Wednesday, July 30, 2014

4 Apps To Encourage Productivity

Public relations professionals are always on the move. Our desks usually end up traveling with us in the forms of smartphones and tablets, which allow us to always be tuned in and accessible. There are always emails to be sent, read and replied to; growing to-do lists to make our way through; and tons of other tasks that require our attention and time.

Because we are always on our phones, tablets and laptops, having apps handy that encourage you to be strategic with your time are incredibly useful. When you're constantly jumping from task to tasks, it's easy to get overwhelmed and distracted, which may impact the quality of work you're producing.

We've shared about some productivity apps before, but just like the PR industry, technology is always changing and improving. Here are four apps to help ignite that productive spark in your day-to-day:

1. Google Drive 
Collaborations have never been easier than opening your trusted Google account and starting a new project in seconds! Whether you're creating a social media calendar, blog posts or writing a press release, Google Drive allows you to make it, save it and share it all in one easy location. You can download the app on your iPhone/iPad or android devices to take your docs with you everywhere. Downloading the drive to your computer insures that you're work is always backed up to the online cloud and accessible wherever you are.

2. Todoist
If you find yourself making list after list of tasks that required your attention, this app is for you. Todoist allows you to manage all of your tasks in one convenient place. Download the app to your phone and computer to stay up to date with what you've completed and what still needs to be done. The well designed app even tracks your productivity by assigning points each day that you complete all of your tasks.

3. Boomerang
PR professionals spend so much time on email that it can often take us away from other important elements of our workday. Boomerang is an easy to install app that helps managing your inbox that a breeze. With Boomerang, you can schedule emails to be sent later, schedule follow-up emails (like the one you've been meaning to send about that client you pitched last week), and even allows you to track responses and set reminders.

4. Pomodrone
No matter how much we wish it were otherwise, we only get 24 hours every day. So, it's up to us to use them wisely! Pomodrone is a product of the time managing Pomodoro Technique, which encourages working in small blocks of time with breaks in between to encourage productivity and mental agility. Download this app to your iPhone to help focus on projects and avoid distractions during the day.

What apps do you turn to when you're looking for help in the productivity department? Share with us in the comments!

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