5 Productivity Hacks for Your New Tech Gadgets

So chances are, you got some cool new gadget for the holidays or you got a killer deal on some sort of Amazon Echo device on Black Friday. But, let’s be honest, did you read that instruction manual? No one actually reads that boring instruction manual and most items don’t even come with one anymore. They give us too much credit in thinking that we'll actually go online to read it, that’s hilarious!

I was anti-Apple Watch for many years, didn't see the point in it that is until the 4 came out. The new EKG was very enticing for me. Anyway, I finally broke down and got one shortly after the 4 was released and it's been amazing. 

I prefer to use it for many things but I especially appreciate the apps that increase my productivity and help me stay on track. My only gripe? WHY IS THERE NOT A CALCULATOR? 

I also thought forever, "Why do I need Alexa?" Then came Black Friday and I decided that I was too lazy to get off the couch to turn on the light overhead so I needed Alexa to do it for me. And now, I have no idea how I've managed without her, she's like a personal assistant. I also know what you’re thinking, “but she’s listening to you!” No, I don't really care if she's listening to me. Honestly, if the FBI is really that bored I actually feel sorry for them but I am pretty hilarious so hopefully, they’re at least entertained with my weirdness. Make note as well, if you open the Alexa app and then go to "things to try" there is an entire section for productivity settings. SCORE!

Here are the features I personally use with my smart devices that help me improve productivity and stay organized:

1. Timers and reminders (Apple Watch, iPhone, Alexa)

It's almost a guarantee that even if you don't have an Apple Watch, your phone isn't too far away so why not use it. Siri, or whatever other smart assistant your phone has, makes it easy to simply say "Hey Siri, set a timer for (blank) minutes" or "remind me in 20 minutes to turn off the heater."  

If you know that you don't remember important meetings or are always late, you can make sure that Siri reminds you an hour before and even 5 minutes before if you're prone to distraction. You can also have Siri tell you when it’s time to leave for an appointment based on current traffic conditions.  

I use the timers a lot as well. Either because I know that I am about to hyper-focus (Hello ADHD!) or I am avoiding boring chores. I will set the timer for 30 minutes to break my concentration if I know that there is a chance I'll hyper-focus on something other than the tasks that I need to complete. Or, if I know I have to clean the house, I'll set a timer for 10-30 minutes (depending on how much I hate the task at hand) and make myself do it until the timer goes off, then go to do something else. You can do anything for 10, 20, or even 30 minutes.  

Another amazing cheat I learned from the amazing, Tracy Otsuka (check out her ADHD for Smart*ss Women podcast), is that you can enable "location services" on your phone/watch. Why would this be helpful? Well, how many times have you gone to the store with your list in hand, but there was that one thing you forgot to put on it because you were in the shower when you thought of it? When "location services" is enabled, you can do all the shower thinking you want and simply say, "Hey Siri, remind me when I go to (insert your favorite whole paycheck store here) to get (whatever random thing comes to mind when you're shaving your legs)." 

Bonus Tip: You can also tell Alexa to order something for you on Amazon, a good replacement for the Dash Buttons they stopped making. 

2. Breathe(Apple Watch/iPhone)

Yes, it can be annoying at times, especially when you're in the middle of doing something but the reminder to take a few minutes to breathe is actually helpful for productivity. I have heard a few people complain because they think that it is telling them to breathe, but no, it is not saying you aren't breathing, it’s reminding you to take a few minutes for self-care and to be mindful. 

It may sound counter-productive but there is plenty of research to show that taking a break actually helps you to re-charge and get more done than if you had just powered through. So, next time you get that annoying alert to breathe, take the minute to do so. I promise after you do it several times a day for a few weeks you'll see the benefits of it.      

3. Meditation (Alexa)

Try saying, "Alexa, start my morning." Which will walk you through a 7(-ish) minute routine of ways to start your day off right with some meditation, gratitude, positive affirmations, etc. 

Or try saying "Alexa, open Guided Meditation." This is one of the many meditation and relaxation skills you can assign to Alexa.

Lastly, at the end of the day, either of these will be helpful or you can tell Alexa to "Play Sleep Sounds: (Whichever you like)" I personally like Ocean Sounds; my husband likes the rain and thunderstorm.

4. Find My Phone (Apple Watch/Alexa)

I am not proud to admit it, but I forget where I put EVERYTHING. I'm often late because I can't find my phone or have to turn around because I have to go back home to get it. Luckily, with the watch, I can ping my phone even if it's on silent so I can find it. Or you can log into your account to find the exact location if you left it in the grocery store produce section (I had to do this once cause I left my phone on a table at IKEA, imagine the fun that ensued for the next hour trying to find that thing when a nice person picked it up and gave it to an employee but I got it back thanks to this awesome feature!).

Bonus Tip: Alexa also has a feature for finding your phone, I have never used it, so check it out if you wish.

5. Weather, News, Traffic (Apple Watch/iPhone/Alexa)

There's no one way to do all of these, but all of these have abilities that allow you to stay on top of the weather, news, and/or traffic to help you prepare for your day or trip more efficiently. 

I chose the watch face that has the weather shown on it so I know how to dress. You can also ask Alexa, what the weather will be like either where you are or where you are going. It helps me figure out what to wear/pack.

My Apple Watch also tells me how traffic conditions and travel times are based on the appointments/events in my calendar. It also begins to predict my movements, makes me laugh sometimes (and maybe also have wake-up calls that I spend too much time in a particular place?). But, even if I don't put something in my calendar, it predicts where I am headed when I leave home, work, or somewhere else and tells me the traffic conditions and travel time. 

You can ask Alexa to give you various headlines based on the skills you set up in your preferences. I also have a local news app on my phone that sends me alerts about breaking news so I can stay on top of things. 

So there you have it, some of my favorite productivity hacks with some of my favorite "smart assistants." I also have a few more, I wasn't sure where to put but my Toyota has the remote app, so I can be putting the finishing touches on my morning routine and say to Alexa, "Alexa, tell Toyota to start the car." Also, when I wake up and I want to be toasty, I don't even have to get out of bed to tell Alexa to turn up the thermostat so I can be nice and warm when I finally am brave enough to stop hitting the snooze button.

Now, these have been a major game-changer for me... not sure how I functioned without any of these hacks before. 

I hope you've found this helpful. If you have any questions or have hacks of your own, feel free to contact me at Colleen@scatteredpotential.com, subscribe to my blog or my newsletter by filling out the form below. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  

And, if you haven't already, check out my favorite podcast of all time: ADHD for Smart*ass Women by Tracy Otsuka. You don't have to have ADHD or even be a woman to get something from it. See the link above to her website.