Free Digital Tools to improve Productivity

Whenever you undertake a project, it’s essential that you have everything at your disposal at all times. Therefore, as a professional, you can’t rely solely on memory and estimates. To lessen your workload and to focus on what really matters, you need digital tools. Irrespective of the industries we all need number of software to increase productivity. In this article, we will discuss a few of the tools that will help you take your job to the next level.

Productivity

Google Drive : When you’re busy meeting with clients and planning different projects, you can’t afford to carry around too many things. It’s easy to forget a flash drive, so you need a place where you can store all your notes, projects and data without the need for anything but internet and a device. Google Drive is one of the best options, topping at 100 GB of cloud storage for everyone. There are no limitations in terms of file sizes, types or formats, so you can rest assured that you can always access everything you need. The Google Drive allows you to sync all data across platforms.

LastPass: Remember what we said for carrying too many things? The same goes for storing too much data manually. In particular, we’re thinking about passwords. During the course of the day, you will probably access apps and services on 10+ total accounts. If something happens to one of your devices, you will potentially lose all your password and login information forever. You can’t afford to let that happen. Install the LastPass password manager to get many security and storage features. There is a free option, which is more than enough for everyday use. You can even generate custom password.

Todoist: As you can’t rely on your memory when things are particularly busy, you need a reliable reminder app. Todoist offers you everything you need to ensure you don’t miss an appointment or deadline. You can set alerts and reminders of all types. There are custom alerts and sync options. We’ve found Todoist the most useful app for urban planners because the interface is simple. It saves you a lot of time and stress, while offering an easy-to-use UI. Even if you never had experience with organization apps, you can master all its features in a few hours.

Google Slides: When you’re preparing for a meeting with a client, you need to have open options for last-minute changes. Google has constantly improved their Google Slides app, turning it into the ultimate tool for presentations. The syncing works instantly, allowing you to access your presentations and projects at all times. It’s similar to Microsoft PowerPoint and other presentation-creation software. After opening the presentation as soon as you receive it, you can customize it even further. Also, you have a myriad of templates at your disposal if you have a great idea or a concept in mind.

CamScanner: Even in modern-day urban planning, you need to rely on printed copies of documents and sketches. You will get them handed out in meetings or given to by colleagues. It’s hard to keep track of all those papers and it’s inevitable that you’ll end up losing something very valuable. To avoid that from happening, you need an app like CamScanner. Using the sensor in your camera, CamScanner scans any paper or image and turns into digital form. Whenever you receive a report or project, you can scan the paper and upload it to Google Drive or even copy it to Google Slides to be a part of a presentation. Everything is at the tip of your fingers.

IFTTT (If This, Then That): Remember when we mentioned how you can sync apps during project management and development? It indeed makes your job easier, but there is still significant time you lose going through one app to another. IFTTT is your solution to maximize every second of your workday. By creating pathways, the app will automatically perform actions if the “condition action” is performed. For example, if you scan an image using CamScanner, IFTTT will automatically email it to your other email, save it to Google Drive and more. You can also use the well-designed Alerts feature, which can even be triggered by particular weather conditions you’ve set as conditions. It might take a little time for you to utilize the app’s full potential. If you want to know more, look at this list of the most useful IFTTT recipes.

Concluding thoughts

Picking the right digital tools will help you become a better and more efficient urban planner. Each of these tools is reliable and easy to use, giving you an excellent head start whenever you decide to use them. Syncing them together provides even more benefits.

Author Bio: Eugene Eaton is a british blogger for Essays On Time, who is into stand-up comedy. His favorite comedians are Louis CK and George Carlin. A good morning laugh is what keeps Eugene upbeat and motivated through the harsh day.

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