No distractions. Stay in your chair. A timer.
Posted By: nm on 2006-03-16
In Reply to: Does anyone have tips for typing faster? - Thanks!
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STAY IN YOUR CHAIR! :-)
nm
Games MTs play to stay in that chair
Hi people :)
When MT gets very boring (which is most days for me), I have a few things I'll do to keep producing. Will you please share any games you play with yourself to crank out some extra lines (something more than "I need to meet the bills, and that keeps me in the chair").
Here's mine. I hope these will help. Please share yours!
- Try to get the % keystrokes saved in Shorthand higher than the last time I worked.
- Keep a timer with me - transcribe 20 minutes, clean home for 10, transcribe 20, clean for 10. Not a very productive way, but I use this when I am truly climbing the walls and nothing else works. Sometimes if I'm on a roll and the 20 minutes are up, I'll just hit the timer again and go for another 20 before the cleaning break. The break gets my house in order (amazing what can be done in 10 minutes - folded laundry and dishes running and so on), gives my wrists a break, gets the blood flowing.
- I find the times I have the worst trouble sitting there and working are the times when it's been a while since I've been out of the house. Getting out regularly helps working go much easier.
- Sometimes set a goal of a specific amount 300 lines or whatever is a slight stretch but can possibly be reached in an hour, and aim for that.
- A walk to the mailbox or other light exercise can help.
- I haven't tried a regular exercise break in the middle of the day (say a 1-hour break to reenergize and really get a good workout in), but if that helps you I hope you'll share.
- Try to get to half of my line count by noon.
- Get done for the day in time to watch Dr. Phil as a reward. :)
Games MTs play to stay in that chair
Hi people :)
When MT gets very boring (which is most days for me), I have a few things I'll do to keep producing. Will you please share any games you play with yourself to crank out some extra lines (something more than "I need to meet the bills, and that keeps me in the chair").
Here's mine. I hope these will help. Please share yours!
- Try to get the % keystrokes saved in Shorthand higher than the last time I worked.
- Keep a timer with me - transcribe 20 minutes, clean home for 10, transcribe 20, clean for 10. Not a very productive way, but I use this when I am truly climbing the walls and nothing else works. Sometimes if I'm on a roll and the 20 minutes are up, I'll just hit the timer again and go for another 20 before the cleaning break. The break gets my house in order (amazing what can be done in 10 minutes - folded laundry and dishes running and so on), gives my wrists a break, gets the blood flowing.
- I find the times I have the worst trouble sitting there and working are the times when it's been a while since I've been out of the house. Getting out regularly helps working go much easier.
- Sometimes set a goal of a specific amount 300 lines or whatever is a slight stretch but can possibly be reached in an hour, and aim for that.
- A walk to the mailbox or other light exercise can help.
- I haven't tried a regular exercise break in the middle of the day (say a 1-hour break to reenergize and really get a good workout in), but if that helps you I hope you'll share.
- Try to get to half of my line count by noon.
- Get done for the day in time to watch Dr. Phil as a reward. :)
I use a little handheld digital timer from Pyrex (our oven timer doesn't work) - sm
and it's great, has two digital windows, clock on top, counter (which is what I use) on the bottem, then you can switch "modes" to a screen with 2 timers if that is what you want. Cost about $10. So I time myself more now since it helps me buckle down and I see who I am fastest at this way.....average anywhere from 12-18 minutes of dictation an hour doing this--- unfortunately I spend too much time looking up addresses but I hope my address directory will be to the point one day where I don't have to look up anymore (or at least not much). Have fun.
Yes, distractions such as forums are
real time/line-stealers. I'm not working today and have some online research to do so I'm here today more than usual.
Good luck!
