By Tian DuBelko
Technologies like smartphones, email, and instant messaging have made it easier than ever to work remotely from anywhere at any time. But for all the benefits of technology, it also comes with some distractions that often hamper our productivity.
A status update on Facebook or a quick peek at Twitter can snowball into hours of valuable time wasted down the rabbit hole. In this article, we’ve got some tips on how you can stay productive during the day and not let technology get the better of you.
Time Waster #1: Social Media
Twitter. Facebook. Instagram. Pinterest. Snapchat. Google Plus. The list goes on and on. Simply staying on top of your own company’s social media is a full-time job. Between responding to followers and surfing other people’s posts, you might find that you barely have enough time to do your own work.
Tip: Set limits
If you really can’t control your urge to constantly refresh your social media feeds, there are browser extensions that will limit the time you can spend on these websites. And if you find that you’re spending too much time scheduling updates, consider a pre-scheduler like Hootsuite.
Time Waster #2: Email
Just going through your email each day can be an exhausting task. Now imagine having to respond to dozens of emails while sorting through unwanted junk mail.
Tip: Organize your inbox
Keep your emails short and concise. There’s no need to type more than you need to when there are more emails awaiting your attention. Filtering tools can also be useful to sort your messages into appropriate boxes.
Related: Tuesday Tips for Tech Entrepreneurs
Time Waster #3: Texting
Texting through our smartphones (and instant messaging through our computers) means we can always receive immediate feedback from our team members. However, it also leaves us open to a lot of idle chatter, which can be distracting throughout the day.
Tip: Use it only when you have to
Some people make a separate work and personal account, while others just ignore the chat when they are trying to be productive. Either way, it’s important you find some way to give yourself the time you need to work.
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