Skip to content
The current Coronavirus pandemic has meant a lot of us now have to adapt to a new working from home life. For many workers, this means no commuting time, office dramas or lengthy meetings, but working from home isn’t all positive either. In order to efficiently work from your home, you need to be extremely organised and focused, which is often easier said than done.
The home-working life is full of distractions, whether your household is full of others in the same boat or you are home alone. The UK lockdown has changed every aspect of our normal lives and can have a significant impact on our wellbeing in many ways.
Luckily, there are plenty of great apps and technologies out there that can make our new working from home lives more efficient. Whether you need some help staying organised, are missing face to face interactions, or struggling to keep your exercise regime in check, there is an app for you.
Evernote
Taking notes might be a requirement for your job or might just be a great way of keeping yourself organised and on track. Evernote is hailed as the best note-taking app around, and for a good reason. There is a free version, and it works across a huge range of devices including iOS, Android, Windows, Mac and the web.
This great app can be used to organise not just your workload but your entire life. You can create different notebooks to keep all different aspects in check. Notes can be viewed in a way that suits you, so you can decide if you prefer a card view, a snippet list or an expanded view.
Evernote allows you to add attachments, set reminders and sync other devices easily. It is the ultimate app for boosting productivity and staying in control. If you often find yourself with that overwhelming feeling of too much to do and not knowing where to start, then get started with Evernote.
Zoom
Zoom has been around for years, but during the Coronavirus lockdown, it has boomed in popularity. Businesses are using it to host meetings and conferences, and friends and families are using it to stay in touch. If you haven’t yet used Zoom, then we suggest you sign up now. It allows you to interact with other people virtually face to face, which is great for keeping in touch with colleagues, friends and family.
It is free to use, and you can host up to 100 participants at a time. At a time when we can’t have real face to face interactions, apps like Zoom are vital for helping maintain relationships and keep in touch. Work meetings are often more efficient and productive when you can properly communicate via video chat, and the screen sharing option makes presenting ideas easy. Video interactions over phone calls help to build more personal relationships and enriched communication.
Ten Percent Happier
This innovative app is specifically designed for those who don’t believe in the power of meditation and mindfulness. It focuses on self-care and offers meditation courses and teachings that are designed to make even the most sceptical of people 10% happier.
During this unprecedented time, mindfulness and self-reflection are more important than ever. https://www.tenpercent.com/The app currently has a free trial period so you can give it a go for yourself.
Brain.fm
Many of us are working from home with the radio or TV on in the background, providing a powerful distraction from the tasks at hand. Brain.fm is a science-backed approach to creating music which is designed to enhance focus and boost productivity. The idea is that the music affects the brain in different ways, to help with relaxation, focus, meditation or sleep.
If you are struggling with concentration while working from home, you can try out Brain.fm for free.
Couch To 5K
With gyms closing their doors, many people are taking to at-home workouts in order to keep fit. Even if you aren’t usually a fitness fanatic, getting some exercise in while working home is a great way to boost focus and energy, and make you more efficient all round.
There are loads of great and free fitness apps available at the moment. One of our favourites is the Couch To 5K app. The hardest part of running is having the motivation and drive to take that first step. This app is perfect for those who aren’t usually runners and not sure where or how to start. It offers full supports and guidance to help you get into running and get your daily exercise.
If running isn’t your thing, then there are plenty of athletes on Instagram offering free at-home workouts during the pandemic. @Bradleysimmonds is posting a new workout every day, and @barrysuk offers a range of free live classes.