Try to work w/o distractions, if the cost of day-care is an issue -sm
then you will have to learn to work when your kids are sleeping basically. That is what I did. It is hard and you do not sleep much...I generally worked at night until 2am and got up at 8am before they were old enough for preschool, and squeezed in work here and there during the day. The younger they are though the easier it is to work I think. But you can do it, but you better be determined if you want to do it that way. I still work at night but not that late anymore since I have 7 hours during the day to myself now. It's still very hard to work when they are home (5&7) but my DH watches them a lot and takes care of them when I do have to work and they are home, so good home support helps too. I have 2 jobs so must still work crazy hours but I do what needs to be done.
I work long hours and keep distractions to a minimum sm
and very, very luckily was assigned an account that was an excellent fit. I'm pretty sure you all won't believe me anyway and I'm not sure why I bothered to respond  but my "secret" is just hard work and dumb luck. Plus I do Radiology and for me that is a big part of the equation.
I better switch my computer chair for a potty chair. nm
Get you a timer and sm....
and see if you are actually working that entire time or if you are like me and very distracted and really only work 5 of the 8 hours. I am terrible about checking emails, looking out the window, surfing the internet, etc., etc. and once I really look at how long I worked I really only got in about a third the time I thought I was actually working. This may not be you at all, but this would help you to see if this is part of the problem. You might also get you a notepad that you have on your desk and write down everytime you answer the phone, answer a question from spouse or kids, got up to do something, etc. and see what type of distractions are taking away from your working time. I am talking from experience here. If I was not so distracted I would probably do at least 2000 lines a day but I am lucky to get 1300. Just a thought and good luck.
Timer
XNoteStopwatch.com
A real old old timer
When I learned how to type in high school, we had the manual typewriters with no letters on the keys. The first electric typewriter when I was a senior, was awesome! You barely had to touch it. I can't remember either the name of the first "word processor" I used, but I know that soon after came the "Mag Card". I definitely don't miss any of these. Yes, that was before production. Boy, just thinking about this makes me realize how "ancient" I am and how far technology has come in my lifetime.
TIMER FOR TRANSCRIPTION?
Here is a question for you gals (and guys). Where can I find a timer like the chess players use that you can hit the button and it stops, hit it again and it continues. I would very much like to be able to track just how much time I actually spend on transcribing versus jumping up and down doing housework, answering the phone, door, etc.
Thanks!
I used to use a timer, but not anymore.
It would jump the living daylights out of me every time as I was "in the transcribing zone." :)
Sounds like me to a "T" -- I use a timer too - sm
I find if I set it in 15 minutes increments I get more done; then I try 30 minutes. I find with the harder doctors I can get up to 12-14 minutes an hour done that way. One doctor I can do 25-28 minutes in an hour this way (he's my favorite), even then though I only average about 160 lines an hour since I have to look up addresses, or look up an unfamiliar term, etc. All that slows you down too. I am getting better though in the time department but still have a long way to go. Kills me to think I can have my work done in 6 hours or less IF I would buckle down; don't know why I torture myself but need to give myself a good kick in the butt!
Is using a timer cheating?
I work on production only. I do have a set schedule, but the company I work for is fairly flexible. I have started using a timer where I set it for 60 minutes and stop it if I am interrupted, have to get up, etc. This gives me a more accurate picture of exactly how much I can type in an hour. Is this cheating not to just go by clock hour?
Only part timer here
and i have a housekeeper, have for years (say 12-15) even when it was just me and my child at the house. I do not like housework, never have so I have someone to come over not every week because only the 2 of us and the 3 furry ones. I do not think that expensive.
Part-timer, too sm
Half the year I only worked 15 hours a week, second half worked 30 hours a week and will make just over $30,000.
for old part-timer
Yes, I have.
I think 0 Vicryl looks weird.
The 0 could easly be lost somewhere. It makes more sense to be typed as 0-Vicryl, so that one knows where this '0' belongs. Otherwise it is just dangling there all by itself.
I looke it up and the right way is like that:
0 Vicryl
3-0 Vicryl.
This has no logic.
I use a stopwatch but I'd rather have a chess timer!
Makes a real difference for me!
