Now that I work from home since I’m a mom of three small ones, I find myself thinking how productive I could be if I had an office, some quiet, and some dedicated time to get some work done. However, I know that when I did have those things, I still struggled with productivity at times. Sometimes you’re just tired of being productive, and sometimes you simply lack the resources or tools to be productive. Thus, I thought it would be helpful to share some productivity tools that just might help you gather enough steam to keep going and protect what time and work you have accomplished.
For noise issues and all workers:
Noise and distraction are huge factors in lack of productivity. Getting distracted by co-workers {or children!} is a huge time suck because it takes your attention off work every time your ears perk up to hear something around you.
- Free white noise generator: Let’s start with a freebie- a white noise generator that any browser can utilize anywhere.
- The Sonet Sound Machine: A highly effective sound machine for individual users who’d rather not use their computers for white noise.
- VoiceArrest Sound Masking System: The best sound masking option for bigger areas instead of just one user.
For you Firefox users, check out these great finds:
-
Customize Google
LeechBlock: a Firefox add-on that allows you to block sites so you can avoid their distraction.
- Customize Google: CustomizeGoogle is a Firefox extension that enhance Google search results by adding extra information (like links to Yahoo, Ask.com, MSN etc) and removing unwanted information (like ads and spam). All features are optional and easily configured.
- FlashGot: Download all the links, movies and audio clips of a page at the maximum speed with a single click, using the most popular, lightweight and reliable external download managers.
- StatusBar: View and manage downloads from a tidy statusbar – without the download window getting in the way of your web browsing.
- Flashblock: Flashblock is an extension for the Mozilla, Firefox, and Netscape browsers that takes a pessimistic approach to dealing with Macromedia Flash content on a webpage and blocks ALL Flash content from loading. It then leaves placeholders on the webpage that allow you to click to download and then view the Flash content.
- URL fixer: URL Fixer is an extension for Mozilla Firefox that corrects typos in URLs that you enter in the address bar. For example, if you type google.con, it will correct it to google.com (asking first, if you enable confirmation).
- Tab Mix Plus: Tab Mix Plus enhances Firefox’s tab browsing capabilities. It includes such features as duplicating tabs, controlling tab focus, tab clicking options, undo closed tabs and windows, plus much more. It also includes a full-featured session manager.
- ScrapBook: Helps you to save Web pages and organize the collection.
Hopefully, one or more of these resources will help you get on track, stay on track, and protect your work.
