DEV Community: Neeraj Sharma

Working from Home: How to Close at the End of the Day

Neeraj Sharma — Tue, 08 May 2018 13:17:19 +0000

I've been working from home 1-2 days a week recently.

It's been a great boon to my general productivity and happiness, but I've been experiencing difficulty turning off at the end of the day. I haven't been able to signal to my unconscious that “it's okay, you can relax and stop working now”.

For those of you who work remote full-time, or just occasionally, how do you "end" your day?"

Today when I was reading this question Peter Kim Frank in the discussion forum, I was reminded of my cousin who worked remotely full-time for about a year. He faced the same problem. In morning, he had trouble getting to work and in evening he didn’t know when to stop and kept working late hours.

As a result, his both personal and professional life started getting affected. Spouse and children started complaining that he didn’t spend enough time with them. Employers started saying that he wasn’t giving his hundred percent. His health started deteriorating as well.

However, today things are entirely different. He is living the same healthy, happy, and rocking lifestyle he had once forgotten about.

So, what changed my brother’s lifestyle?

Some healthy practices that he started following for taking his life back on track. So can you if you do the same. Just have a look at:

Some healthy practices that will help you keep your personal and personal life in check

1. Creating a timetable
Timetable helps us being punctual and ensure that there’s minimal wastage of time.

So, if you’re also having trouble managing things during remote working, create a timetable and strictly follow it. Doing so will ensure that everything is on schedule and you can close on time at the end of the day.

2. Doing all top-priority tasks in the morning
We all are usually the most active in the morning as our mind is fresh and our body is in a relaxed state. As the day proceeds, our energy starts draining and we start becoming less active.

Hence, if you want productivity in your work, ensure that all top-priority tasks are finished in the morning so that you’ve enough time for small ones and you can close in time in the evening.

3. Preparing a priority list
After reading the last point you might be thinking:

How to decide which task is major and which requires less attention?

That’s why you should prepare a priority list. You can keep the tasks that need the most attention on top-priority, while the normal ones on low-priority. This will help you manage everything in order.

4. Keeping personal and professional life separate
If you don’t want to live in a mess, make sure you keep both your personal and professional life separate.

Here’s what happens if you fail to do so:

You’re enjoying a movie with the family. All of a sudden, you receive an important call. As you can’t skip it, you leave the movie in middle. As a result, your partner gets pissed, children get sad, and the whole movie experience turns into a ruckus.

Similarly, you’re not able to give your best in work because you work from your drawing room where there are many distractions. Spause expects you to help in work, kids want to sit in your lap, and friends visit often.

Moreover, every place has a specific aura. Drawing room gives you a cosy feel. You can only relax there not work.

Would you want your life to get affected because of this? Definitely not.

Hence, it’s my recommendation to not mix your home and office like. Keep separate laptops for work and personal use. Also, try to set up a mini office in a room where fewer people visit so that there are minimal distractions.

This will keep your personal and professional life in balance.

5. Not taking calls or checking emails after work hours
Nothing is more annoying than receiving calls and emails during the hours when everyone is asleep. Not only it irritates people but also causes negative effects on health.

So, here’s a suggestion: unless it’s very important, avoid taking calls after office hours.

6. Meditation, yoga, and exercise
There is a reason yoga and meditation are practised all over the world. Not only it keeps your body healthy but also freshens up your mind.

Also, do exercise regularly. It makes you active and improves your concentration in work.

7. Short walks before and after work hours
In case you have a busy schedule and can hardly manage time for exercise or meditation, go for short walks both before and after office hours.

Doing so will keep your mind fresh, clear negative thoughts, and increase your productivity. Also, it can help you drive your mind from work to your personal life and vice-versa thus keeping everything in balance.

There are tonnes of other health benefits as well, which you can stats from the website QConnect are to be believed, the best performing employees take breaks for nearly 30% of their workday. This means taking breaks between work can significantly improve your productivity. You can perform tasks as per the schedule and then close on time. No need to sit 2 hours extra in evening.

Also, if we’re habitual of working long hours, we may lose track of time and end of working a couple of hours extra. So, take little breaks between work.

9. 100% dedication
My boss at Applify (the company where I work) said once:

“Whatever you’re doing, do with complete passion. Working? Show complete dedication. Partying with friends? Party like there’s no tomorrow. Give your 100 percent. Only then you can expect 70-80.”

These words apply very well in this case. Working on a project? Give your best shot and try to finish it on time. Enjoying with family? Have the best time of your life. Don’t be half at work or half at home. Otherwise, things will be completely messy.

10. Setting up reminders and alarms
This is the last thing that you might want to do. Still, it can prove a lot helpful.

Hopefully, these tips will help you maintain effective work-life balance and lead a healthy and happy life.

Good luck!

10 Most Trending App Development Companies in Singapore

Neeraj Sharma — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 06:07:43 +0000

Hiring Right app development team is one of the most crucial factors behind an app’s success.

