In this article, we will return to the topic that we had covered in Stress And Time Management: Part I. This time, we will focus on time management. Talking about time today seems impossible, yes, it seems that the days have fewer hours or that the hours have fewer minutes, but the fact is that it passes very quickly, and sometimes we become chaotic trying to do a thousand things at once and in the end we do nothing for lack of time. Many times, it seems that not even making a calendar or keeping an agenda – very effective ways to meet work, study, or daily life commitments – will be enough.
Text-To-Speech
Let’s pick up where we left off: Word’s Text-To-Speech. But First: What is Text-To-Speech? Technically speaking, TTS software are assistive tools. TTS is a technology whose principal goal is to generate audio. Specifically, a text-to-speech interface takes any text-based file and transforms it into a spoken discourse. Most TTS programs allow you to select any language in the range of options that the interface offers. With the advances in this technology, text-to-speech sounds have improved considerably. Plus, they are easy to find online.
Woord is a text reader platform and API; this free online text-to-speech tool with a variety of useful features might be really helpful. It includes more than 50 languages and dialects, and it allows you to pick between masculine, feminine, or non-binary voices. These characteristics are free to use, so you can test the service before buying a premium version. The free version includes premium voices, a Chrome plugin, an SSML editor, an MP3 download, and up to 20,000 characters per month. You can also change the voice’s speed and format with this software.
Nontheless, purchasing a premium membership for business use may be a good idea, because they are not expensive and have a lot of nice features. Furthermore, with the premium editions of Woord, you have complete intellectual property ownership of your audios.
Its Chrome extension will “read” aloud to you any website or article you visit. Google Chrome has a wide variety of users, and it is the most popular browser in the world. This platform is used by people of all ages and places in the world for its accessibility. For this reason, Woord is an excellent complement; due to its intuitive interface and ability to generate high-quality audio in simple steps, anyone can use it. Learn more here: How To Read Text Out Loud From Any Website With Chrome.
6 tips for successful time management
1. Be attentive and awake
Each one of us is a leader, the protagonist of his life. We decide what to do and what not to do. We can only intervene in what we are capable of observing.
2. Have clear goals
It is essential to define what is important and what is urgent in order to dedicate the necessary time to them. Being organized helps us not to waste time.
3. Avoid false impositions
For this, it is necessary to try to put a limit on self-demand and learn to say no and to delegate. If we don’t, we take care of so many things that time never catches up with us.
4. Avoid interruptions
Our brain is not designed for cognitive multitasking. In order to be efficient, it is necessary to concentrate on one thing at a time and try to postpone the rest of the activities for a moment in which we can really pay attention to them.
5. Take breaks at work
Taking small breaks accompanied by breathing and stretching will allow us to recharge energy and come back with the required concentration.
6. Organize our day
Check the agenda, set priorities, and tackle big or difficult tasks first thing in the morning, more clear-headed and energetic.
Also published on Medium.