Smartphones and efficiency go together like Homer and Marge. In one little pocketsize device you get a diary, telephony, text, GPS, camera, voice recorder and 80 per cent of the power of your computer, points out business performance guru Debbie Mayo-Smith.
New users sometimes get excited about the powers of smartphone apps and widgets. Yet a smartphone and all the productivity apps under the sun aren't going to make the most inefficient person efficient. Only by tapping the power of the technology will that happen.
Here are some tips:
1. Take time to do the setup: one of the most important things to make yourself more efficient says Telecom Business Hub Wanganui owner Shane Nottage, is to take the time to customise your new or existing iPhone, Android, Windows Phone or Blackberry smartphone. Trawl through the settings menu and set the smartphone to the way you work.
2. Use the calendar: unlike a paper diary or personal computer, a smartphone is never far from its owner's fingers - day and night. Nottage has set up his calendar so it's the first thing he sees on his home screen when he glances at his smartphone. The defaults such as standard length of meetings and reminder times are customised to take away the need to re-enter this information with every appointment. His reminders, and tasks sync automatically with his office PC.