How to Work Better, Faster and More Efficiently

Small changes can bring big results. It is a motto many entrepreneurs live by. Nowadays, the goal is to work better, not work longer and longer hours. Efficiency is extremely important if you want to earn more. Sometimes, you can work for hours, but getting nothing done. There are few reasons why that is the case. For starters, you need some tips how to be more efficient at what you do. And second, you need some tools that will boost your productivity. Lucky for you, we have some apps that are great for improving your productivity and allowing you to work better. Also, we have some tips that will surely make you more efficient worker.

Part 1Top 3 Tools to Help You Work Better and Work Faster

When it comes to tools, you are instantly thinking of apps. And that is right. In the world of technology we live in, apps play a huge role. The one mistake people do is install apps just for the sake of it. But the trick is to install just few apps that will help you vastly improve your efficiency. That being said, we have three that fit the bill.

1. PDFelement

If you are into the world of paperless office, you know that PDF is everything. The ability to create PDF documents, edit PDF documents, sign PDF documents and everything in between is something that an app has to deliver. And Wondershare PDFelement for business delivers just that. There are a number of features that will improve your business like password protection, redaction, merging documents, converting documents, signing documents, OCR technology, editing documents and much more. But let's take a look at pros and cons.

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Pros:

Extensive editing, a number of features that will help you edit your documents like annotation. Any element can be modified, no matter if it is text or graphics
Great file conversion quality
Document management is at its best with watermarks, signatures, and redaction features
Affordable and competitive price in the market

Cons:

No option to create PDF file from scratch
OCR is a separate plugin that you have to pay for
No support for duplex printing

2. Freedcamp

The next app on the list is one of the best project managing tools that will help you to work better. The app is still a desktop app, but the company is working on creating an iPhone and Android app by the end of 2016. In 2017, we should see a tablet support. The best part about Freedcamp is that the app is free of charge, and it does all the work a normal project management productivity app does. There is limitation to the free version, but for small projects, it is more than enough.

Pros:

Tasks list allows you to change layout
Multiple filters
You can easily and quickly create and assign tasks
The task list updates in the second the job is finished
Option for prioritization and sorting of tasks

Cons:

There is no way to append updates or comments directly to sub-tasks
No integration with Google Docs
There is no way to create workflows for portion of the task

3. Evernote

Evernote is one of the most versatile apps for boosting productivity. The app allows you to take notes, sync those notes, and much more. You can access it from any device, at any time. Storing documents and notes has never been easier, and Evernote takes it to cloud for extra protection and security.

Pros:

Incredible search and great features for taking notes
Clean and minimal design
Fast synchronization between your devices
Multiplatform and flexible solution

Cons:

Free version limits you to two devices
The premium plan is way too expensive
Way too basic UI. Blank sheet provides great opportunities, but not if you do not have idea how to begin
Some users have more detailed needs that the basic version does not include

Part 2How to Work Better

As we said at the beginning, how to work better is not just a question of finding the right productivity apps, but also a question of changing your habits. Here are some small changes you can implement to boost your productivity.

Plan your day in the first 30 minutes of the day. Do not start your day until you complete your plan. The first 30 minutes of your day are crucial to prepare your schedule
Always carry a schedule with you and make sure to record thoughts, activities and conversations. This schedule will help you understand how much work you have done
Rework the to-do list. People underestimate the value of the to-do list. One of the common mistakes you can make is put too much things on the to-do list. The best way to boost productivity is to limit your to-do list to three to four "most important tasks"
Schedule time for interruptions. We can all be distracted or interrupted at any point of the day. The trick here is to schedule interruptions in the form of "office hours". Just think of it as planned interruption
Practice a "no answering" the phone. Just because the phone is ringing, or because you received an email doesn't mean you should get to it. Disconnect instant messaging. Unless it is absolutely crucial, do not give your people your attention the second they need it. Same as scheduled interruption, you can schedule a period in the day when you answer emails and return phone calls
Measure results, not spent time. As we said at the beginning, it is not how much time you spend at the office, but how you spend the time. Adjust the way you measure your productivity levels. One way to do this is to break your project into sections and small tasks. And keep record how many of these tasks you finish.