Why should you care about optimizing a laptop for productivity? At first glance, this topic might sound mundane. However, implementing the tasks outlined in this list goes beyond just dry maintenance—it’s about unlocking time-saving efficiencies and fostering an environment conducive to productivity, especially in the context of remote work lifestyles.

If you have a strong command of your laptop, you can use it to support your workflow and skyrocket your results. Also, optimizing your laptop is crucial if you are someone who values the freedom of working from anywhere, diverging from the confines of traditional office settings.

Furthermore, this list likely encompasses tasks that may have escaped your attention, yet hold the potential to significantly elevate your efficiency.

Improve your laptop’s battery performance

Battery life is kind of a priority if you want to have great location flexibility with your laptop.

You’d want to work for extended periods without the inconvenience of constantly scrambling to locate power outlets in various locations due to your laptop battery running out.

Certainly, stronger battery performance offers greater flexibility in selecting your work environment, especially in places where power outlets may not be readily available. This includes scenarios such as traveling, attending meetings, or working in cafes, coffee shops, flights, or airports.

How can you improve your laptop’s battery performance? There are several ways. But these are the top few things that will likely benefit you:

• Close Unnecessary Apps and Processes. Those apps and browser tabs open and running in the background silently consume your battery. Close them.
• Avoid full discharges. Multitasking a lot and taking your laptop beyond your home/office can increase the risk of a completely discharged battery. Do not let your battery go to 0%. This is a surefire way to damage your battery.
• Use battery-saver features. You can reduce screen brightness to save battery.

Perform upgrades

If your laptop is old, slow, or laggy, it might be time for an upgrade. 

Certain things can be upgraded, and this is different for different laptops. Usually, the more easily upgradeable or replaceable components of a laptop are RAM, storage, and battery.

Don’t always put up with an old and slow laptop. Check your laptop for upgradeability. To explore potential upgrades, make the effort to investigate which hardware or software components are slowing down your laptop. For example, RAM is a common component that people upgrade and you should explore whether your RAM should be upgraded.

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Set up a clear workflow using a few apps

Establish streamlined workflows encompassing both 1) project/task organization and 2) efficient app/screen management. 

Opt for simplicity on your laptop, despite its expansive digital capacity. Set up clean and clear workflows using only a few select apps for your important tasks – this not only results in better organization but also mastery of your apps’ functionalities.

For example, you should avoid scattering notes across multiple apps; while you can store them in various platforms like calendars, Word, Google Docs, Evernote, or Notion, excessively doing so leads to time wasted in app-switching and note retrieval.

Master the key applications you use regularly

While not the most thrilling task, mastering essential apps is undeniably enabling.

If there are any apps that you use daily, you should have a strong command over their functionalities to avoid time-wasting and inefficiencies. Procrastination only hampers progress; instead, dedicate effort to learning these tools to propel your projects forward efficiently.

Consider optimizing usage of your top 3-5 daily apps to boost your performance and minimize time spent fiddling around with certain app features.

Set up your laptop for multitasking

Everyone multitasks to various extents, Yet, not everyone properly makes the effort to do this. 

How should you set up your laptop for multitasking? If you lack the technological know-how, you won’t be able to optimize your laptop completely – even if your laptop has good built-in multitasking capabilities and features. 

There are many things you can do, but a few common items are to make use of split screens, virtual desktops, external screens, a docking station, adapters, and good internet connectivity. Prevent your laptop from overheating when you multitask. 

If you haven’t already done this, you should take some time to learn how to set up your specific laptop to enable easy and effective multitasking.

Optimize your ergonomics

What has optimizing your ergonomics got to do with productivity at all? Reducing pain improves your productivity.

Using a laptop stand to raise your laptop’s height could increase your comfort and keep you at the desk. By elevating your screen, you do not hunch over your laptop and will be less bothered by constant neck/shoulder aches that interrupt your rhythm.

The same benefit goes for using an external keyboard that accommodates the tilt, angle, and height of your wrists. Typing comfortably reduces the odds of repetitive strain injury. 

Ideally, you want to combine portability with ergonomics. This means that your ergonomic tools (e.g., external or ergonomic keyboards, laptop stand) should fit in your day bag. It’s beneficial to be ergonomic everywhere you go, especially if you work in a truly remote and location-independent fashion.

Ensure redundancy

Redundancy is essential for maintaining seamless productivity, ensuring you’re not reliant on a single tool. Losing or forgetting essential accessories can severely impact productivity, particularly for mobile workers who frequently switch between locations. 

To mitigate such risks, consider these redundancy strategies:

• Keep a spare laptop charger either in your office, bag, or at home 
• Keep a power bank handy
• Carry a mouse to mitigate wrist strain
• Invest in noise-canceling headphones for managing distracting environments and uninterrupted virtual meetings
• Carry a universal power adapter for international travel
• Utilize a mobile hotspot as a backup for unreliable WiFi connections

Optimize your laptop for travel

Related to the point on redundancy, how do you continue working seamlessly with little disruption and downtime when abroad?

When traveling abroad or working remotely, it’s crucial to consider laptop security and backups. Accessing websites and managing data when you’re in foreign locations requires thoughtful planning to minimize disruptions and ensure seamless work continuity.

Two key tips include: 

• Using a VPN: Not only could a VPN provide access to restricted content, websites, and shows that are geo-blocked in that country, but it also encrypts your data for enhanced security so you have peace of mind. 
• Backing up your data: Store important files in multiple locations (at least 1-2 places besides local storage on your laptop), such as cloud storage and a physical hard drive. This mitigates risks associated with the heightened odds of theft, damage, or loss of your laptop while traveling. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Secure your laptop physically

Besides ensuring that your data doesn’t get lost or stolen while you travel or work remotely, you should take physical precautions for your laptop.

Carry your laptop in a way that protects it from bumps and knocks. This means you want to store it in a sturdy laptop sleeve or case, or at least store it securely in a designated compartment within a well-padded backpack. Avoid placing it with items that contain liquids or moisture that you’d carry during a trip, such as wet wipes and gels.

If you leave your laptop sometimes in cafes and other public places while you visit the washroom, it’s also a good practice to secure it with a lock or cable.

Have proper maintenance

Doing all of the above will not be enough if you neglect the basic, simple, recurring stuff. Maintaining your laptop properly is a mundane but essential task.

Enter these items into your weekly schedule if you find that laptop care is something you neglect. Here are just a few quick tips:

• Keep it clean. Clean your laptop’s exterior and keyboard. It’s easy for your laptop to gather dust and dirt if you use it daily or take it out of your apartment.
• Avoid high temperatures. Always keep your laptop stored in a cool and dry environment. Be careful about exposing it to sunlight or heat to protect its battery and other hardware components. If you multitask a lot and your laptop heats up badly, you could worsen its battery life and performance.
• Update your software. If you skip this step, you could suffer from security vulnerabilities, poor features, and worse performance on your laptop overall. Not a good idea. Keep your operating system and browsers up to date by enabling automatic updates or checking for updates manually. You want to benefit from enhanced features, performance, and security.

What do you think of these 10 tips for optimizing your laptop for productivity? Which are the ones you are not doing but should get done? Let me know in the comments and also if there are other important tips I missed out.