How to be productive when working from your phone
Today’s guest contribution comes from frequent contribuor Nick Rojas
Ideas to Be Productive When Working From Your Phone
Some people work from home or on-the-go by choice, while others must work remotely due to a variety of circumstances. Most people are used to their routines, and deviating from your normal patterns can disrupt your work productivity.
If you are used to working in an office, switching to remote work without a plan can negatively impact your performance. Moving from working on a computer to working on your phone is an even more jarring change that can throw off your usual rhythm. Thankfully, the nature of smartphones lets you be productive by combining multiple services into one device. Your email, calendar, contacts, alarms, apps, and entertainment are all conveniently housed within your phone, meaning you have all the tools you need to be productive while working from your phone.
You can utilize the same technology you use to implement shipping APIs and track social media campaigns to stay productive while working remotely. With the help of a few apps, programs, and simple rules, you can easily stay on track while your work-life changes.
Establish Rules
When you are working outside of your normal office, it can be hard to stay on track and manage time. Create a schedule dictating what hours are set aside for work and what hours are meant for other activities. However, this does not mean you should set aside eight straight hours for continuous work.
Breaks are key to maintaining focus and sanity, so incorporate quick breaks into your daily work schedule. The Pomodoro Technique is a popular time management system that centers around 25-minute blocks with short breaks at the end of each block. Apps like Focus Booster or simple phone alarms can help you stay on the Pomodoro Technique schedule so you can remain productive and focused throughout your workday.
Comfort
Some people thrive in quiet environments and need their space to be near-silent to achieve maximum productivity. Other people find white noise key to working and cannot stand silent work environments. Every person has individual workspace preferences, but working in a communal office may make personal customization impossible.
Thankfully, when you are working remotely, you can set up your workspace however you see fit. Customize your work area to maximize your efficiency, productivity, and comfort. Be careful not to make your work area too comfortable as lounging and relaxing is not conducive to focused work.
If you prefer white noise while you work, podcasts are a good source of secondary noise that isn’t overly distracting. Most podcasts are audio-only, so you can listen to the content while working. If podcasts are hindering your productivity, try a white noise playlist on Spotify or white noise apps on both Android and IOS.
Consolidate for Efficiency
When you are working from your phone, you have far less screen space than if you were working on a laptop or desktop. Reduce time wasted searching for what you need by consolidating your work resources so they are easy to find. myMail is an app that combines your various mailboxes to create a single inbox. Instead of checking each email account individually, you only have to check your myMail app to ensure you never miss an email.
If you are working from your phone temporarily and will return to a computer in the future, syncing your files between your phone and work computer will save you time down the road. OneNote, Evernote, and DropBox are programs that will sync important files between your phone and computer so you don’t lose progress when transitioning back to a computer.
Remove Temptations and Distractions
Smartphones are generally used for fun activities like checking social media, talking to friends, watching videos, and playing games. The average smartphone user spends over two hours a day on social media platforms and other messaging services; those are two hours that could be used productively to get work done.
While you are working from your phone it can be far too tempting to ignore work and have fun for a little bit. Breaks from work and fun activities are important, but not at the expense of your work productivity. If you find yourself distracted or overly tempted by smartphone time sinks, tuck the offending apps into a separate folder or remove them from your phone altogether.
“Do Not Disturb” mode is another setting you can employ to keep yourself from being distracted with messages from friends and family. You can customize your Do Not Disturb settings so you still receive notifications from specific contacts or in emergency situations.
Modern technology allows millions of employees to work from their phones. You are not required to sit in an office to achieve your professional goals thanks to the power of smartphones. By following a few simple rules and using helpful programs, you can stay productive while working from your phone.
Guest author bio
Nick Rojas combines 20 years of experience working with and consulting for small to medium business and a passion for journalism to help readers grow. He writes about technology, marketing, and social media for the aspiring entrepreneur. When Nick is not sharing his expertise, he can be found spending time at the beach with his dog Presto. @NickARojas
