Megan Wills

I spent the last year working from home.  My office sometimes consisted of a desk and chair, sometimes the couch, the cafe next door, and even occasionally my bed.  Needless to say, it takes a lot of inward motivation, inspiration, organization and dedication to your work to keep on task when no co-workers are there to prevent you from taking an afternoon siesta.

7.15.TW

Throughout the year, I discovered some very useful technological resources that actually helped me stay on task and added to my level of productivity.

Need Inspiration? Use Momentum.

Once I found out about Momentum, I was hooked.  This awesome Google Chrome app shows its stuff every time you open up a new tab in your browser.  It boasts an insanely beautiful backdrop and an inspirational quote, both of which change up every 24 hours.  Perhaps the best perk of this browser add-on is the sidebar “to-do list,” which can be checked off, and the main focus line in the middle.  Just add whatever is most important for that day and whenever you open up a new tab, you are reminded of your main priority.  Never forget the most important item on your docket again!

Constantly Behind on the News? Get theSkimm.

This clever and concise news outlet completely changed my knowledge of what the heck was going on with the world.  By signing up for their free email subscription, every morning theSkimm team sends the most important updates in the news, but in a concise and playful voice.  Vanity Fair calls it "a must-have survival guide for any professional."

Get Organized. Download Boomerang.

If your job is anything like my former position, you wake up to a flood of emails every morning.  Imagine having co-workers who helped you manage your email inbox.  Introducing Boomerang.  Boomerang is a Google add-on that allows you to write an email now and schedule it to be sent automatically at the perfect time.  Boomerang will archive the messages you want to read later.  At the time you choose, they will bring the email back to your inbox so you can respond when you need to without forgetting that it came to you in the first place.  It can also remind you to follow up with certain people about an email. Trust me, once you use this, you’ll wonder how you managed your inbox without it.

Not a Tweeter? Not a Problem! Sign up for Twitter.

I know, I know, Twitter has been around for a while. But many young professionals I know still do not understand the benefits of this social media platform.  In addition to theSkimm, Twitter is the best source for every kind of update, from world events, to friends’ happenings, to local celeb gossip. And as long as you stick to a 10-minute scroll, it’s a very useful platform.  Some of the best articles I’ve read have been discovered because they were shared on Twitter.  So get on board!  I promise to be a follower.

Motivation for Life. Subscribe to Ted Talks.

One of the most intelligent women I know is the VP at my former place of employment.  Once, she rattled off a stat relevant to the lunch break conversation we were discussing.  Curious, I asked her where she learned the information.  Ted Talks.  She subscribed to receive daily videos sent to her email, which she usually listened to for 20 minutes at lunch.  Not only do these videos give you amazing insight on a variety of topics, but many of the stories can be highly inspirational.  Instead of glazing over at your Facebook news feed for the billionth time, use your free time to learn something new!  And subsequently become one of the most intelligent women you know.

 

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