Need motivation at work? Consider these helpful office productivity tools.
Productivity in the workplace is critical to success. It can also help employees feel happier, end the day with more energy, and earn well-deserved recognition for their hard work. But just how do you stay motivated and productive throughout the 9-5 day? With the right tools, of course! In this guide, we’ll cover the top office productivity tools for project management, file organization, collaboration, and more.
Project Management
Keeping track of assignments and all your to-dos can be difficult without a structured project management tool in place. While writing down notes by hand can certainly get the job done, we recommend choosing a tool that allows for collaboration and accessibility for all members of your team.
1. Note Taking: Evernote
Ditch the handwritten notes for a sustainable, digital alternative! Evernote is a great note-taking tool that allows you to write down anything that comes up during the day, prioritize tasks, and create checklists. It also uses cloud technology to sync to every device, so that you can access your information from home, during your commute, or in the office.
2 & 3. Task Manager: Trello/Asana
When it comes to task management for teams and collaborative project work, it’s tough to beat the functionality of Trello or Asana. Both these office productivity tools allow you to create separate projects and individual tasks under them, but the display is completely different. Asana features a traditional “to-do” list-style aesthetic, while Trello looks and feels like a Pinterest board. Both provide the opportunity to collaborate with others and integrate your task load with a time-tracking tool.
If going digital isn’t for you, we offer a full line-up of calendars and planners that can help you get more organized today.
4 & 5. Time Tracking: Toggl/Everhour
Without the use of a time tracking software, it can be difficult to know where your time is being spent and how you can better utilize it to get things done. Toggl and Everhour are two such time trackers that can help you and your fellow colleagues manage time and increase productivity. Many of these time trackers also directly integrate into project management tools, making it easier than ever to track time automatically without having to manually enter every minute into the system.
File Organization
Whether you prefer offline or digital file organization, there are many office productivity tools to help you get your workspace in tip-top order. Studies show that clutter and disorganization can reduce productivity, so now is the time to clean up your space and get down to business!
6 & 7. File Storage: Google Drive/Dropbox
If you’d prefer to move your documents and papers to the digital space, consider Google Drive or Dropbox. Going paperless in the workplace is easy when you use a cloud file storage system that effortlessly stores all your documents and files in one place. Both these systems also allow for real-time collaboration among team members, making it easy to update and edit files that your team is working on.
8 & 9. Password Storage: LastPass/Keeper
If you struggle to remember your passwords (like the rest of us!), you’ll love one of these digital password storage systems. LastPass and Keeper are secure and safe business options to manage and store all of your passwords in one place. Both these options also offer browser extensions that allow you to automatically pull log-in details from your vault when you are on a webpage.
10. Desktop Organizers
If you have large amounts of paperwork and documents, we recommend choosing desktop organizers and filing systems. These office productivity tools can help you stay organized (and sane!) when you need to locate important files on your desk or in your cabinets.
Presentations and Documents
When giving an important client or internal presentation, you want to be as prepared as possible. The right presentation and proposal tools will help you create stunning, error-free materials that are sure to impress.
11 & 12. Digital Presentations: PowerPoint/Keynote
Make beautiful presentations with a tool like Microsoft PowerPoint or Keynote. Choose a compelling template or build your own to display your information in a visual and engaging way. PowerPoint is available at a cost for all devices, whereas Keynote is only available for Mac and iOS devices.
13 & 14. Graphics and Image Editing: Photoshop/Canva
When it comes to creating compelling and stunning visuals, few tools compare to Adobe Photoshop. While this program is a bit on the pricier side and requires more involved skills knowledge, it offers a robust set of tools to create truly unique and visually appealing graphics and design elements. If you are looking for a simpler option, Canva is a free online office productivity tool that provides templates for common design needs, such as social media posts, presentations, and proposals.
15 & 16. Grammar and Spelling Assistance: Grammarly/Hemingway
Ensure that every document or proposal you present is free of embarrassing grammar and spelling errors with an office productivity tool like Grammarly or Hemingway. These tools use technology and machine learning to analyze and find writing mistakes and provide technical suggestions on how you can improve your writing.
Communication and Collaboration
When it comes to collaborating, meeting, and communicating with others in the office, organization and productivity go hand-in-hand. The following office productivity tools will make it easier to communicate and stay on top of important tasks.
17 & 18. Email Communication: Boomerang/Slack
There are few things as stressful as a full email inbox at work! If you find yourself overwhelmed with the amount of emails coming in, consider using a tool like Boomerang to add additional functionality to your email. This office productivity tool allows you to schedule messages for later, set reminders, automate replies, and pause your inbox to focus on important tasks.
Slack is an email alternative that works and feels similarly to most private social media conversations. By moving internal email conversation into Slack, you can reserve your inbox for important external tasks and conversations and keep the day-to-day employee work in one place. Slack syncs to all devices and allows you to create “threads” related to specific topics.
19 & 20. Meetings: Skype/GoToMeeting
If some of your team members work remotely, or if you frequently need to communicate with clients in different locations, you may benefit from the use of a tool like Skype or GoToMeeting. These software productivity tools allow you to host a video conference so that remote workers or clients can follow along to the presentation and engage in the conversation.
21. Distractions: Freedom
Distractions can easily throw off an entire workday and lead to reduced productivity. Office productivity tools and apps like Freedom are designed to reduce digital distractions and force you to stay on task. This tool allows you to plan out sessions that recur daily or weekly and block any apps or sites that may reduce your productivity. It also syncs across Mac, Windows, iPhone, and iPad, making it easy to use across devices.
This list of office productivity tools for businesses and individuals can help you and your colleagues stay on task and get more done. For more tips on how to improve workplace productivity, head to our blog.
Shop for office productivity supplies online or call our local customer concierge to set up your business account at (608) 310-4300 today.