While more and more people are working at home for part of the week, there are still many who are new to the remote workforce. If you're having trouble sticking to an at-home job routine following COVID-19, you might need some tools to help you focus. The good news is that there are numerous time management solutions available to keep you organized, on track, and productive. Here are a handful of options that will undoubtedly improve your performance and reduce stress.
Remember the Milk
This easy to-use to-do list app has been a favorite for years (since 2005). Although it's not an exclusive time management app, it is a free tool that allows you to organize everything you need to do - both personal and professional. Plus, you can set up reminders/notifications, sync across devices, and share your lists with others so delegated tasks are never forgotten.
Toggl
If you need to keep better tabs on how you're spending your time, Toggl is an app that can help. It's a simple yet effective way to track time spent on various tasks throughout the day. This data can be extremely helpful in identifying any time-wasting activities or areas where you could be working more efficiently. Toggl also offers a comprehensive paid plan that allows you to set up projects, collaborate with team members, and generate detailed reports.
MyLifeOrganized
This app, said to be the "most flexible task management tool ever", allows you not only to manage tasks, but projects, habits, and life goals as well. You have several options when it comes to organizing your lists so that the most important items are always at the top. The cloud service also lets you sync across devices and share lists with others. Updating to the pro version gives access to a host of extra features for a free trial period of 45 days.
Focus To Do
Procrastination is a very real phenomenon. With your daily routine upended, stress weighing you down, kids running wild in the house, and the world in turmoil, it's no wonder you can't focus on your job. Using this app, you may break your day into bite-size chunks. To make a to-do list, select a task, and start the 25-minute timer; simply do that again after completing it. When your time is up, take a 5-minute relaxation period to stretch out your legs or go over some jumping jacks before returning to work. Get back into a workflow and maintain your level of attention high as you tackle another 25-minute assignment.
1Password
Even if you're not a fan of Post-It notes, it's worth noting that this program is designed to help keep track of time. You may not think this qualifies as a time management software - until you spend 30 minutes hunting for a stray Post-It note with your work login before realizing you left it in your desk drawer at the office, which is now closed due to the coronavirus. This program allows you to enter and securely store data in a variety of categories, including usernames, credit cards, bank accounts, identification (passport, driver's license, etc.), addresses, notes, and other things. Everything is safe until you need to access it using end-to-end encryption and fingerprint unlocking.
You're probably sucked into social media and news aggregators multiple times a day, just like the majority of individuals. Rather of derailing your workday by getting caught in a rabbit hole of intriguing headlines, save anything you find interesting to the Pocket app for later when you have free time. It'll save the article or video in an offline-viewable format so you can still enjoy it even if you're not connected to the internet. You can also access your content from any device, including your computer, phone, or tablet.
Trello
If you work better with visuals, Trello is an excellent tool for you. This Kanban-style app uses a board with "cards" that you can move from one stage of a project to another as it progresses. For example, if you're working on a blog post, you may have a card for each step in the process: idea generation, writing, editing, publishing. As you complete each task, you can move the card to the next stage. You can also add deadlines, attachments, and comments to each card, set up reminders, and more. Trello is free for individual users, with options to upgrade for teams starting at $9.99/month.
Habitica
This app turns habit-forming into a game. To get started, you create an avatar and add some tasks you want to turn into habits, like taking out the trash every day or working out three times a week. You'll be awarded points as you complete each task, which you can use to level up your avatar and unlock new features, such as the ability to add a pet or mount. The app also includes social features so you can join "guilds" with other users and work together to hit your targets. The free version of Habitica includes most features, with extras (like data export) reserved for premium users who pay $4.99/month.
Evernote
This widely popular app is a must-have for anyone who wants to get more organized. Evernote acts as a digital notebook, allowing you to take notes, save articles and web pages, create to-do lists, capture images, and more. You can also share your notes with other Evernote users and work on projects together in real-time. The app includes a variety of features to help you stay organized, such as the ability to search for keywords in handwritten notes and convert them into text. A premium subscription starts at $7.99/month and adds extras like offline access and 10GB of monthly uploads (versus the free plan's 60MB).
Forest
This app helps you break the addiction of constant phone checking by planting "trees" that grow the longer you go without using your phone. The app is designed to help you focus on a task at hand and stay present in the moment. Once you've set a timer, you can't exit the app until the time is up or your tree will wither away. As you complete more tasks, you'll unlock new tree species. The app also includes a social component so you can see how your friends are doing and compete for the highest "streak" of consecutive days spent staying off your phone. Forest is free to download, with in-app purchases available for premium features like custom timers and avatar customization.