4 Productivity Tools I Use All The Time
Honest list of applications that actually come in handy in almost any situation.
The rise of the “productivity epidemic” gave way for software developers to launch countless applications that promise us a magical motivation to list, review, and achieve goals, journal daily routine, build habits, and improve life quality. However, most of those solutions are just customized and upgraded versions of Notes with colorful checklists and pop-up windows.
Apart from that, the majority of “best productivity apps” search results present the same lists of 10+ applications that eventually will only take up the precious storage and display space.
Nonetheless, some apps make a difference when used exclusively and frequently. Here is my go-to list of every app I use to get more organized:
1. Notion
Notion is not just an alternative to Evernote. It is a powerful tool that serves as a multi-purpose database that presents the information in whichever way the user wants. It can be a diary with date entries that unwrap after a click showing the complete story and a personalized set of keywords. It may also be a bullet journal with habit trackers, a reading list, challenge logs, calendar, and personal Life Progress bar. It can be everything you want!
2. Todoist
Even though Notion can easily substitute Todoist, I prefer using a separate task setting app for a better experience. Todoist gives an opportunity to sort and label tasks according to their nature (work, study, personal, etc.) and create projects with corresponding to-do lists. What I love the most about this app — it sends notifications urging you to complete your goals. Small bonus: you can even customize the app icon.
3. Google Calendar
I have no other words to describe this app but call it a life savior. With its colored time blocks, event bars, reminders, and other integrated calendars (in my case Coursera Calendar), Google Calendar saved me from missing deadlines, classes, and meeting so many times. Also, it easily synchronizes with other services — both Google and outer — via available add-ons.
4. Forest
Referred as the “ultimate anti-procrastination app”, Forest stands as my favorite Pomodoro timer. Besides an interesting approach to the visualization of time through trees and other plants, Forest limits the use of other applications on the device or non-whitelisted websites if installed as a Chrome extension. Yet, the most notable aspect of the app is that it indeed serves a noble purpose — you can donate your “productivity coins” to save rainforests!
