays, etc. Everything is in one place when i can do a quick glance and see what’s going on. With all the activities going on in my life, I definitely need this.
I NEED this headset. First, it’s pretty cool and I like to have cool things. Secondly, i love the self charging case. And third, having hands free capability is a necessity when chasing around a 3 yr old!
My tip: I put all activities and appointments on my Outlook calendar…ranging from dental appts, bday parties, school holidays, etc. Everything is in one place when i can do a quick glance and see what’s going on. With all the activities going on in my life, I definitely need this.
I NEED this headset. First, it’s pretty cool and I like to have cool things. Secondly, i love the self charging case. And third, having hands free capability is a necessity when chasing around a 3 yr old!
My tip: I put all activities and appointments on my Outlook calendar…ranging from dental appts, bday parties, school holidays, etc. Everything is in one place when i can do a quick glance and see what’s going on. With all the activities going on in my life, I definitely need this.
I NEED this headset. First, it’s pretty cool and I like to have cool things. Secondly, i love the self charging case. And third, having hands free capability is a necessity when chasing around a 3 yr old!
My tip: I put all activities and appointments on my Outlook calendar…ranging from dental appts, bday parties, school holidays, etc. Everything is in one place when i can do a quick glance and see what’s going on. With all the activities going on in my life, I definitely need this.
I NEED this headset. First, it’s pretty cool and I like to have cool things. Secondly, i love the self charging case. And third, having hands free capability is a necessity when chasing around a 3 yr old!
Productivity Tip: Replace sticky notes with an app called Floaty Memo. I love this app because it takes items on your To Do List and lists each item on a digital post it note you can toss in the trash can on the IPad once you’ve completed the task.
Winning the Bluetooth would be awesome because I could safely take calls in the car instead of forcing myself to leave my phone in my purse while driving.
Things I TRY to do to stay organized: cozi calendar, meal plan, pick out clothes, food at night. I set email reminders for library day, vet appts, soccer clothes for 8 pm the night before so I get the reminder right after I put the kid to bed.
I’ve never tried a headset but would love to use it to multitask around the house!
My tip: I use Outlook to “invite” my husband to our daily tasks / events involving our kids, family and friends. It keeps us both on the same page and we’re reminded the day prior so each of us knows what to expect the next day. It frees up our evenings so that both of us can spend quality time focused on our 2 year old. They grow up so fast and we don’t want to miss a second of it!
Why I could use a Motorola Elite Silver headset? I currently drive over 100 miles to work roundtrip each day. I drive a clean diesel, which is a 5 speed manual and navigating the car, shifting and talking on the phone can be a challenge once I hit city traffic. A bluetooth headset would be so much for efficient and I LOVE it’s sleek design.
Productivity Tip: Allot 30min each night before bed to clean out the purse (no stray receipts, dollar bills facing the same way, coins in coin purse etc), review calendar of next day, jot down everything on a task list even if it seems menial (buy milk, write check for kids book order), and have all purses/bags/kids backpack with keys near doorway.
I need a bluetooth – who doesn’t? Its ergonomic and the features on the Sliver are top of the line!
My only strategy is to sleep less, unforunately! I’m still figuring things out!
I could really use this headset to multitask around the house.
Productivity tip: USE A TIMER! Blocking time doesn’t work without REALLY LOUD accountability to kick my ass off the interweb!
Also: everything that is a timed event goes into Outlook — and everything that is a TASK goes into Workflowy — and then I can stop WORRYING about stuff and just DO stuff.
Why I need the bluetooth: Because I keep losing them. And I have FOUR KIDS I need to chase. My two hands aren’t enough even on the best days, so I absolutely need to the Bluetooth to keep my fingers free free free.
Productivity tip: after I shower in the morning but before I check emails, I make a list of WHAT I want to accomplish this day.
I need this bluetooth because I had two 24/7 jobs working for the American Red Cross and mothering 2 boys and a traveling husband.
Although I like electronic tools, I still do best with a paper calendar for appointments. Google calendar is great for reminding me of events, but without a smart phone or computer handy- it’s hard to reference when I’m planning.
I love multi-person calendars like Orange Circle Studio’s Do-It-All Mom or Avalanche Publishing’s Mom’s Plan-It. They let me see everyone’s commitments when I’m setting appointments and deadlines. It helps me to know that Tuesday requires preschool snacks for one and baseball practice for another.
