Over the past few years, we have seen a constant rise in technology designed to make our lives easier. From apps that help us organize and track everything virtually, to software programs that automate tasks for us, it seems like every day there is an new tool to enhance your productivity.
Many of these tools are marketed as helping you be more efficient at work or keeping you organized, but some go much deeper than that. Some use stealth technologies to create dependence on them so they can be leveraged later for profit.
In this article, we will discuss how different types of technological aids improve efficiency and why it is important to evaluate whether or not they fit into your lifestyle before giving in to potential invasions of privacy or expensive purchases.
Online courses
One of the more efficient ways to learn new skills is by taking online courses. This can be done through course-downloadable materials or interactive learning platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and Skillshare.
Online courses are very popular these days with many people choosing to spend their money on educational material that they can access anywhere. It does not need to be from a traditional college source either; you can find lots of great resources free of charge.
There are several benefits in investing in an education via online courses. Not only do you get quality content, but you also get direct interaction with other students who may help you achieve your goal even more.
These opportunities exist beyond just classroom settings too – there are now almost limitless modes of digital self-education available. You can read books, watch videos, play games, all designed to teach you something new.
And since most educators have made their income off of teaching others how to learn, they are typically very supportive and helpful.
Social media
Recent developments in technology have given us ways to connect with others constantly. With every minute of every day we have access to almost anything you could want or need done, from anywhere at any time. This is what makes social media so powerful – you are always connected!
With all these tools it becomes very easy to create and develop relationships that last beyond one conversation or event.
By having connections with people, things become easier. You learn about their lives, what they do for a living, and maybe even find new jobs or opportunities through them.
This way you never feel like you’re the outsider anymore. You learned something new from someone else and can apply those lessons to your life.
And because social media allows for constant connection, you will also get updates on how they are doing and whether they need help before you offer it to them.
Online tutoring
One of the most productive uses of technology for students is online tutoring. There are many websites that offer free or paid lessons to anyone at any level. These can be lessons in anything from elementary school courses like math, to more advanced subjects such as English or social studies.
By giving you access to their resources, they help you learn and grow. The cost is usually paid per lesson, not per year which makes it much more affordable. In fact, some even have monthly plans that reduce the price even further.
There are also several sites where you can get trained by an expert or watch them work while you practice your skills. This is very helpful since you get real time feedback and you pay only for what you use!
These services come with all sorts of benefits. Not only do you get education, you often get motivation and inspiration too. Many people have made a career off teaching others and sharing knowledge and strategies so this is definitely worth looking into.
Online jobs
With the availability of online employment services like oDesk, Freelancer, or Upwork, it has never been easier to find people who offer their service for free or very low cost. All these sites have you create an account, connect to Facebook, and then you are ready to go!
These websites facilitate conversations between employers and freelancers in order to determine if both parties would be comfortable with each other before offering paid work. Because of this, there are now a lot more options than ever when looking to improve your productivity via finding new jobs.
On average, someone is hired onto one of these sites every few minutes, which means that there are always available opportunities waiting to be found.
Finding freelance work through such sites has a whole bunch of benefits. Not only does it cut down on costs by not requiring expensive office space or facilities, they also give you full access to all of their tools and equipment.
Online selling
One of the most productive ways to sell online is via channels that offer you your own account, or at least less need for you to also have one.
As discussed earlier in this article, being an independent seller means there’s no middle man taking a cut of what you make.
And while it may not be practical to run your business without access to a merchant account, you can still use technology to help you in your sales.
There are many free alternatives to having your own merchant account, some with better features than others. Some will even let you create accounts as a test user before paying for their services.
Another option is creating your own account through another channel like Amazon or eBay where you already have a profile. This way you don’t have to go back and forth between the two sites, you just add people to manage your profiles as sellers.
Tech gadgets
One of the biggest productivity tools we have today is technology.
Think about it – most of us spend a significant amount of time using a computer, smartphone or tablet for work and personal activities.
We rely on these devices to do things like send emails, look up information, read documents, watch movies and TV shows, play games, and more.
So how can investing in tech gadgets help you be more productive?
Well, there are several ways that different types of technology can boost your efficiency. They’re often referred to as “power apps” or “hub apps” because they function similarly to how an app on a phone works, such as by connecting to other apps or giving users access to additional features.
Here are five powerful productivity apps and services you can use to enhance your workflow.
Office 365
Cloud-based software/apps are another big win when it comes to being more efficient with time. This can include file sharing systems, email, calendars, and more.
Many people start paying monthly fees for Office Online (Microsoft’s free version of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and eventually add some extra features, which is totally fine!
But if you’re already spending money on Microsoft products, why not get their fully-fledged office suite? You’ll save money in the long run!
One of the many benefits of Office 365 is its mobile apps.
