Every single day we are bombarded with information about new applications and tools that promises to enhance our productivity, allowing us to work better and faster.
There are so many options to choose from and so many tools at our fingertips, yet we still feel stressed out, overwhelmed, and out of control. It can also become pretty time-consuming researching new tools, gadgets, methods while we are trying to get more done in little time. When you have a lot to do and very little time, some days can feel more stressful than others. And as each day goes by, work starts piling up, leaving us with endless lists of to-dos, making us feel demotivated and exhausted with nothing to show for at the end of the day.
Online tools do not have to be challenging or complicated, they can be pretty simple, and the best part, most of these productivity tools are actually FREE!
Since Covid-19, there has been an explosion of productivity tools in the online space promising we can get more done while balancing work and home life. We haven’t fully found our rhythm while still dealing with the looming Pandemic, but for the sake of our sanity, we can incorporate some simple and practical tools that CAN save us time, help us stay organized, and allow us to prioritize what’s most important on a day-to-day basis! So, breathe, take it a day at a time, and rest assured, you CAN have more control over your day.
Here are my top 3 MUST HAVE tools that you need to incorporate immediately so you can spend more time on the items that matter.
- Digital Calendar
Whether you are using a calendar every day, occasionally, once in a while, or not at all, a digital calendar is a MUST to get things done. While paper and pen are great to brainstorm ideas and get things out of your head, be sure to use a calendar to add your activities and tasks. The first step is to ensure your tasks (personal and work) are on your calendar, and then look at it often to stay on top of things that need to get done. You may have to sometimes shift some activities to the next day but this is what makes it easier to manage a digital calendar. Once your tasks are there, you have historical information of what you’ve done, and you can easily shift your tasks and appointments to another day. You do not want to rely on your brain to remember everything for you! Free your brain to process and integrate ideas vs. remembering what needs to be done. The more you use your digital calendar the more you will get done!
- Task Manager Tool
Losing track of all the tasks you delegated to your team? Getting too many emails from colleagues and team members for tasks that need to get done? It can be super exhausting going through email after email and not being able to keep up with the updated tasks and projects pending. One of the most crucial tools is to have is a task management tool that gives each team member ONE LOCATION to manage and update all pending tasks. This way you don’t have to spend countless hours looking for that email or responding to most emails to update on your tasks. Task management tools are free and paid, depending on your needs, and can also be tailor-made for your organization.
- Site Blockers & Focus Applications
One of the ways to get more done is removing ALL distractions and putting all your focus and attention on the task at hand. But we are living in a world where distractions are everywhere, and it is easy to lose our focus and attention at the task at hand. We are easily distracted by the ping, dings, and rings of our phone, site notifications, email notifications, social media notifications, and so much more! How can you get anything done? One of my favorite tools is to have site blockers that won’t allow me to access any website I may be tempted to go to while doing important work and use focus applications with timers that allows me to focus on only one task at a time! This has saved me immense time and allowed me to get so much more done in a day.
Want to learn more? Then join me in my upcoming FREE Masterclass called Simple & Practical Tools to Level Up Your Productivity where I will be sharing everything that I use every day in my work and personal life to get more done in less time.
Click here for more information
Article Written by,
Sheetal Sujan
Director & Co-Founder Lybra Training, Coaching & Consulting
Treasurer ICT-As