In times like this when most, if not, all of us are compelled to stay at home, the idea of studying or working in the comforts of our own homes could be both a boon and a bane. But, for the most part, it is the flexibility of the work schedule and the idea of not facing the daunting commute to and from the workplace that inspire increased productivity. Technology and the internet, when taken to full use, make it easier than ever to work, study, and be productive.
Beyond watching every video clip, show and movie in your binge-list, here are some of the available resources you can make full use of to maximize and increase your productivity even without the structure of going and leaving the office or school.
Free apps for virtual meetings
When working from home, you would need a reliable online tool for your scheduled virtual meetings. Trustworthy software like Google Hangouts, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and even Facebook Messenger allow you to hold meetings over the Internet, with options that enable video, virtual presentation, and convenient file-sharing as well.
Free apps to help your productivity
Reliable apps that are convenient and safe for file-sharing can be maximized. You’ve got sites like Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, WeTransfer, and Dropbox to easily share large and confidential documents.
You can also take advantage of free apps for notetaking, calendar, timers, and to-do lists that you can conveniently sync on your laptops and on your mobile phones. These will help you get organized, improve your time management skills, and get more things done.
Free access to important government and news sites
In light of the COVID-19 global pandemic, you can stay updated and informed while working or studying at home through reliable and credible sources. These sites are important for daily viewing to get the latest news and credible information:
Government websites
COVID-19 Tracker (ncovtracker.doh.gov.ph)
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (ndrrmc.gov.ph)
Philippine Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
Department of Health (doh.gov.ph)
News outlets
ABS-CBN News (news.abs-cbn.com)
BusinessWorld (bworldonline.com)
CNN Philippines (cnnphilippines.com)
GMA News Online (gmanetwork.com/news)
News5 (news.tv5.com.ph)
Philippine Star (philstar.com)
Free educational tools at home
While facing a cloud of uncertainty, the opportunity to learn, grow and discover new skills does not stop when studying at home, especially for the younger members of the family. Whether studying different languages, trying on new recipes, or learning how to make videos or graphics online, there are a lot of online resources that you are worth exploring.
YouTube is the best place to start, with billions of videos available on just about every topic, including tutorials for anything you want to know. You can also listen to your favorite podcasts online for free.
For families with kids who are home-schooling now, you can take advantage of free audiobooks and e-books made available online. Amazon-owned Audible is now offering free-to-listen catalogue of children’s stories including literary classics, fairy tales, and a lot more for pre-schoolers, elementary, and teens. All these are available in six different languages.
You can also explore hundreds of museums around the world. Google Street View’s Arts and Culture section now offers free virtual tours and exhibits of different museums and galleries worldwide including Tour Eiffel in Paris, British Museum in London, Taj Mahal in India, and Lizares Mansion in Iloilo. The National Museum of the Philippines also offers a 360 degree virtual tour on their website.
With all of these, the best thing is that you can enjoy more than just videos but a wealth of educational tools online as PLDT Home is also extending its Double Data promo for Wifi Prepaid now made available until April 30! That means PLDT Home Wifi Prepaid subscribers can still get twice the data allocations from their FamLoad packages.
PLDT Home Wifi Prepaid powered by Smart LTE, the mobile network with the fastest speed and widest 4G availability in the Philippines, as affirmed by global internet testing firms Ookla, OpenSignal, and umlaut.
For more updates and information, follow PLDT Home on Facebook at facebook.com/PLDTHome, or visit the website at pldthome.com.