Seven best tips and tricks that will convert your mobile device into a productivity powerhouse. From different ways to manage notifications to useful apps that you may not have heard of to new ways to use your camera, this list will help you get the most out of your phone while at home, at the office, or on-the-go.
App rule #1: Productivity > Popularity
Remove your favorite apps from your main screen and replace them with apps that increase productivity and wellness
- Todoist
- Pact
- Circa
- Knowledge of current events
- Language skills
- Health
Google Voice transcriptions
Translate your voicemails into Gmail emails or text messages so you can read them later
Save time, stop checking the weather
Display the weather report on your phone’s lock screen with the Weather Lock Screen app or Weather + (free for iOS)
- You can quickly see if it’s going to rain in the afternoon with just a swipe of your finger
Turn off your notifications
One of the best work arounds is to use your phone’s Do Not Disturb function in the way that we use a Pomodoro for productivity.
- Need to focus 110% of your attention on an important task for the next hour? Set your phone to Do Not Disurb for the upcoming 60 minutes.
Practice safe texting
Type n Walk is an app that uses your phone’s front-facing camera to give you a street view while you type.
- The transparent screen gives you X-ray like vision so that you can see what’s ahead for a smarter, safer way to text while out and about.
Your camera isn’t just for selfies
Snap a picture of your fridge/pantry before you head to the grocery store so that you know exactly what to buy
- Use your smartphone camera to store highly useful information like your prescriptions, frequent flier number, or hotel’s address
Airplane mode isn’t just for airplanes.
If you’ve been on the go all day and have 4% battery when you get back to the office, turn your phone on airplane mode and it will charge much faster
- You can delete a text message in airplane mode if it fails to deliver
