From our fridges to our lightbulbs, it seems there’s an app for just about everything these days. And while there’s a great deal of these that we can live without - such as human to animal “translators” or the one that measures how high you can throw your phone into the sky - there are some apps that have the power to completely change how we live.
The workplace is one area of life that has been impacted greater than any other by the rise of technology. Productivity apps have streamlined many areas of worklife, and in some cases, brought about a complete reinvention. We’ve all heard of Zoom and Skype, but what other apps are shaking up the workplace in 2022? Here’s a list of our top picks for the most unmissable apps for productivity and efficiency in the workplace. If you aren’t already using them - you’re missing out!
1. Todoist
Todoist is the go-to choice for keeping on top of the tasks you have lined up ahead of you. With its simple and easy to navigate layout, Todoist elevates the traditional to-do list to new heights. Beyond simply organising and keeping track of your own task list, Todoist allows you to share your lists with others and collaborate on tasks together. This has become an invaluable tool for managing team projects and assigning tasks to different members of the team. With Todoist, each person involved in a project can instantly access the latest update on what needs to get done.
2. Milanote
Milanote has become a fast favourite for professional collaboration, particularly within the creative fields. Milanote offers a range of features that allows users to easily organise their projects and turn ideas into visual boards. Using Milanote, users can write notes and to-do lists, upload images and files, save text, images, and links from the web, as well as easily upload content from your phone at the touch of a button. The software boasts a neat flexible drag and drop interface that allows users to arrange things in a way that feels natural and fitting for the given project at hand. No matter your project, Milanote will surely help you visualise the results you desire.
3. Forest
As much as technology benefits our productivity, it has also provided us with ample cause for distraction. If you struggle to stay focused while at work, Forest is just the thing you need. This nifty app is designed to keep you from giving into the temptation of leaving your work before you’re finished. Whenever you want to stay, you plant a virtual tree which then grows as you work.
Leaving your work before you’re finished will cause the tree to die. If you manage to maintain your focus on a daily basis, you can turn your collection of trees into a fully fledged forest. Forest is partnered with the tree planting organisation Trees for the Future to plant real trees in the world. Simply spend the virtual coins you earn through staying focused with Forest, and you can donate to a cause that creates real life trees. Improve your productivity and help heal the Earth from the comfort of your desk!
4. Twilight
Living in the digital age means that we often spend a great deal of time sat in front of a screen. Unfortunately this necessary evil can have the effect of greatly disturbing our natural body clocks. Instead of living by the rising and setting of the sun, we are typically more used to living by the light of our screens.
Twilight is a software designed to minimise the disturbing effects caused by the constant exposure to the blue light of screens. After a set time of your choosing, Twilight will filter out the blue light of your screen, leaving you with images that possess a soft red hue which allows the brain to more easily preserve its internal clock. As decent sleep hygiene is one of the most factors that contributes to our productivity at work, Twilight is a simple yet effective app that helps you make the most out of your screen time without suffering from the potential negative consequences.
5. Last Pass
According to a recent study performed by NordPass, the average person tends to have around 100 accounts that are password protected. Unsurprisingly, most of us ignore the advice of privacy specialists and use the same password over and over again to cut down on the amount we have to memorise. But with cyber security becoming an ever-greater threat as hacking technology constantly improves, it’s of critical importance that we diversify our passwords and use strong and randomised passwords to protect our digital livelihoods.
Save time searching for the right password for each and every account with a secure password manager in the form of LastPass. Last Pass safely and securely stores all of your passwords in one keychain manager, and is integrated with all major browsers. Last Pass is also perfect for working teams, as members can securely allow each other password-protected accounts via the software without ever having to send the password itself. Gone are the days of worrying about the strength of your cyber security!
BONUS: When the working day is done…
6. Waking Up
Waking Up is a top-notch software developed by philosopher and author Sam Harris, designed to help you squeeze the most out of your potential. Explore thought-provoking conversations and lessons on life and enjoy daily inspiration for mindfulness. Waking Up is the perfect app for reconnecting with your inner self once the working day is done.
