Top dogs know that nobody can multitask effectively over the long haul. They’ve figured out how to focus with laser-like precision. And their team members come to know that their boss is really hot and can’t be bluffed. This makes the team better at being clear and precise in their communications to you, and it saves both time and energy for everyone.
I know I am guilty of multi-tasking on many occasions. What works for me is to set time limits – for one hour I will work on this project, without checking emails, and without stopping until the hour is up. Generally what happens for me is, 15 minutes into working on something I remember I was supposed to email someone back or ask someone else about a different project. I use the beginning and the end of the day to think about and handle all of those little reminders. For a great read on the side-effects of multitasking I recommend New York Times article, Slow Down, Brave Multitasker, and Don’t Read This in Traffic. Time magazine also published an article in 2006 (ages ago according to internet time) stating that we are The Multitasking Generation.
Are you a demi-tasker? or a multi-tasker? Do you think multitasking is a generational trait?
One of my favorite personal finance blogs, Get Rich Slowly, posted today Buying Food: Grocery Shopping Tips from 1950 which includes a video (yes from the 50s) and the subsequent grocery shopping tips "we" should get from this video. When I read most grocery shopping tips I get pretty annoyed – most of these are made for families with 2.5 children. You see, I am single – I eat at home (or take my lunch to work) about 60% of the time and the other times I go out with coworkers or friends. My grocery shopping habits are much different than a household of 5.
Almost every grocery shopping how-to I’ve seen includes buy in bulk. That is about the worst money saving advice for me:
Since I’ll be the only one eating this item – I’d be stuck eating the same thing day after day to avoid it going bad.
I live in a small place, therefore I have limited storage place.
I live on the 4th floor and I haul my own groceries up the stairs.
So, I decided to do a little googleage and find some grocery shopping tips for one. I’ll tell ya it definitely took some digging, the first few resources I found were almost as annoying as the buy in bulk idea. In my searching I also found The Little Black Apron: A Single Girl’s Guide to Cooking with Style and Grace – perhaps I should check it out. Normally, I’m much more into online recipes than recipe books though.
Here is the single shoppers grocery guide:
Plan ahead: this grocery tip is universal but a definite money saver, plan your week and write your grocery list before you go to the store to avoid impulse buys. I’m personally not great at grocery lists, so my compromise is to decide how many lunches and how many dinners I will need for that week so I don’t end up with too much food. If you like lists The Ultimate Grocery Shopping List is a free pdf that’s a great resource.
The freezer is your friend: if you think your fruit or bread may go bad before you eat it, throw it in the freezer to use later. I just learned bread only takes 1 hour to thaw. Frozen fruit is great to use in smoothies or to eat as a snack. I cut up and freeze bananas all the time to throw in cereal or smoothies. I’ve never been a fan of freezing leftover food, because I usually forget about it. But if making extra food and freezing for later works for you it’s a good money saver.
Choose the right frozen entrees: ready-made entrees can be an easy option but be sure to choose wisely so you’re not eating junk food disguised as health food. WebMD has some good frozen entree choices. An advantage I have found of frozen meals is usually they cost the same whether you buy 1 or 4, so I can try a new kind without being stuck with multiples in the event I don’t like it. These are easy take to work lunches for me (although not necessarily the most economic).
Buy generic: Generic and store-brand products are often processed at the same plants as name brand products, but they are much cheaper because they aren’t advertised. A significant portion of the price you pay for a name brand product is to cover the high cost of advertising it in the various media.
Think about your eating habits at work: avoid vending machines and bring your own snacks/drinks to work. You pay significantly less for the candy bars and drinks you buy at the grocery store than from a vending machine.
It’s been a while since I did any food/cooking related posts and I figure since it is the weekend before Christmas (crazy) I would do a little round-up of some recipes that sounds ohh so yummy to me.
PS- For those of you viewing this in a reader, click over and check out the new face of GenPink (new logo & new look). You can browse by topic, see popular posts you may have missed. And if you’re a newcomer come by & introduce yourself.
I am in love with the Sugar Network – GeekSugar, YumSugar & CasaSugar are my regular reads. I do keep up with the other areas as well but those are my favorite. So on this beautiful Saturday I thought I’d do a round up of my saved things from YumSugar recently (or not so recently).
I haven’t actually tried any of these recipes yet but I do plan on it soon.
Fast & Easy Dinner: Turkey Burgers With Feta and Herbs – I don’t really like red meat so I’m always looking for fun recipes that don’t make me feel like I’m eating the same thing every day. Hey plus this says fast & easy those are two of my favorite words in the kitchen.
Peach Rice Pudding Pops – Seriously, these look so good. They might be worth investing in popsicle mold
They say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach but it seems the dining tables have turned as increasing numbers of men are taking up cooking in a bid to seduce women.
Dubbed ‘Gastrosexuals‘ this new generation of men consider cooking more a hobby than a household chore and use their kitchen prowess to impress friends and prospective partners. -Mail Online via yumsugar
While, I’m not so into the sound of the word gastrosexual I am certainly into guys who can cook. This girl likes to eat! Is master chef on your list of ideal mate?
Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go... And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it's all over.
I learned a new word today: demi-task
– perhaps I should check it out. Normally, I’m much more into online recipes than recipe books though. 
I am in love with the 
People are talkin’