HRM Five: The best productivity apps for modern working

In Asia, we work some of the longest hours in the world. Sometimes technology is to blame as we get distracted by emails and our phones. But we could be using technology in a smarter way to speed up our tasks and give ourselves more time for other things – like leaving the office on time. Here are five apps we like:

Trello (project management)

Trello is a project management app that makes managing projects less stressful, and possibly even enjoyable. The app is very visual, which makes it not only easy on the eye but functional and easy to use. One of Trello’s strengths is that it lets you break big projects down into smaller, more manageable chunks by creating cards for every task. Trello is free to use, though it does offer premium plans which come with additional features.

Toggl – (timekeeper)

Toggl is a simple-to-use, time-tracking app that can help you manage your time more efficiently at work. You aren’t limited by device as Toggl works across your computer, tablet and phone. So regardless of what device you are working on and where, your hours are still being tracked. You are also sent friendly reminders in case you ever forget to turn the productivity app on.

When a task is completed, you get a detailed report. From this, Toggl crunches the numbers and shows you how your time was spent. But the responsibility lies with you to analyse these findings and adjust the way you work to become more productive.

Any.do – (to-do lists)

When you are busy in the office, you often forget daily tasks and chores. That’s where Any.do comes in, keeping your schedule on track with to-do lists, reminders and notes. It even gives you the ability to share lists and assign tasks to others. The app also lets you sync between your phone, desktop, web and tablet. And for the super busy, a voice-entry feature lets you add items to your task list when you can’t use your hands.

1Password – (password saver)

One annoying part of the digital age is the need for so many passwords. From bank accounts to email accounts, virtually every site you visit wants you to register or log in. It is hard to remember all your passwords and dangerous to use the same password repeatedly. 1Password saves you the mental energy of trying to remember every single password you’ve ever created, and it does it in a secure way. Like a digital vault, you can store more than just passwords, such as credit card details, bank account info, passports, licenses and more. All with a single Master Password protecting your details.

Evernote – (note taking)

Evernote is one of the best note-taking services that works across multiple platforms. It allows you to take and upload notes, pictures, audio and video clips and then organize them into cloud notebooks that can be synced across different devices. The free version lets users upload 60MB worth of content monthly, with paid accounts allowing more. A few rival apps have emerged in this space but Evernote is still top choice.