Sound Bites

Many of us are extremely busy at work and at home. How about you? Share your tip for survival. What tool or strategy helps you best manage your time?

Suzanne Paulson, professor, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

I am trying to fit a 60 hour-a-week job — classroom teaching, research, committees, public service — into the workday hours plus evenings. I also have two young children, both of whom have different childcare and school schedules.

I try to structure my schedule around the daily oscillations in the way my thinking works. As much as possible, I take care of teaching, administrative matters and organizational work in the morning. In the afternoon I can focus easily and think creatively, so I try and leave this time free for research. Also, I never watch TV except during the Olympics and the Tour de France.

Alberto Alquicira, instructional computing coordinator, Social Sciences Computing

I start work between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. The day starts off a bit slow, giving me time to answer e-mails and catch up on things from the previous day. I am in charge of maintaining the computer labs and managing about 10 student workers. The day progressively gets busier: more questions to answer from students, phone calls and e-mail, along with the occasional meeting.

During lunchtime or after work I play basketball, jog or work out. I generally like remaining busy and active — I get more done and keep on track. I use my Outlook calendar and Ta-da lists (online) to prioritize. Reminders on my phone from my Outlook calendar keep me on track since I tend to set alarms for most important tasks. I sync my phone with my Outlook so the calendar travels with me. I can also browse my Ta-da lists online with my phone. In the office, I actually still use notepads and Post-its.

Suzanne Stinson, assistant coordinator, Software Central, UCLA Office of Information Technology

You asked for it: We have three dogs that we have to prepare a special diet for every morning and night. I try to work out each morning, get ready for work, make breakfast and lunch for myself and partner, then commute about 50 minutes from North Hollywood. Work is filled with minutiae of software licensing and keeping track of who has what and what renewals are up at that time.

I live by lists. To Do, To Go, To Get, etc. I just keep adding until I decide to tackle that particular list. It feels so good to cross something off! And thank goodness for reminders in Outlook calendar: I set up a year of reminders at a time for all the agreements we take care of at Software Central. We saved the campus more than $7 million last year, and that takes a lot of minding the p's and q's. A schedule is also good but it helps to maintain some flexibility. Naturally, R&R (well, at least one at a time) is always on the schedule whenever possible. My motto: +Organization = -Stress.

Kyrie Bass, marketing and creative development manager, UCLA Transportation

I am busy with work, family and school — getting my MBA at Pepperdine. I am also the president-elect for Staff Assembly, so that keeps me busy as well. I use a closely managed Outlook calendar to stay on track, coupled with a cell phone/PDA at my side at all times. I schedule all my activities on the calendar, from meetings to projects to my daughter’s basketball games. Throughout the day, I continually update and reschedule items as the day brings its inevitable changes.

Answer our next Sound Bites question by Jan. 14: It's the new year! What one change would you like to see in U.S. or world politics in 2008? E-mail your response to today@support.ucla.edu. Please include a high-resolution photo of yourself if you have one.