There are hundreds of ways to streamline your life at work – from clever hardware to savvy software to simple life hacks. But with so much technology to try, it can be tricky to navigate the landscape and make sure you’re using the right stuff. That’s why we’ve created a round-up of our favourite tools to transform your workday and impress your colleagues.
9 Tools To Try:
Smoother scheduling
The days of scribbling your schedule onto a scrap of A4 are over. Nowadays you can organise yourself entirely digitally, through your email calendar or a specialist tool. Apps like Trello, Asana and Monday.com all exist to help businesses organise and prioritise tasks, making it simpler to stay on top of projects and deadlines.
Boost your productivity
Full of ideas first thing? Or find inspiration strikes after a mid-afternoon cup of tea? It's good to remember we’re all different and our productivity peaks at different times. But there are ways you can improve your concentration, even when your attention is ebbing away. Time tracking apps like RescueTime or Focus@ will help track your productivity and create focus-friendly environments with time-blocking techniques. Even popping on a few hours of ‘focus music’ on YouTube can go a long way.
Chat away
With so many of us now working remotely, we need effective ways to stay connected. Zoom blew up during the pandemic and it’s held onto that popularity. However, slack and Microsoft Teams are always hot on Zoom’s heels. They make it easy to instantly call, chat and collaborate – even when you’re in different time zones.
Safer storage
Nothing is more valuable than your files and data. Plus there are plenty of rules and regulations about how you must manage it – like GDPR. Cloud-based tools are a great option. Instead of your documents being physically stored on a hard drive, they’re hosted safely in the cloud. Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive allow easy access to important files from anywhere, promoting better collaboration and smoother workflows.
Harness the power of AI
Like it or not, AI is here to stay. We’ve been warned for what feels like decades that it was going to revolutionise our working landscape, in both good and bad ways. Now the technology is accessible, it’s time to use it to your advantage. Draft emails and brainstorm with ChatGPT or schedule meetings, set reminders and automate simple tasks with Google Assistant. Using AI tools will save you time and keep your day running smoothly.
Better billing
For those that work with clients, making sure you bill accurately is vital. It could be the difference between hitting your targets and falling short. But unless you have strong scheduling and finance departments that handle everything, keeping track of time and costs can get tricky. Tools like Harvest, Clockify and Toggl make it easy to track how long your team spend on tasks. They are ideal for project management and help guarantee you get your bills right, every time.
Maximise your mobiles
When all your team have business phones, costs can easily rack up. Plus managing the different plans and payments is a job in itself. Luckily, there are a host of business phone systems, designed specifically for commercial use. They typically offer great benefits like cheap rates, international roaming and features that simplify company calls. Often, they recommend eSIMs or digital sims, which reduce the need for a physical card.
Protect your passwords
It’s important to use a unique and uncrackable password to secure your work accounts. But memorising multiple ones can be tricky. To help you, there’s tools like LastPass or 1Password that safely secure them, giving you instant access. To double up on security, many companies opt for two-factor authentication. Apps like Microsoft Authenticator will ask you to confirm it’s you with a code or by using biometrics to prevent hacking and fraud.
Take a break
To be at your best, sometimes you need to take a break. Switching off from work for a few minutes or half an hour means you’ll come back refreshed and re-energised. If you find it hard to pull yourself away, apps like Stretchly or StandUp! that remind you to take a moment, stretch or even meditate, helping you maintain mental and physical wellness during long workdays.
A better way to work
If work is getting on top of you, don’t panic. Hopefully this article has pointed you in the direction of some handy technology you’ve not yet tried. From automating your scheduling to getting the most of AI and safely securing your files – there are a host of tools designed to make your work life a whole lot easier.
