Technology should make life easier, not more complicated. With new technology constantly on the horizon, it is easy to get bogged down in the latest options rather than what makes the most sense for your situation. The flip side of the coin is refusing to learn new technology because you don't want to spend the time necessary to learn to use it properly. Neither of these mindsets is the best for a productive life. Keeping up with the latest technology allows you to see what is available and make an informed decision about whether you should invest the time in learning. If the tool seems like it would streamline your workflow and improve productivity, take the time to learn to use it. A little time invested upfront can pay dividends later.

Editing and Citation Help

Whether you write for a living or are just responding to emails and dashing off memos, using grammar checkers can keep your work looking professional. It is easy to miss spelling and usage errors when you are writing something quickly. Taking a few seconds to run your work through a grammar checker before sending it into the world can save you embarrassment and reduce the risk of miscommunication. If you regularly write academic papers, using a tool that automates citations makes your work much easier. Citing papers is tedious, and it is common to have to look up the rules each time you do it. Using a citation helper allows you to automate the process, not only saving time but reducing errors as well. It is important to remember that these tools are not foolproof, and you should do a last-minute check on anything you are sending out, but they can make the job much easier.

Calculators

Long gone are the days when you needed a specialized calculator for different tasks. If you need to figure something out, there is sure to be an online calculator to help you out. A mortgage or student loan calculator can help you determine the amount of money you can save by refinancing your loans, a debt payoff calculator can help you determine the best route to take when paying off credit card debt, and retirement savings calculators can help you decide if you are saving enough and making the best investment decisions.

Time Management Tools

The vast amount of technology available makes it all too easy to waste time, but there is an answer for that. Productivity and time management tools allow you to work more efficiently, help you build better habits, and allow you to focus on the task at hand. There are also many tools available that link to your calendar. You can create to-do lists, reminders, and anything else you need to work more efficiently. Choosing the right tool allows you to link files, phone numbers, or other information to your tasks, so it is all right in front of you when you need it. When using tools to streamline your life, you should not become so consumed with finding the best or latest that you use it as an excuse to procrastinate. Online tools are just like any other tool, they do their best work when used the way they were intended.