Agree with Old Timer. Don't shortchange sm
yourself. A good education will make this very difficult profession a whole lot easier for you. After college, though, you should get a job in a hospital or clinic to get some good in-person mentoring. The MTs who don't do this and go straight to working at home end up having to struggle and never quite making it.
I'm an old-timer who loves PRD also and will share with you what little I know
PRD is DOS based and must run in DOS-based WP program.... I have a link that explains how to load WP DOS if you are interested. Looks pretty complicated to me... I gave up as realized I was eventually going to have to move to Windows. Bought InstantText which allows you to add PRD glossaries - but I hate it!!
http://www.columbia.edu/~em36/wpdos/windowsxp.html#installguide
Part-timer here and I have housekeeper
NM
Desktop Timer- Where can I get this online?
For Free.
Weber short timer
I too have only been with the company a short 3 months. Great supervisor, 2 good accounts. I do radiology and work 3rd shift so I do run out some nights. But plenty of opportunity to make it up during the day if I want. So far thats the ONLY negative I have seen. :) Good luck and welcome aboard.....
Use a timer and limit yourself, you'll feel much better
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digital kitchen timer and a scratchpad ....
I am always startled at how much tallying line count every hour or two keeps me focused. Some days just spread out vaguely and my line count suffers as I get distracted or restless.
The info your platform provides should be enough ... to keep some sort of a running tally.
I trust almost no one is still doing manual logs (best kept in Excell, imho), but yes, even with manual logs, a "bad" hour total can provide the seat-in-chair motivation to perform better next hour.
Taking breaks is a good idea -- but I admit I still spend a lot of time playing catch-up.
I do the same thing for set my timer for 20 minutes, that 1 nap does the trick usually for the rest
of my day (if I happen to be working during the day). If I start nodding off late at night, I just go to bed and get up early if need be to finish up.
(more than 1)Quiet, not coming here, timer, expander, deadlines - nm
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At one time, someone posted a link for a free clock timer. sm
I've searched the archives but could not find it. It was for timing your actual time spent transcribing. Anybody remember what it was. TIA.
Get out the timer. You'll have to force yourself to work uninterrupted for periods of time.
Just keep in mind that you WANT the money. Best of luck!
You can also download (free) a product called Cool Timer from CNet.
You can set it to act like a stopwatch or to countdown time. I use it all the time and it has helped me immensely. I just have it open all the time on my toolbar. http://www.download.com/Cool-Timer/3000-2350_4-10062255.html
I need a new chair!
I have had this chair for about 8 years. I have to sit on pillows or else it feels like I am sitting on bare metal!  I am ready to buy a new one & would appreciate suggestions.
TIA
chair.
Herman Miller Aeron Chair, changed my LIFE!!!! Can't say enough good about it. The cost is high, but I felt I could justify it since I spend so much time sitting in it, check it out on ebay, lot cheaper, that is where I got mine.
chair
Am looking for a new one. What kind do you have?
chair
When I was going to PT because of a MVA the theapist told me to allow the chair to support the back, not to sit like they used to make us sit straight and forward but sit back and allow the chair to support you. Also hold in your core muscles. Once I have done this as well as having a chair that I can easily change up and down positions, I have not had a problem. She said a pillow would not support the entire back and and thus put you off balance again and you then overcompensate for it. So I sit completely back in my chair with my entire back being supported by the chair. Also sit a little higher up. Works for me and never have a back ache. Also chair is not one of the most expensive models, $99 at Office Depot. Though I do need a new one as it is 6 years old. I work 8 to 10 hours per day in this chair.
chair help sm
Go to a site called "Nada Chair" it is not a chair but a device that pulls your spine forward by attaching a belt via a strap to your knees. My son is a PT and one of his patients swears by it. Just check it out. Been there, it's painful, every little bit helps, also ask for a TENS unit. Good luck! I empathize!
chair
my sister visited a chiropracter in atlanta and was told of an office chair called herman miller but is pricey. She has one and loves it so far. it is the best one out there of late. visit CSN-chair.com they have different types, but they sound like a dream! Thank you for your well wishes and hope you are doing okay too! I e-mailed you also
chair
Hi - I've had many various chairs over the past 10 years, and just found the perfect one for me for about $250.00.
