Productive Browser Tools as Companions for Improved Work Time
This post was written by Anna Fox of HireBloggers.com
Your computer is not your friend.
Well, it is your friend, but it isn’t a very helpful one.
Sure, it can access information at the press of a button. It connects you globally, providing opportunities that have never been seen before in the history of civilization.
But with all its benefits, your computer (like your phone, tablet, XBox, etc.) provides one serious con: it murders productivity.
What you need are a handful of tools that will turn your computer from an evil time-thief to a productivity companion. Your browser will be your buddy, your pal, the keeper of your schedule. These are all must haves if you struggle with keeping on task.
Sometimes all you need is a bit of a mood adjustment to get yourself going. Music is the perfect solution, a way to give yourself a boost and make you want to work.
GetWorkDoneMusic is just what it sounds like a place to listen to music that pumps you up and gives your brain a bit of juice.
There are two settings, Fast, and Faster. You press play, select your speed, and listen to a randomized playlist of heart-pounding audio goodness. Don’t like one of the songs? Skip to the next one.
Philip Turner of Time Money Problem has a great tip here:
Research has shown that jazz music is the best to work to - Anything with vocals is bad for concentration… My fave would be "Take Five" or from classical - Ravel's "Bolero"
2. Simple Pomodoro
The Pomodoro method has become a popular productivity tool. It works by setting a timer for 25 minutes, working on a single task for that time without interruption, taking a break for 3 - 5 minutes, then repeating. After four Pomodoro’s of 25 minutes each, you take a longer break of 10 - 15 minutes.
You don’t have to buy a fancy little tomato timer from the site to do this. Any will do, including this simple Firefox addon that will let you quickly set your Pomodoro’s, and let you know when each stretch is complete.
3. StayFocusd
A Chrome extension that is a real lifesaver for those of us that struggle with avoiding temptation, this tool will block distracting websites. You choose what sites are the worst, and the times that they should be blocked. Or select the Nuclear Option to block all sites on the avoid list for a set number of hours at the click of a button.
There is even an option to block all websites, if you are needing to stay offline.
[The tool was added thanks to Angela Alcorn]
Forget manually opening up every link you need to start your day. Set up Morning Coffee and it will automatically open all your daily links for you - a real time saver.
Probably the most annoying productivity tool known to man, there is no denying this owl is effective. When you are browsing, it will follow you from page to page. You will have a set amount of time on each page to find the information you need.
If you linger too long, or you are not focused on your work, the owl will swoop in and close your tabs. You will learn to rapidly search out and use the data you are looking for, so this one is perfect for researchers that want to hone their skills.
6. Note Board
This is a Firefox version of sticky notes, which can be shared with your friends. Jot anything down that you need, from quick bits of info to longer content grabs. They also have a mobile version that syncs up, so you can use it anywhere.
7. Dayboard
If you are overwhelmed with things to do, it can help to break it down into a smaller list. This tool does that, creating a priority list of the most important five tasks of your day. You will see it every time you open a new tab, and can check them off as they are completed.
8. RescueTime
[The tool was added thanks to Kari of Be Happy Tips]
RescueTime a great motivator to get off unproductive sites and get busy. With this tool, you can clearly see where you spend the majority of your time (I was amazed at how much time I actually waste online) and what you need to do to change that.
This tool takes a few days to set up. Even though it has a good idea about which sites are distracting and which are not, you still need to tell it which sites are distracting to you and which sites help you be more productive. But once it is set up, it gives you some great insight into how productive you are being for the day.
There is a free version to help you keep track of what you do during the day, and a premium version to really make the most of your time online and get rid of all the distractions by blocking sites and enabling focus times
At the end of the day, week, month or year, see how you did by looking at your task history. Reading proof of your productivity can be very motivating.
Conclusion
You don’t have to let your computer (or your own easily distracted nature) hold you back. Turn your browser into a productivity companion, and start getting things done.
Edited by: Philip Turner
Featured images:
- License: Creative Commons image source
Anna Fox works form home, so productivity is very important!
