It can be difficult to concentrate on work when you are stuck at home because of the ongoing pandemic. Some people struggle to get in the groove of things when they cannot work at the office. At the end of the day, we tend to associate our home with a place for relaxing.
Thankfully, there are ways to improve your efficiency, especially if you are using a Macbook. The computer has a lot to offer, and this article will help you discover how to get the most out of your Mac. Think of the tips below as instructions to get the most out of a Macbook while working.
Tip #1 – Disable Notifications
There are many distractions when you work from home. Family members, neighbors, and even noises coming from outside do not help.
When you combine that with notifications from your smartphone and computer, it can be difficult to pay attention to where it matters – work.
Disable notification on your Macbook in the Notification Center. You have the option to enable the Do Not Disturb mode and set a timeframe when all incoming notifications are disabled.
Keep in mind, though, that there might be some exceptions, and disabling every application is not the most optimal option. For example, you should have antivirus notifications enabled 24/7 so that it alerts you when the computer system encounters a potential threat.
Communication tools for work are another exception since missing an important message from your colleagues can cause misunderstandings and other issues.
Tip #2 – Plan Your Workflow
Planning workflow is not easy, particularly for those who like to procrastinate. Thankfully, Macbooks have applications that can track your time and tell you when you need to take a break and when you should work not to miss the deadline.
The first few weeks can be hard because it will take time to adapt to a new work environment. If there are apps that can help you with the adjustment period, not taking advantage of such applications would be a waste.
Tip #3 – Create a Tidy Environment
It is easier to concentrate when you work in a neat environment. This applies to both your physical and digital space.
As far as Macbooks go, you should focus on the desktop. A clutter-free desktop means a better overall performance of the Macbook, and you will have fewer temptations. Having shortcuts for video games on the desktop makes you want to play them instead of working.
You can keep your data on separate folders in the disk or transfer files to cloud storage and access them later when you finish working.
Tip #4 – Listen to Music
Services like iTunes and Spotify provide you with music, and if your work arrangements allow you to listen to music, taking the opportunity is beneficial.
The day will go by faster, you will experience less stress, and listening to your favorite songs will ultimately lead to increased productivity.
Tip #5 – Learn Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts can save you a lot of time. The official Apple support website has a list of all the keyboard shortcuts, but learning the entire list is not necessarily. Focus on those shortcuts that you find to be the most useful.
Some of the examples include Shift + Command + 3 and Shift + Command + 4 to capture screenshots, Option + Command + Delete to remove files from the Macbook permanently, and Option + Command + Esc to force quit an application.
Tip #6 – Create Digital Signatures
If you have to sign many documents throughout the day, why not take advantage of the digital signature feature on the Macbook?
Launch Preview and open a PDF document in the application. Click on the Pen icon and navigate to the Signature button. Select Create Signature and choose one of the methods to add the signature to the computer.
You can hold a piece of paper with your signature in front of the Macbook’s camera, sign on the computer’s trackpad, or write your signature on an iPhone.
Once you save the signature on the Macbook, you can add it to PDF documents via Preview and save yourself the trouble of using a pen every time there is another document that needs your signature.
Tip #7 – Use the Dictation Feature
The dictation feature is great for those who can multitask. Imagine a situation when you are holding a document in your one hand and want to copy the text on the computer. You can dictate instead of typing. It might take time to get used to dictating, but after a few attempts, you should realize how much time the feature saves.
Tip #8 – Optimize Internet Browser
If you are stuck on an internet browser that crashes and freezes, looking for another option is a solid choice. There are multiple internet browsers available for free.
On the other hand, if you do not want to bother with a different browser, try to optimize your current choice.
Make sure that your browser is up to date. Reinstalling it could help as well. Also, do not go overboard with too many extensions and add-ons as they put a toll on the browser and reduce its performance.
