Mobile phones are getting smarter and smarter as the years pass. From enabling simple calls and texts, smartphones are now capable of almost anything that could only be done with a computer in the past. This proves that technology has provided a useful shortcut for helping you become your most productive self.
Whether it’s saving files, making lists, or staying on top of your schedule, you can be most productive while maximizing your mobile internet plan at the same time. Listed below are five ways you can use your smartphone to boost your productivity:
1. Put Those High-Resolution Cameras to Good Use
A high camera resolution is one of the biggest selling points smartphone manufacturers use to market their newest product. But instead of just using those high megapixel snappers to take selfies, why not use them to remember important things?
The trick is simple: Just snap a photo of your pantry or refrigerator to help you determine what items you should pick up at the grocery store even without listing down what to buy. This will also help you ensure that all your perishables will fit into the fridge.
You can apply this to remember where you parked your car, too. You just need to take a photo of the landmark closest to the spot where you parked your car.
Also, you can take digital copies of your prescription (or the empty medicine bottles) to help you remember which medicines to buy. Snapping pictures of the items you plan to purchase and comparing them with other brands or the same item from another merchant is a good research strategy to get the most out of your money as well.
2. Create a Digital Notebook
Jotting down notes is a great way to keep important things in mind. However, writing down information on loose bits and pieces of paper could do more harm than good to your productivity.
Luckily, you can remedy this with the help of your smartphone. To begin creating your digital notebook, download Evernote, a mobile app that has become a popular tool for saving pages, conducting thorough research, and collaborating on plans with other people. After that, you can start putting every important piece of information into the app and maintain access across your devices, thanks to its syncing feature.
3. Turn Off Notifications to Avoid Distractions
While it may seem counterintuitive, turning off your phone’s notifications is an effective way of boosting your productivity. This is because notification noises tend to distract you from whatever you’re doing for the day.
But, if you cannot live without your calendar reminders, make sure to set the phone to ring at just the right moment to avoid disrupting your train of thought with the sound. Text tones should also be kept silent.
4. Know Your Priorities When Using Your Phone
If the no-notification thing doesn’t work for you, don’t worry. There’s no universal formula that applies to everyone in optimizing productivity with the use of a smart device. Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to give up.
Instead, begin your productivity boost by knowing your priorities when adjusting your phone’s settings. This way, your device will only inform you of the notifications you want to receive. This is why many mobile manufacturers included the “Do Not Disturb” feature in smartphones which you can set at specific times of the day. By turning this on during the peak of your work hours, you can ensure that you’re not distracted from what you’re doing.
5. Use Airplane Mode More Often
Another useful feature you have probably been ignoring on your phone all this time is the Airplane Mode. As the name suggests, it is often used to prevent the device from transmitting wireless signals that can interfere with a plane’s communication system.
But rather than just using this when you’re flying, why not try to use it more often? Airplane Mode offers a lot more benefits than you can imagine.
You can use it to restore your 3G or 4G signal by turning it on and off or hasten battery charging by turning it on during the process.
It can also help you prevent misunderstandings by impeding the delivery of SMS sent to the wrong recipient. All you need to do is turn Airplane Mode on immediately after sending the message and wait for your phone to report message delivery failure. After that, you can delete the message and create a new one for the correct recipient.
The Takeaway
Purchasing the best smartphone for your needs is just the beginning of your quest to become more productive than ever. Make sure you know how to use it to the fullest with the help of this article and a reliable mobile internet provider to help you stay connected anytime, anywhere.
AUTHOR BIO
Al-moottil P Antony is a C-Suite Executive Support Professional for Zain, a leading mobile and data services operator with a commercial footprint in 8 Middle Eastern and African countries.
