Over the last 2 years, many have been left with no choice but to shift to a work-from-home (WFH) set-up.
Although beneficial to some, it also comes with drawbacks such as the blurring boundary between work and personal life which can lead to burnout and exhaustion.
This eventually results in unproductivity.
Time management, discipline, and extreme focus are some of the skills that you need to develop to thrive in this work model.
Fortunately, when there’s a dilemma, Apple says, “there’s an app for that!”
True enough, here are 5 applications to help you stay on track and be productive while working from home.
1. Todoist
For listing down all of your to-do's!
It’s easy to lose track of everything, especially when there are overwhelming amounts of scheduled meetings and deadlines.
But Todoist is here to help you stay on top of your tasks and avoid cramming at the last minute.
Todoist is an application for your desktop and mobile phone where you can easily list, track, and set a reminder for all your tasks and activities so you won’t miss anything.
Not only that! This application will also give you an overview of your progress using the checkmark feature for completed tasks. With its clean and simple user interface, time management has never become easier.
2. Freedom
For more discipline and focus!
Having to work from the comfort of your own home also means controlling the urge to check your mobile phone that’s always within your reach.
Without someone who can possibly police your behavior, unlike being with your supervisors on-site, you can only count on yourself to have the discipline to stay away from distractions.
Sticking to its name, the Freedom App liberates you from all the digital interruptions caused by the internet or social media, allowing you to stay focused and allot your time for more important matters.
Freedom has a way to prevent you from accessing distracting apps and websites.
This application lets you manage which ones you want to block for a set amount of time. You can even block your entire access to the internet for a fixed period (IF you don’t need it for work), and all of it is free!
3. Miro
For collaborative work with your remote colleagues!
Brainstorming is the first fundamental step to get any work started.
However, it’s hard to get your ideas and creativity flowing if it is left unorganized and unrecorded. More so if it is done with your team members who are not in the same room.
Miro is the answer to all these problems.
It is a collaborative whiteboard platform where you can organize and visualize your ideas together with your team. It enables groups who are working remotely to collaborate with ease while developing ideas through the available templates of mind maps and other organizational tools.
Miro is also widely available for Web, Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, and iPad.
4. The Sound of Colleagues
For the complete office environment sound experience!
Some employees have only been introduced to the corporate world in a WFH environment, while some must adapt to the sudden shift of work set-up caused by the pandemic lockdowns.
From going out every day to head on to your office, to working in isolation on the bedside table, unprepared would be an understatement for this change.
This is where The Sound of Colleagues comes in.
It is a web-based software that simulates the on-site work environment by providing you with office-like sounds that can also serve as white noise while working.
This tool has 9 common office-environment sounds available which are room tone, coffee machine, people, printer, open window, telephone, office dog, keyboards, and even rain on the window.
You can adjust the volume of each sound to mimic the noise that you commonly hear from your office.
The Sound of Colleagues can help you alleviate the feeling of seclusion all the while increasing your productivity, as research reveals that white noise increases work performance and focus.
5. Aloe Bud
For allowing yourself some “me-time” in during work hours!
Of course, this list would not be complete without some self-care tool! After all, you would not be able to give your best work performance if you forget to take care of yourself, right?
Aloe Bud serves as your WFH companion that reminds you to take wellness breaks. This app will let you set reminders when you want to be notified to get some snacks, hydration, or just to get up and do a bit of stretching.
Although it is only currently available for iOS, Aloe Bud is a reliable buddy for staying healthy physically and mentally.
Conclusion
Getting a little help – may it be from your friends or these tech buddies can go a long way in improving your WFH experience.
With over millions of applications to choose from, knowing which ones to download for your specific needs will surely save you a good amount of time and effort.
If you are struggling to stay motivated and productive while working in isolation, or just someone who wants to find helpful tools to work more efficiently – tap into these apps to see how they can help you!