How to increase productivity at work: helpful time management apps

By Helene Segura, M.A. Ed., CPO® | March 30, 2017 |

In last week’s post about how to increase productivity at work, I shared with you some of the questions that I go through with my clients in order to assess their productivity road blocks and create time management solutions.

The article that I referenced discussed research on assistive technology that was used to help workers diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder not only remember their tasks but also when and how to do them, which allowed them to improve their productivity without being micromanaged.

As I mentioned in my previous post, solutions for specific diagnoses and populations do not have to be limited to just them. Anyone can use them. Which means you can use the very same apps to help you improve your productivity.

Reminder Alarms:

iCal

Clock

Google Calendar

Bug Me (picture-based for non-readers)

VoCal (auditory reminders)

Task Lists:

iOS Notes (lists with pictures)

Google Keep (lists with pictures)

Plan It, Do It, Check It Off (photographic slide shows with audio prompts)

First Then (photographic slide shows with audio prompts)

Can Plan (instructional videos that can be linked to reminder alarms)

Picture Scheduler (instructional videos that can be linked to reminder alarms)

Communication Support for those with Speech Difficulties:

Proloquo2Go

Speakit!

iMean

Self-Manage Anxiety:

Breathe2Relax

Calm

Simply Being

Behavioral Tracking for Rewards:

iReward

iRewardChart

From: Mobile Technologies as Workplace Cognitive-Behavioral Aids for People with Autism by Tony Gentry, PhD, OTR/L, associate professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Virginia Commonwealth University, February 6, 2017, issue of AOTA Magazine

Some of the aforementioned apps are free. The rest are primarily in the $3 to $5 range. The two most expensive apps from this list (at the time of this writing) are Can Plan at $15 and Proloquo2Go at $250.

For complete details on how the researchers implemented these apps, I encourage you to read Dr. Gentry’s article about how to increase productivity at work by occupational therapists providing individualized support for people with autism.

What apps do you use to help you improve your time management and productivity?

About Helene Segura, M.A. Ed., CPO®

As The Inefficiency Assassin™, Time Management Fixer Helene Segura empowers professionals on the go with the tools to slay lost time. Personal inefficiency at work leads to increased stress levels, lower morale, higher absenteeism, more turnover – and rising spending on employee health care and hiring. Why not improve productivity, decrease stress levels, and increase profits instead?The author of four books – two of which were Amazon best-sellers – Helene Segura has been the featured organization expert in more than 200 media interviews. She has coached hundreds of clients to productivity success and performance improvement by applying neuroscience and behavioral modification techniques to wipe out destructive, time-wasting habits.Helene turns time management on its head by sharing both client case studies and pop culture examples to teach her mind-bending framework for decreasing interruptions, distractions and procrastination so that companies can spend more time generating revenue.

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