Every boss wants their employees to be as productive as possible. However, they rarely take the steps necessary to make sure that they are. As humans, it is our natural tendency to fall short. We get stressed, distracted, or downright lazy. But unlike the olden times, when people thought the only solution was to yell at them, we now have apps and devices that can help us with that. 

In this article, we will take a look at some of these techniques and technologies that can be the difference between a productive office and an unproductive one. 

Time Management & Scheduling Tools

It might seem obvious, but you should still know that a recent study conducted by Timewatch reported that 90% of respondents said the primary benefit of better time management is that it would allow them to be more productive. 

When it comes to achieving work-life balance, time management is key. But let’s be real, trying to keep track of everything can be overwhelming. That’s where technology comes in. With so many tools available, it’s easier than ever to take control of your schedule and make the most of your time.

Calendar apps like Google Calendar or Outlook allow you to easily schedule meetings, appointments, and events. You can set reminders for deadlines and even color-code different events for a quick overview of your schedule. And if you’re worried about double-booking yourself, many calendar apps allow you to share your schedule with others, so you can coordinate with your team or family.

But it’s not just about scheduling, time tracking tools are also great for getting a handle on where your time is going. These apps allow you to track the time you spend on different tasks, giving you a clear picture of where your time is being spent and where you might be able to make adjustments. This can be especially helpful for remote workers who may find it hard to keep track of their time while working from home.

Virtual Happy Hours To Celebrate Success

Happy hours are a great way to celebrate success and encourage team building, even when working remotely. A study conducted by Gallup shows that employees who have a best friend at work constantly report much higher job satisfaction. And happy employees are more productive employees. With the help of tools like BlueJeans and HouseParty, you can easily host virtual happy hours for your team and encourage camaraderie.

BlueJeans is a video conferencing platform that allows for easy scheduling, joining, and hosting of virtual meetings. It also has features such as screen sharing, recording, and breakout rooms, making it perfect for hosting virtual happy hours.

On the other hand, HouseParty is a social networking app that allows users to video chat with friends and family in a virtual “room.” It’s perfect for casual and informal virtual gatherings, and it’s a great way to encourage team building and boost morale in a relaxed and fun setting.

Just like classic offline office parties, there is no shortage of hybrid or virtual happy hour ideas. It is all about providing your employees with a relaxed, informal environment and letting them have fun. It can take the form of a costume party or a classic get-together with some party games thrown in the mix. 

Virtual Communication and Collaboration Tools

Traditionally we are trained to believe that any serious work can only be done in the office, and working from home is for lazy people and pandemics. But Business News Daily reports that a recent study conducted by the University of Chicago revealed 40% of people are actually more comfortable when they work from home, and for a good reason.

Virtual communication and collaboration tools have revolutionized the way we work. Gone are the days of being chained to your desk just to communicate with your team. With the right technology, you can stay connected and productive and collaborate with your colleagues no matter where you are.

Take video conferencing platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. These apps allow you to connect with your team in real-time, whether you’re working from home, on the road, or in different locations. You can share your screen, present documents, and even record the meeting for later reference. 

Team communication tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams also play a big role in helping remote teams stay connected. These apps allow you to send direct messages, create channels for different teams or projects, and even share files. With these tools, you can easily communicate with your team, ask questions, and get feedback, no matter where you are. 

Stress Management Tools

Achieving work-life balance isn’t just about managing your time, it’s also about managing your stress and well-being. Zippia reports that 83% of employees suffer from work-related stress, and absenteeism caused by depression costs US businesses $51 billion every year. Therefore, it would be extremely foolish not to enlist the help of technology to ensure your employees are doing well in terms of their mental health.

There are many apps available that can help you track your sleep, meditation, and physical activity. For example, apps like Headspace, Calm, and Insight Timer, are great for meditation and mindfulness and can help you reduce stress and improve focus.

Another app that’s great for managing stress is Pacifica, which offers a wide range of features such as mood tracking, guided meditations, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques. This app can help you identify patterns in your mood and give you tools to manage stress and improve your overall well-being.

In addition, virtual therapy sessions through apps such as TalkSpace, BetterHelp, and Amwell, offer counseling and therapy sessions, which can be accessed from the comfort of your own home and can help you manage stress and improve mental well-being.

We live our lives surrounded by technology. Their purpose is to pick up the slack when we fall short. But many businesses have been surprisingly casual about adopting any technology that is not somehow part of the sales or management process. But technology can help one organize, fraternize and even take care of their mental health.  Therefore, when it comes to technology, forward is the only way to go.