With information, apps, games, music, movies, and the internet at our fingertips, it is easy to get distracted and lose productivity by focussing on entertainment instead of work. With a wide variety of entertainment readily available, we have slowly lost the ability to stay focused because it gives no immediate reward.

Podcast: How to use the free Google applications for productivity in 2022

How to use free Google apps to boost your productivity

Whether using a phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer, there is no excuse for being late, not taking notes, or losing productivity. With the development of apps and web services that allow you to connect many different devices using a free email account, you can have whatever you need wherever you need it at a moment’s notice.

One of the biggest companies allowing you access to your information and projects from anywhere at any time is Google. Google provides us with one of the best and most extensive search engines and allows you to connect multiple devices to share data and stay connected to what you need. If you are unsure of how to use the apps Google has made, follow the steps below to get started.

• Create a Google Account – The nice thing about all the Google services we can use daily is that they are free to access through a Google account. A Google account is also free to make, and you can create one now by following this link.
• Sign in on your browser or download the apps – The next thing you need to do is sign into your Google account on your computer or your phone’s app store. Once you are logged in, you can access the computer version of these apps here or download them to your phone and tablet.
• Start being productive – The last thing you need to do is start working. These apps and services are straightforward to use and access on all your devices. There is no need to avoid being productive! You can use some apps to help you take notes, set reminders to do specific things, and even share files easily with other people working on the same project.

Google apps that help you stay productive

Now that you have access to all the Google apps and services you need to stay connected and active, there is no reason to fall behind. Below are some of the best apps Google allows you to access to help you stay on track and productive.

1. Google Keep – This app is much more than a regular notepad, allowing you to take notes, make lists with checkboxes, and even set reminders for specific tasks on your notes. If you know you have some work to do as soon as possible and get busy with something else, this app allows you to stay on track. You can also share notes and enable others to change or add notes, which is excellent if you collaborate on work or an assignment.
2. Google Drive – Another brilliant service and app you can use from Google is the Google Drive app. This app allows you to access your files and information from anywhere as long as it is synced and will enable you to share files with others to make group work more manageable.
   Knowing you have your files ready anytime is a great way to keep productivity booming.
3. Google Calendar – Google Calendar is much more than an ordinary calendar, allowing you to schedule meetings and get reminded before a session starts. You can also use Google Calendar to mark due dates and notifications to ensure you stay on track. If you and some friends or colleagues have projects due over a specific time, this is also an excellent way for everyone to stay informed and productive.
4. The Entire Google Suite – Including the apps and services above, Google is going great work keeping connected and productive with a range of apps called the Google Suite. The apps and services in this package include a word editor, a spreadsheet editor, and even a slide editor like PowerPoint.

With Google allowing us to access brilliant apps from almost any device connected to the internet, there is no reason not to be productive. Additionally, these apps and services are free if you have a Gmail account which is excellent for those of us who don’t have extra money to spend on subscriptions and additional software.

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In a world as wonderful and technologically advanced as we live in, we are constantly surrounded by technology and use it for everything. However, it is always important to stay on top of things and keep ourselves and our online presence safe. One of the newest world interests is the forming of NFTs and what they represent.

Podcast: Are NFTs and cryptocurrencies just a big scam?

What are NFTs?

NFTs or Non-Fungible Tokens are unique crypto tokens that supposedly represent a set of non-interchangeable data. This data, known as metadata, is stored on a blockchain and serves to give information about other data. The reason NFTs are such a big deal is that, unlike standard crypto tokens, such as Bitcoin, the token is unique, and people care about that specific token instead of just what it represents. For example, you cannot choose which specific Bitcoin you want, but you can select what NFT you want.

However, NFTs are not only unique in their look but also in the information they represent. Since NFTs are made with metadata, data that describes other data, they take with them the name of the creator and the date of creation, which serves as a sense of legitimacy. If you want to see all the files contained in an NFT, you can click on the NTFS System Files.

Cover image: NFT digital art purchased by Eminem. Stafford, United Kingdom, January 5, 2022 “By Ascannio – stock.adobe.com”.

Are NFTs and Crypto a scam?

Both NFTs and Crypto are digital money that governments or private organisations do not control. However, as we can see in the Bitcoin trend, private people still play a significant role in the value of this cryptocurrency. For example, Elon Musk is one of the most influential business owners today, and almost every tweet he publishes impacts the price and value of Bitcoin.

What this means for both NFTs and Cryptocurrencies is that they are not a scam but are similarly unstable to one. These forms of currency and value are made to be outside the influence of others. Yet, some can manipulate them to make the prices rise or fall.

So, since we’ve established that neither Crypto nor NFTs are supposed to be a scam, should we invest in them immediately?

What about investing in NFTs and Crypto?

The problem is that, as with Cryptocurrencies, NFTs are not a physical piece of the world you can own. Also, all the worth of an NFT is based on a digital item. The formation of NFTs and the concept they are built on should allow you to lay claim to a piece of digital information that you will then own. The information of ownership and worth is kept on a worldwide blockchain, a chain of blocks made of information. This data isn’t held by just one person, but by all people connected. This is where the sense of security in purchase comes from.

The biggest problem with NFTs is that we are not sure what will happen to them. Though crypto and NFTs form a part of the new digital age, we have yet to see them stabilise in today’s economy. For this reason, I suggest keeping your money safe for now. If you have the opportunity to invest in crypto or NFTs, do so with caution, and do it in small amounts that you can “afford to lose.”

Cryptocurrencies and NFTs may seem like a great way to get rich by investing early. For some, this is the case. However, it is best to wait for a more stable market before investing unless you have money to spare.

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