When you run a business, productivity tools are pretty fundamental, regardless of which ones you prefer. Staying on top of everything is vital. And then when you add home, family and self-care into the mix, it’s even more of a challenge! We’ve all been there. Chloe and I included.
So that got me thinking about productivity tools. Some people might say that they’re a good thing, or even a Godsend, but for others, they may make things more of a challenge. There are also so many options out there, especially in today’s digital world, and that in itself can be overwhelming.
But before we get into the details of the tools…
What actually is productivity?
If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.
Bruce Lee
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, productivity is defined as “the rate at which a country, company etc produces goods or services, usually judged in relation to the number of people and the time necessary to produce them”.In a nutshell, how much can get get done, in the shortest time possible.
And productivity tools exist to keep us on track. To send us reminders. Others help us communicate from (almost) anywhere.
How do you choose?
Given that there are so many options available, how do you choose? iPhone or android? Digital or paper? Imposed by an employer? Or a family decision?
Personally I’ve tried lots of them, and I’d say the biggest thing I learned is that you have to keep trying until you find what works for you. Trying to use someone else’s choice of tool is tough if it doesn’t support your way of doing things.
So if you’re looking for a little inspiration, here are a few of my favourites, and my reasons for choosing them!
1. ContentCal
For the moment at least, I do all of the social media scheduling for We Are Tabono, and if I’m honest, it’s not top of my list of favourite things to do in our business! So I needed something visually appealing and intuitive with a great customer support function – ContentCal is all of these things, and it certainly makes a task I don’t particularly enjoy much easier and quicker!
2. Toggl
If you need to track how you’re spending your time, this one’s for you. It’s a really easy-to-use timer, and you can even produce reports. Perfect if you have to provide a summary of activity to a manager or client!
3. Receipt Bank
Again, a great one if you’re looking for a system that speeds up, or in this case, automates processes that you might not particularly enjoy! With Receipt Bank, you just need to forward electronic invoices to a personalised email address, or scan receipts on an app, and then you’re done!
4. My Bullet Journal
Reading the first three points above might indicate that I keep things on track via my phone. That’s true to a point, but I also think that being tied to apps and digital technology for everything is not necessarily a positive. I tried doing everything that way, and I found it too oppressive. Instead, and thanks to Chloe, I discovered bullet journaling! You can read more about my journey of discovery here, but needless to say, mine contains my life – and I rarely go anywhere without it!
And what about you? What are your favourite productivity tools? Why not share them below, and let us know why you think they’re so great!