It's the Unanimous model chair from the Hon company, part of their 7600 series -- specifically, the 7602 model is the best. It has a high back and adjustable everything -- seat depth, back height, arm width and height, etc...
I've spent lots of money on chairs and love this one!
Sites like NexTag do comparison pricing and show you where you can get the exact item you want at the best price.
Good luck!
chair
I would try out some chairs at the office supply stores for good lumbar support. I also found that chairs with arm rests were very tiring as the arm rests got in the way of my elbows. I use a pillow to push me forward and also a Nada chair device. They have a website which explains how this work, pulls your spine forward by straps that go over your knees. It was a gift from a therapist. Works pretty well. Also, a microwaveable heating pad helps. Good luck, sometimes more than a chair is needed. It's painful, I know!
Best chair - sm
I have been working from home for many years, and over the years, I bought a new chair just about every 12 months, until this past year. I splurged and bought a Henry Miller Aeron chair, and it's wonderful. No more back pain, no more neck pain, no more shoulder pain. I wish I had saved all the money I spent on a chair every year and bought this one back then. They are expensive, but check online, you can find some good deals with free shipping, and sometimes no tax. The chair is well worth the investment if you can swing it. Hope this helps.
Chair
The chair in the link I am providing is by far the best chair I have ever owned.
Chair
I bought the chair in the link below and it has been the BEST chair I have ever used. I have major back problems (we're talking 2 back surgeries in the last 3 years) and I can sit in this chair with no problems at all. It has multiple functions for lumbar support, back support, and the arms can go up and down/in and out. I highly recommend it! Also, if you live anywhere near an Office Depot store, shipping is free. The closest Office Depot store to me is like 75 miles away and they still delivered it for free.
Good luck, I knew I had a really hard time finding something I liked for a long time too.
Chair
Thanks for recommending this chair! I have been looking for a chair for so long and can't find one that is quite right. This one looks like it has everything I need - I'm heading to Office Depot this weekend to try it out. Thanks so much!!
chair
I have a herman miller Mirra chair that I love. Very expensive (over 700 bucks) but way worth the money.
chair
I found a sealy posturepedic with ergonomic lumbar support and many other features for just under 200 and it is great
Chair
This is the best chair I have ever owned and the price is fairly reasonable.
Thanks for the tip. I am looking for a new chair
*
New Chair !
I am very happy to share this information. My daughter graduated from college in May in interior design. She found this chair 2 yrs ago and after I took a week off and came back to my old chair and could not get out of it, I drove and bought this. Go to google. Allsteel chair, the one I got is #19. I spent a lot of money on it, but it is SO worth it, all my pain is GONE! You will have find a dealer near you. I live in upstate NY and drove 180 miles round trip to get it.
Aeron chair
I went online and found the closest Herman Miller distributor (which happened to be Las Vegas for me) and drove there and picked it up. I have had a few people tell me they have seen them at Costco, but I am not sure if they are authorized distributors and if buying from them voids the warranty. Because it is such a big investment, my recommendation would be to buy from your closest authorized dealer (per the web site.) The shipping is what it is - but the main thing is to get your chair from a reputable dealer. -Dana
My dog sleeps right behind my chair..
She has been having a real hard time with the weather and is always itchy and has hot spots, so when she sleeps or relaxes, I just here until she gets up on her own. Seems like she has so few moments of peace this summer. Her coat looks awful.
Aeron chair
I have one too and they are so worth it! My back used to kill me sitting for 10-12 hours a day. Now I never have that problem. I know they are expensive but if you can at all swing one, buy it! Think of it as an investment in your health.
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