Hey, it’s Terry here.
How’s your week going?
Yesterday at work was a rest after a busy weekend shopping, babysitting, wedding dress shopping with one of my daughters, plus it seems, much, much more.
My downtime was catching up on my current Netflix series The Diplomat. It’s quite good!
In this week’s issue:
Tech tips - auto update to today’s date in Excel, creating Word templates, Bank rules in Xero, and colour coding emails in Outlook.
The peak time for handing in job resignations is coming up!
D!ckhead of the week
Feeling shorter than yesterday?
plus more…
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TECHNOLOGY
Excel Formula’s of the week
=today() Whenever you open or refresh the spreadsheet the formula will update.
=now() If you want the current date and time.
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Word tip for the week: creating templates
✅Handy for letterheads, forms, recurring reports, agendas and minutes, invoices, checklists, policies and procedures.
✅ Using templates streamlines your work by providing a ready-made structure for your documents, so you don’t have to start from scratch each time.
✅ They ensure consistency in formatting, fonts, and branding, which makes your documents look professional and polished.
✅ Templates also save time by including pre-set sections, headers, footers, and placeholders for content, reducing repetitive work and minimizing errors.
To save a Word document as a template: File / Save As / Word Template
To open template and save as a new document: Locate the file in Windows Explorer and double-click to open it. Changes in that new document won’t affect the original template.
To make changes to the original template: Open Word, go to File → Open → select the template file. Any changes you make here will update the template itself.
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🫰🏽Xero bank rules
All businesses have bank transactions that repeat regularly, bank fees, direct debits, salaries, loan repayments. Set up a bank rule so Xero automatically codes a transaction in the bank reconciliation window and all you do is click OK to reconcile.
⏱️Yes, it can be a pain setting them up, but it is worth the effort!
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🏳️🌈 Outlook - use categories for colour coding emails
I use these all the time. It saves you having way too many folders in your inbox, and you can search by category to quickly find what you’re looking for.
Here are some examples of when you might set a category:
Emails from different departments or teams
Priority level
Different types of customers or clients
Tracking the status - eg pending, in progress, completed.
Right click an email, select Categorize, and select one of the default options,
or All Categories and click New, give it a colour and OK.
INSIGHT
⌛Peak time for job resignations is almost here!
Late January - early February!
After the summer holidays and the “silly season,” many Australians hand in their notice. People return from leave refreshed, reflect on their work-life balance, and make decisions about their careers.
This often aligns with some staff waiting for their annual bonus to be handed out, and three public holidays over the Christmas period are freebies they don’t want to miss out on.
For employees who plan to resign:
Make it easy for colleagues - ensure handovers are clear and not last minute.
Invest in yourself: Peak resignation times are also opportunities — explore new opportunities that offer training, mentoring, or new responsibilities to grow your career.
Start updating your resume now: by writing a list of all your achievements, awards, recognitions etc at your current role. Your resume shouldn’t just be a list of tasks and responsibilities.
Is it really greener on the other side? Maybe some genuine conversations with colleagues and Managers is all that’s needed to resolve conflict, job roles or work conditions and these may be enough to entice you to stay!
For employers who want to retain specific staff:
Plan ahead: Anticipate resignations in late January and mid-year. Ensure staffing coverage and recruitment strategies are in place.
Don’t take staff for granted: Regular conversations about workload, growth, and recognition help staff feel valued and heard.
Protect workloads: Avoid overloading employees, particularly after holidays or during peak project periods.
Support growth and development: Offer clear career pathways, training opportunities, and mentorship programs to encourage retention.
Recognise contributions: Admin staff are the backbone of your business — celebrate their work consistently, not just at annual reviews.
Persuasive Sentences
👍🏼“This could save us time/money/energy.” Let’s be practical about this.
👍🏼“What if we tried this approach?” Being open-minded without pressure.
👍🏼“What do you think about giving this a chance?” Encourages buy-in.
👍🏼“Here’s the simplest next step we can take.” Removes complexity.
👍🏼“The good news is…” Shifts the focus to positivity and solutions. Always end an email on a good note.
TUESDAY VIBES
Non-productive but 100% boss-approved (maybe)
🤯D!ckhead of the week
FYI, it wasn’t me. 😇
You know when you’re sitting patiently in a long line to traffic waiting to turn, and there are always cars that speed down the neighbouring lane and squeeze in near the end so they avoid the long queue? D!ckhead driver squeezed in at the end, the left turn arrow was red but the driver ignored it and continued to turn left. Flash, flash, off went the red light camera. Karma’s a bitch.
🤶🏽Christmas gift ideas
The Ninja Slushi maker looks awesome for families with kiddies, or adults who love slushi cocktails. 🍹🍸
📖 An interesting read - maybe an ideal Kris Kringle gift - How They Get You: Sneaky Everyday Economics and Smart Ways to Hold on to Your Money. I’ve ordered the book and I’ll read it when we’re camping over Christmas.
I quote “From loyalty schemes to late fees, gift cards to sneaky supermarkets, How They Get You pulls back the curtain on how the systems work and how to outsmart them.”
👵🏾How your body changes each decade of your life
An interesting read! So this is why my mum is shrinking, and I guess I will too!
Before you go…
💻 Want to share a thought or tip with our readers, or just me?
There is a Comments button at the top of this post, so feel free to send me your thoughts or ideas.
Until next week, be good, smile and be grateful for your family and friends.
Terry-Anne
Founder & Editor, Qwerty Plus Newsletter