No matter how powerful your app idea is, if not executed properly, it will fail to win the hearts of users.

If you want your app to outshine - go with someone who values both your time and investment, understands your idea and treats it like his/her own, and leaves no stone unturned to transform that idea into reality.

In short, choose the right app development team.

Although, the concern is!

Is it easy to find the app development team that values both your time and resources?

It’s not!

Millions of app development companies are offering their services in Singapore. Each one claims to be better than others. Amidst all this, how will you decide which is ‘the right one’ for you?

Here’s a list of the most popular app development companies in Singapore that you can trust for outsourcing your project.

1. Vinova
Vinova has been revolutionizing the app development market in Singapore with next-gen mobile apps, web apps, and mobile games since 2010.

With years of industry experience, popular enterprises as clients, and countless innovative apps in their portfolio, the company deserves to be ranked No. 1 on the list.

Budget: $25 - $49/hr
Team Size: 10-49

Service Focus

Client Focus

Industry Focus

2. Rainmaker Labs
Rainmaker Labs has half-decade of experience in creating stunning mobile apps for startups and enterprises, many of which have received user appreciation several times.

Another reason which makes the company stand out is that they use state-of-the-art technologies like mobile marketing automation cloud, to offer the best user experience and maximise user engagement.

Project Budget: Min. $1,000
Team Size: 50 – 249

Service Focus

Client Focus

3. Applify
It’s not only their zeal for perfection and innovation but also their ability to offer custom-made solutions that have helped Applify emerge as a leading mobile solutions provider globally, including the Singapore app development market.

It’s worldwide presence, their clientele including popular enterprises like NLGIC, PETA, and SThree Group, along with countless award-winning apps explains very well why Applify is so popular and holds No. 3 spot on the list.

They also offer Wearable apps development and Chatbot development services.

Project Budget: $10,000+
Hourly Rates: $25-$49/hr
Team Size: 10-49

Service Focus

Client Focus

Industry Focus

4.Lets Nurture
Lets Nurture started as a small web and mobile app development company in 2008. Today, it has its presence in every field of app development, be it game Development, wearable apps development, or chatbot development.

With more than 10 years of experience, over 1000 successful apps, and some acclaimed businesses as clients is what makes them one of the leading app development firms in Singapore.

Project Budget: Min. $5,000
Hourly Rates: $25 - $49/hr
Employees: 50-249

Service Focus

Client Focus

Industry Focus

5. Robust Tech House
Robust Tech House specialises in creating cutting-edge mobile apps and websites for E-Commerce, mobile commerce, and financial technology.
Their team is advised by experts in technology, insurance and finance, some of which are members of institutions like CFA, CAIA, and Casualty Actuarial Society in Singapore.

Team Size: 11-50

Service Focus
Mobile App Development, Web Development, E-Commerce, Mobile Commerce, FinTech, and Financial Technology

Industry Focus
ECommerce, Finance

6. Monster Labs
Over a decade of experience in mobile app development, hundreds of happy clients, and thousands of successful projects in their portfolio, Monster labs is one of the most-trusted app development companies in Singapore.

Project Budget: $75,000+

Hourly Rates: $50-$99

Team Size: 250-999

Service Focus

Client Focus

Industry Focus

7. Octal IT Solution
During its 13 years long journey as an app developer, Octal IT Solution has successfully transformed countless ideas into reality in the form of revolutionary apps, helped hundreds of people achieve their business goals, and are associated with tech giants like Skype, Microsoft, NASSCOM, etc.

Project Budget: $5,000+

Team Size: $25-$49/hr

Service Focus

Client Focus

Industry Focus

8. Ming Labs
Ming Labs is another app development company who has over the years created mobile apps to engage, inspire, and delight users. The reason why their apps are well recognised and big companies like SIEMENS, Adidas, Disney, and Singtel are their clients.

They offer business & service model design, data visualisation, and project concept creation services as well.

Project Budget: $5,000+
Hourly Rates: $100-$249/hr
Team Size: 50-249

Service Focus

Industry Focus

9. Mobiloitte
Mobiloitte is in the software and mobile app development business since 2005 and has developed countless apps and software for industries like entertainment & music, education, transport, retail, healthcare, etc.

Besides this, they offer chatbot, IoT, and digital marketing services.
Project Budget: $1,000+
Team Size: 250-999

Service Focus

Client Focus

Industry Focus

10. Indus Net
Indus Net is an emerging app development company with the prime focus on mobile app development, mobile game development, IoT, and Wearable apps development.
They have built numerous apps for popular businesses and government agencies till date.

Project Budget: $5000+
Hourly Rates: $25-$49/hr
Team Size: 250-999

Service Focus

Client Focus

Industry Focus

Hoping that the above list might help you to choose the best app development company, to create an app that that best suits your needs and expectations!

Source: Clutch.co