By using the right apps, people become more efficient, organized and focused. This has led to achieving targets ahead of schedule, with minimal to zero overtime and lower production or service costs. Eventually, this contributes to improving work-life balance that makes everyone happy at work and at home.
Achieving more by doing less is the new work mantra today. Freelancers and companies are more inclined to use tools, free or paid, to increase efficiency, enhance time management and focus more on employees’ core competencies. A number of firms and professionals have embraced best practices to maximize the benefits of using technology and make work easier, faster and more accurate. These allow the workforce to spend more time outside office spaces, avoid long working hours unless urgent and enjoy extra hours of leisure.
One way to attain efficiency is through the use of smartphone or desktop apps that are readily available for installation in a matter of seconds. Today, there are around six million apps that can be downloaded via Google’s Play Store or Apple’s App Store. Sharing a piece of this giant number are the productivity apps that can help you manage your to-dos, schedules, and business travel plans. Install a goal tracker, file manager and a lot more to make your work life more productive in less time. To help you choose what to try, here are several of the most effective apps that you can start with.
Zapier
Most apps are standalone and do not work with other apps. Zapier has changed this inconvenience by integrating different apps and automating information from one channel to another so you won’t have to spend time opening another app just to process data. When you receive a work email with an attachment, Zapier automatically copies attached files to Dropbox for storage and organization, and sends an alert message to Slack for the task that is to be done. This saves you time and also helps you organize your tasks and files without moving a finger.
Forest
If you have problems trying to get your eyes off your smartphone, then let the Forest app help you break the bad habit. Set a timer for when you need to put down your phone, focus more completing pending tasks and help you be more productive every single day. Once you succeed in staying away from your phone, you will grow a virtual tree which will eventually spread into a forest. These trees do not stay virtual because the company behind the app partners with an organization that plants real trees.
RescueTime
One way to check efficiency and productivity is to know how you spend your time with your devices. RescueTime is an activity-based app that tracks the time spent on applications, online or not, with your smartphone or computer. It creates a detailed report, breaking down the hours you consumed against the goals you set for a given timeframe. This makes you aware of how productive you are and how many hours you wasted on non-essential tasks while at work or on a project.
Doodle
Meeting organizers do not need to drain their time trying to set the perfect time for meetings that are agreeable to all attendees. Now, you can download the Doodle app to send time and date suggestions for events like meetings, parties, travel, or conferences. It is like an online poll where people can choose the best time they are available and book the final date. It even integrates with existing calendar apps for alerts and reminders.
It is everybody’s wish to collect all research done over the Internet into one platform that saves text and media files. Bookmarking may be another option but it is not always convenient, especially if you’re using your smartphone. Good thing there is Pocket which is integrated in over 500 applications and allows you to quickly save your needed content, use it for offline consumption and curate the list that is most relevant for you.
HelloSign
For documents that need your precious signature, you can use HelloSign to electronically sign documents and complete transactions like contracts, certificates or simple authorization slips. With this, you skip the hassle of printing the documents, inking your signature, scanning them and emailing back to the sender. All your signed docs are stored in the app’s database so it is easier for you to pull out a contract on your smartphone if you need it. Additionally, the app can help you send the docs through a fax without actually having to locate a fax machine.
Cloze
Phone contacts just list the basic info you need for sending a message or calling. Cloze does more by pulling all your contacts into one platform, gets more details for every contact including social media profiles, and notes your conversation in emails, social networks and other similar apps. This app is like a dedicated server exclusively for your contacts.
The app store has any number of amazing productivity tools at your disposal. Pick the ones that match your goals and see your focus improve more every week. With hours freed by improved efficiency, you can do other crucial tasks like spending time playing with your kids, collecting claims on car accidents, learning new recipes and getting more sleep.