Own a computer? Then you know what computer stress is! Here’s 5 Mellow Monday tips to help keep computer stress from blowing your day!

There is no way to eliminate the headaches and problems that owning a computer brings it’s simply a fact of life (even Apple owners will admit they experience them). But with proper planning, you can minimize issues that cause you to pull your hair out, toss a mouse across a room or worse!

1. Learn your operating system and most frequently used programs. Sounds simple but most people never take a class or open a book to learn what makes their system tick.
   1. Even costly software programs rarely have a complete manual so invest in a “For Dummies” or other how-to book. Select a book that is suitable for your skill level.
   2. Local community colleges, extension programs and even Senior centers offer free or low-cost classes.
2. Find or buy tech support services BEFORE something goes wrong. Try a few non-critical issues to see how well the person, company or service delivers what you need.
   1. I’ve bought multiple Dell computers for years with their extended Gold Business service just because I know I can speak to someone in Texas at 3 a.m. who can help me solve a hard drive crisis. It’s not that Dell makes the best computer but they do offer excellent paid support.
   2. Apple is known for their excellent technical support just be certain that if it is fee-based that you know how it works.
   3. Select retailers such as Costco and Office Depot offer technical support beyond the manufacturers’. Some are even free!
3. Backup – Backup – Backup! If something can go wrong with a computer – it will! Hard drives fail, Windows gets corrupted, files are damaged.
   1. You can backup your documents and programs to an external hard drive. Many of which include automated backup routines. Drives are a very quick and inexpensive way to have a onsite backup. However, these drives are also subject to failure. I actually lost 2 external backup drives in the same week! The other issue is should a catastrophe hit your home or office your data may not be safe.
   2. Off-site backups via the Internet provide convenience and security. Many run automatically in the background or at night. You have 24/7 access to the current version of a document and often even older versions. I’m currently using Mozy; however there are other reputable web companies that offer this service. Check PC Magazine or other reputable computer magazine for current reviews. Don’t bank on a “no name” company – stick with the big guys.
4. Research and set up backup methods used by different programs. Some programs offer functions that periodically remind you to backup. However, if you’re simply saving a backup version to the same hard drive, you are still at great risk. Check each program for how and where it saves your backups.
   1. Email programs often don’t backup everything you think they would. Some won’t backup attachments, others don’t backup email account settings and others simply archive emails and never make it easy to find what you thought you had “saved.”
   2. Check your software manual regarding files that are part of backups and make certain everything is being saved. There are also 3rd party software solutions to provide you with specialized backup functions.
   3. I have all my backups saved to a file folder called critical and then I make certain that Mozy always backs this up throughout the day.
5. Check  your backups regularly. Open and view or install a backup version to make certain that your backup files are in good shape. Nothing is worse than loading a disk only to discover the file is blank!

My last tip is to relax with a glass of wine before calling technical support! Your natural frustration will only make it more difficult for you and your trusty tech support guy or gal to diagnosis your issue!

Good Luck and Happy Computing!

Quick – can you explain a personal or career goal to me right now? Here’s 5 tips to help you achieve your goals and explore new ones.

Goals are more than dreams. They are guideposts along life’s journey. If your goal is to win the lottery or become a NBA Superstar – perhaps you aren’t grasping the actual purpose of having a goal. Sure you could spend all your money on quick picks or shoot hoops until dark every night – but winning the lottery is still an uncontrollable long-shot and unless you’re an athletic teen with scouting potential – well you are just fooling yourself!

Step #1 – Start with your biggest dream and define it. Create a dream journal where you explore all the aspects of how it would feel to reach this ultimate goal, why you want it and what are the requirements needed to achieve it. This will help you learn your goal’s potential and is how you’ll recognize the success steps along the way. As the cliché goes, it’s the journey not the destination.

Step #2 – Feel it, taste it, smell it, visualize it – this is your passion. Passion is what will keep you on the path when it seems lonely and long. Without passion, why bother? If you don’t have passion in your heart and gut – rethink your goal and redirect your efforts.

Step #3 -  Why do you want it – what does it give you? Wealth, fame, satisfaction, happiness, spiritual peace, personal challenges? The WHY is actually a reality check. Sometimes it’s the emotions surrounding the goal that are what we are seeking and not the perceived goal itself. Not all dreams are realistic and attainable but the emotions associated with the dream can be. Look for the “feeling” reasons to assess your goal’s viability.

Step #4 -  Review and create a priority list of the requirements necessary to reach your goal. Break these down into small tasks (think under 30 minutes).

Rank the tasks by Must Do, Helpful and Long-term.  You should plan on completing 10 Must Do’s to every 4 Helpful and 1 Long-term. Keep an eye on the ratio so you don’t get bogged down in non-critical tasks. It’s easy to get lost in the “well-at-least-I’m-doing-something” non-critical tasks instead of taking real action. Don’t let FEAR sidetrack you!

If you need to get a Master’s Degree, don’t write down Master’s Degree! Break it down into tasks such as obtaining your college transcripts, scheduling a meeting with a college advisor, researching loan programs, applying for a grant or visiting a campus.

Step # 5 – Set firm deadlines for your Must Do tasks. Be realistic about how much time you’ll have to hike towards the pinnacle (goal). Missing a deadline isn’t the end of the world but as with any investment it’s small regular actions that are the foundation of great rewards. Deadlines are a promise to yourself and you deserve to feel the sense of accomplishment (success) that reaching each deadline gives you.

I’d love to have you share your goals with us here. A public announcement (just like a pledge of love through marriage) is a powerful step in being successful.