Are you working from home at the moment, struggling to stay motivated and productive? Well, you’re not alone. In the last decade, according to research, work from home jobs have soared by 115%, not to mention the current lockdown which has seen most people adapt their working day from their home. In fact, research also highlights that in America, one in five people worked from home prior to the lockdown!
There are some obvious benefits to working from home. The daily commute no longer consists of sitting in traffic, instead you simply need to move from your bed to your workspace. Likewise, the coffee run has evolved to be dashing downstairs for a cup of homemade coffee, and colleagues? Well, we’ve all had to adapt to virtual meetings and online group calls. We’ve all experienced the highs and lows of lockdown, so you’d think we’d all be pretty well-versed in working from home. But if you’re like me— still adapting (the struggle is real!), don’t worry; we’ve got you covered! Here at Harmoni, we’ve come up with the top five apps to help you work more efficiently and stay organised!
1. Slack
You’ve undoubtedly heard of Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp etc., but do you use Slack for work, or if you do, have you discovered all the features available on this platform? Slack helps teams to communicate using one source. It’s the business version of Whatsapp where you can access group chats, files, and meeting links all at the same time. Through Slack, your team members and coworkers become more reachable. This is even more useful if you’re working virtually or are a freelancer, as you are still able to communicate and work efficiently with your team!
2. Trello
For those who may not have heard of Trello before, Trello is an easy, free, and virtual way to manage and organise projects. It’s especially useful for global teams or people based outside of the office. Trello helps you to stay connected within your business and keep a finger on the pulse of what needs to be done next, and who is responsible. Using Trello, you can create, organise, and schedule to-do lists. You can categorize tasks into projects, status, deadlines, and persons-in-charge. It provides a seamless platform for all team members to see what everyone else is doing and which tasks are high priority.
3. Headspace
If you’re looking to relax and clear your mind, meditation is an incredible way to do it. Given that we all breathe approximately thirteen pints of air every minute (according to research from Human Body), it is really important we make time to relax and breathe, so that we can have some down time away from the stress of our busy days.
The app Headspace offers breathing exercises, daily meditations, and visualisations which you can personalise to suit your mood or your goal. Similarly, if you are looking to relax before going to sleep, Headspace offers meditative exercises to help you wind down. Likewise, for the early risers, Headspace has unique meditations to help you stay focused and motivated.
4. Notion
The app notion is a new tool that lets you blend your everyday work apps into one. You can organise your daily tasks by colour coding them and sorting them through the app. Notion also allows you to schedule due dates through the calendar, add links ,and organise any documents so that they are all in one place.
Here’s a really good tutorial on how to use Notion!
5. Lastpass
Lastpass is a password manager tool that allows you to store, protect, and change passwords regularly. This is really useful especially if you are working for a company where passwords are exchanged frequently and the risk of getting hacked is quite high. If you tend to forget passwords (We can’t blame you!) Lastpass allows you to access a password for any linked account in just one click!
Conclusion
Whether you love using technology or prefer to read a book, these apps are great tools which will help you to work more efficiently and stay organised. From creating tasks on Trello and meditating using Headspace, it’s not about how much you use the apps; just find what works for you! Remember especially at the moment to be kind to yourself. We are all experiencing a different way of life due to the pandemic and adapting the best we can!
The best way to make positive changes in our lives is to change our small, daily habits. By making these small changes, you’ll get surprised at how you’re able to work efficiently and stay relaxed!
Do you use any other apps for work? Let us know by emailing katie@harmoni.design - we’d love to hear from you!
Sources
‘10 Apps That’ll Keep You Motivated in 2020’ by Elizabeth Gulino <https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/best-motivation-apps#slide-9>‘25 Facts about Breathing and Lungs’ <https://science-buddy.com/wp-content/endurance-page-cache/facts-about-breathing-and-lungs/_index.html>
‘Facts and Stats about Working from Home’ <https://remoteglobal.com/facts-and-stats-about-working-from-home/>
‘15 Working From Home Productivity Statistics’ by Jayson DeMers <https://emailanalytics.com/15-working-from-home-productivity-statistics/>
‘How Listening to Music can Make you More Creative’ <https://hehecams.com/can-listening-music-make-creative/>
‘The Science Behind Positive Affirmations’ <https://www.psychicsource.com/article/life-destiny-meaning/the-science-behind-positive-affirmations/12283>
‘The Science Behind Positive Affirmations; the Power of Autosuggestion’ <https://sunwarrior.com/blogs/health-hub/the-science-behind-affirmations-the-power-of-autosuggestion>
‘7 Simple Tips to Tackle Working From Home’
<https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/7-simple-tips-to-tackle-working-from-home/>
‘Benefits of Self-Care to Your Physical and Mental Health’ <https://www.fluxmagazine.com/self-care-physical-and-mental-health/>