My tip is that I use 2 great iPhone apps to keep organized: (1) SuperList, the hands-down best grocery list app (it only lacks syncing, but that feature’s coming); and(2) List Master, a great app for customizing lists (my To Do list has 3 columns titled “Now,” “Soon,” and “Someday”).
I need the Elite Silver because I need a hands-free device that holds a charge. Oh, and I love that the case charges it.
It may be obvious, but a working parent must multi-task whenever possible. To do that, a Sliver would be fabulous because it would let me move around the house doing chores while I talk with friends, something that can help save a parent’s sanity.
My Tip: I use iCloud to sync all of our calendars so that we are all on the same page with activities, appointments and even garbage days! This helps us a lot so with so many moving parts between a toddler, 2 full time working parents and 2 dogs! I highly recommend.
I think this headset would be extremely helpful for both my husband and I to have the ability to do a few tasks hands free!
My productivity tip is very simple: do your best to get enough sleep! I am far more able to squeeze in work, chores, and other demands on my time when I am well rested. I am a firm believer in getting things ready the night before, but sometimes I’m simply more effective if I just go to bed early. I would love to use the Motorola Elite Sliver to catch up on calls while doing chores, exercising, or driving. I would be much more efficient, and my friends and extended family would hear from me more often.
Routine and rhythm are what helps us. I’m a WAHM with a design studio in my house. When we are in rhythm with our daily routine, the day just seems to flow better. It’s nothing rigid…more like the natural rhythm of the changing seasons…you know what to expect, but it’s always something slightly different.
I’m always putting my cell on speaker and setting it on my desk while I do other things…a headset would be awesome!
Routine and rhythm are what helps us. I’m a WAHM with a design studio in my house. When we are in rhythm with our daily routine, the day just seems to flow better. It’s nothing rigid…more like the natural rhythm of the changing seasons…you know what to expect, but it’s always something slightly different.
I’m always putting my cell on speaker and setting it on my desk while I do other things…a headset would be awesome!
I always underestimate the amount of time it’ll take to do a project. Always. Then I’m constantly stressed out because there was never a chance in, well, you know, of getting it done on time. So I try my hardest to leave double the amount of time I originally slated, and then if I’m done early, I feel great.
It would be lovely to win a headset and all of those other delicious items! I don’t have a headset as of yet, and with my own business, a part-time job, 2 crazy kids and a husband, anything that makes life a bit simpler sounds just great. 🙂
My tip for working moms is to stay organized with an app like springpad. I like being able to keep my work notes and checklist items in one notebook and bookmarks of ideas for the kids in another.
I need a Bluetooth headset! I don’t have one….and with 3 kids at home and 300 students at school, 2 free hands would’ve awesome!
My tip for working moms is to stay organized with an app like springpad. I like being able to keep my work notes and checklist items in one notebook and bookmarks of ideas for the kids in another.
I need a Bluetooth headset! I don’t have one….and with 3 kids at home and 300 students at school, 2 free hands would’ve awesome!
Tip: Set a timer, accomplish a goal, stand up walk around, go back. Set a timer, accomplish next goal, stand up walk around, change your scenery.
(oh, and always give hugs whenever wanted)
I need the bluetooth because I’ve never had one and it’s time. The temptation to drive and talk calls me and safety comes first.
Best tip: Enlist the help of the kiddos and clean as you go! Both of our kids have a daily list of chores before school begins. Make bed, feed dog, check cat water, etc. The list is not long, but the kids have them memorized and they feel as if they are contributing to the productivity/efficiency of running the house. Our kids are now 11 and 12, but we’ve been doing this for years. The tasks just become more age appropriate as they get older. CLEAN AS YOU GO! Kids immediately wash their breakfast dishes and dirty clothes go right into the hamper. Expressing gratitude to the kids for doing their part goes a long way toward daily compliance!!!
Why I need a Bluetooth Elite Silver? Because I am a multi-tasker and am always fumbling with my phone as I try to go through the mail, fold the laundry, etc.
Get dressed for the office. I don’t feel like I am at work when I am in my sweats.
I would love to have a Bluetooth headset. Much better then propping the phone on my desk and shouting into the speaker!