Just because you work on a computer for eight hours a day doesn’t mean you actually get eight hours of work done. We have all experienced slumps that leave us staring blankly at the computer screen, or panicking at the end of the day to try and get an important task done before we log out.
Eating well, getting plenty of sleep, and creating healthy work and personal life boundaries are essential to greater productivity on the clock, but it turns out that there are plenty of ways tech can help you get more work done too.
Consider upgrading your equipment such as your computers to maximize the use of your automation tools. Software and apps are only as fast as your computer can be. If your machines are slow, then your automation tools won’t be able to run at optimum speeds. Upgrading your tech can incur a hefty cost, which is why you should look into getting top-grade refurbished computers. Those can retail for 40 percent less than the price of brand-new models.
Make Sure Your Devices Are Secure
The rise in remote work has brought us all more flexibility, but it has also resulted in the decline of good security practices. From using personal devices for work purposes to reusing passwords and using the internet on unsecured networks, it’s more likely than ever before for companies to be attacked by cybercriminals.
Cyberattacks are definitely bad news for businesses, and they are bad news for employees too. There’s nothing more frustrating than staring at a useless computer, waiting for repairs to important systems to be made so you can meet a looming deadline.
Make sure you always have the ability to work at a pace that’s comfortable and efficient for you by securing your devices. That means following your employer’s security protocols, as well as securing your own devices by doing things like using a VPN, making sure your home Wi-Fi has a good firewall, and using password managers so you’re more likely to choose complex passwords.
Automate Tasks
Have you ever found yourself working on mundane tasks when you should be working on a more important project? Many of these mundane tasks are necessary, but that doesn’t mean they deserve so much of your attention. Do yourself a favor and find a way to automate tasks that just waste your time.
A few tasks that you can automate include:
- Sorting emails by levels of importance
- Creating canned responses to certain types of emails
- Scheduling appointments and meetings
- Sending recurring invoices
- Filling out online forms
- Backing up data
With huge leaps in technology today, not only that you can automate singular tasks, but there are software like YoozPay that can automate the whole invoicing process.
Use File Sharing Technology
Sending files in emails is convenient—until it isn’t. Whether you’re waiting on a coworker to send you a file or you’re tired of others bugging you to send a file to them, you could end up wasting a lot of time sending stuff back and forth.
Instead, use a file sharing program. File sharing programs like Dropbox, Google Drive, and Amazon Drive are all great options for sharing files. Simply upload a file when it’s convenient for you and everyone else with access to that drive can also access those files at any time, all without having to send an email or quick message. That way you can focus on work without dealing with constant interruptions to send a file.
Find a Better Way to Message Coworkers
Not only can sending files in emails become inconvenient, sending any kind of email can be inconvenient. You could find yourself hounding your inbox hoping for a reply that never comes.
Find another way to message coworkers. With messaging apps like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Google Hangouts, you can communicate with coworkers as if you were peeking over the top of your cubicle to talk to them in person. You can see if a message has been read, you get notified immediately when you receive a message, and you’re much more likely to get answers to your questions in a timely manner.
Eliminate Distractions
Technology enables us to be much more productive and efficient, but it also has the potential to distract us as well. Use tech to your advantage to eliminate these distractions.
For example, WriteRoom allows for distraction-free writing by blocking out other programs on your computer while Dropcloth can hide clutter on your desktop.
Disable notifications on your computer so you aren’t distracted every time you get an email. You can also find apps for your phone that can help block out distractions, like turning off notifications from social media.
Don’t work harder or longer—work smarter! By using tech in thoughtful ways, you can concentrate more at work and get more done. From securing your devices so a hack doesn’t lead to downtime to automating tasks and finding efficient ways to message coworkers, you can reclaim some of your time so you can focus on the tasks at work that really matter.