Multi-tasking- Health Risks?

[john snyder]

The appraisal profession is a slave to multi-tasking, unless one is fortunate enough to be a specialist in one type of property, erego allowing quite a bit of cookie cutting jobs.

I am trying to change some of the habits of talking on the phone, working on a job and having other distractions on going. Seems like there are always delays in data getting back to us so we work on what job has the data available that we can aseemble and analyze. All this multiple tasks each day cannot be good for our health.

Any suggestions on how to alleviate some of this?

Personally I go in streaks like returning phone calls, i.e. try to return all calls after 4pm, but even that gets pushed aside as confrimation is needed to move data forward.


This can't be healthy - all of this putting out fires each day. :blink:

john

 

[spittman]

Originally posted by john snyder@Jan 25 2006, 08:46 AM
The appraisal profession is a slave to multi-tasking, unless one is fortunate enough to be a specialist in one type of property ...



... All this multiple tasks each day cannot be good for our health.

Any suggestions on how to alleviate some of this?

I'd like to hear any suggestions too. I still enjoy the profession 90% of the time, but there are some days I just feel so burned out. Don't know how my dad did appraising for 30 years, plus a brokerage and laundrymat. I'm trying to figure out how I can work less days and make more money.

 

[Alisa]

I think it is the nature of the beast...since we depend on replies from realtors, property managers and such. I don't think we can ever just work on one file
at a time unless it is our only file and I sure don't want
that so I guess I'll be happy with multi-tasking.

I do wish there was another way though because I feel stressed some days when
I inventory the files I can't finish due to the "wait time". It feels like a weight on
my shoulders until I can finish and put the files away. I realize I put the stress on
myself but still I worry because in the end I feel I will be considered "slow" in
finishing an appraisal and it will be forgotten that I was waiting on someone else
for the info.

Okay, whining over.

I don't really think multi-tasking is bad for our health unless we assign the stress to it. In fact you might consider that it is healthy for your brain...keeping it active,
etc.

An exception might be driving and talking...car accidents. Get an ear piece for your cell phone--bluetooth--very helpful for hands free talking. If you set it up right you can even say the name of the person you are calling and not have to dial.

I think organization is a key factor to ease multi tasking. I put a post a note on the outside of each file -- the large ones. I make a note one it as I find something I need. Mark each call I've made and left messages for. That way I can see at a
glance who I've called, what I am waiting for. Great when the call backs come
and I don't have a clue why I've called that person.

Other than that if you can tell me how to be more organized I'd love it. Multi-tasking isn't going away. Just my $.02

Happy Saturday!
Alisa

 

[Otis Key]

I think I posted this a year or more ago but will again. There was one company that I dealt with that had a specific day that they called "Quiet work day" and they did not answer their calls. If you called it would be answered by the voice mail with "You have reached Lazy Workers Company on Tuesday zzz ##, #### and this is the company Quiet Work Day time. During this time all calls are answered by this message so that employees can perform other task as are necessary to improve the speed and accuracy of our production. Please leave your name, number & short message and your call WILL be returned by no later than this same time tomorrow."

I usually got a call back early the next morning. They said it sure improved the company effeciency. One day a week of not answering assine questions!