Whether you are a student or a working professional, you have to juggle different tasks to stay on track constantly. Work and social needs also eat up time, but productivity is the priority. Below is a list of the 10 best productivity apps to help you work more efficiently.
1.) AnkiApp
AnkiApp is a free alternative to Quizlet (more about this below). It is similarly centered on flashcard sets that you can create or select from an extensive directory of public sets. Though perhaps not as visually attractive as Quizlet, features like embedded audio and imagery, which must be purchased on Quizlet, are free on AnkiApp. Statistics are generated after studying a set to see what you still need to work on and what you have mastered. This can come in handy for learning new languages or other subjects.
2.) Cold Turkey
Cold Turkey is a comprehensive productivity app with a wide suite of features to keep you on track. Once installed on your PC, the basic version grants access to the primary features of blocking websites, creating a schedule of time blocks, and generating statistics on site usage. These features should be plenty for most, but those wishing more control can purchase the pro version for a one-time payment of $39.99 (20% discount for students).
Along with the features mentioned above, the pro version also allows you to block entire applications, set breaks in your schedule, and lock blocks, among several other functions. Needless to say, this seems to be the most far-reaching website blocker out there. Once a block begins, it’s practically impossible to cheat.
3.) Flora
Flora is just one of the many apps designed to help keep you concentrated on the task. The app takes a unique approach of turning staying off your phone into a game. Put simply, the longer you have the app open, the more your digital plant will grow.
Opening social media apps and other forbidden programs will kill off the plant. The more focus sessions you succeed in, the more plants you discover from across the world. Other app features include a challenge function in which you can ‘play’ against friends and a to-do list where you can allot time to specific tasks.
Currently, the app is free on the Apple App Store and Google Play and will soon be available on Google Chrome. With both the smartphone app and the Chrome extension, coverage across your devices would be comprehensive.
4.) Adobe Scan
For digitizing documents, it’s easy enough to take a picture with your phone and crop it, but this method sacrifices quality. This might not matter much if it’s just class notes you’re scanning, but for turning in assignments to a professor or manager, quality is a major factor. Using Adobe Scan, you can get not just higher quality scans, but also a more convenient process. The app, a simplified version of Adobe Acrobat Pro, makes it easy to scan a variety of documents and combine them into a PDF. Adobe Creative Cloud subscribers can then easily edit these PDFs on a computer using Acrobat Pro.
The app automatically detects the corners of your document when scanning (though they can be adjusted manually if it’s getting them wrong). After you’ve taken the photograph, you’re given a wide range of adjustments to mark up and clarify the document so it’s both readable and conveys the information you’re wanting to share.
5.) Google Calendar
While several of the apps in the list have calendar functions within them, Google Calendar is a great option for those seeking a more straightforward time-management system. With Google products deeply embedded in our daily lives, syncing data across devices and applications is smooth.
It’s easy enough to keep events and due dates organized with the ability to create different calendars. These can then be toggled on or off to declutter the scene. Additionally, calendars can also be shared with others to make scheduling as a group much simpler.
6.) Habitica
Similar to Flora, Habitica turns focus into a game, but also puts emphasis on its role as a routine-setter. Free on the App Store and Google Play, and also available as a Chrome extension, the app takes on an 8-bit fantasy RPG appearance complete with characters, gear, monsters, and prizes. The goal is straightforward; place items on your to-do list and/or habit list and complete them to progress in the game. You must also keep in mind the apps and websites you visit as opening these may cause your character to fall back.
Each task is seen as a monster that your character will achieve victory only with the task’s completion. Collecting gear and earning prizes serve as further motivation to keep your character moving forward.
If you’re embarking on this journey with friends, you’re able to start challenges to make productivity more competitive. For those who find the app particularly useful for their entire group, paid plans are available that give access to private chat boards and team to-do/routine lists.
7.) Libby
Whether primarily for research or for pleasure, books are a large part of school and work. Libraries are great resources and will typically fulfill anyone’s needs, but not always. This is where sites like Libby can help.
Libby searches public libraries for free ebooks and audiobooks that can then be read directly through the app. Sometimes, you may need to request a library card from the library you wish to access a book from, but it is typically a quick process and is at zero cost. Once acquired, the card information can be loaded into Libby.
To organize your titles, Libby has a shelf feature that keeps all saved content. This makes it easy to pick up where you left off on any book in your collection.
8.) Notion
Notion’s goal is to help one organize, not just individual work, but the work of entire teams. For students specifically, Notion is most helpful with group projects as students can use the app as a central hub to communicate, share ideas, and create.
The app is centered on three main functions, which are “Projects” to define objectives and set deadlines, “Docs” to take notes and share content, and “Wikis” to collect team knowledge and help others find the info they need.
Attached within these three functions are countless other features, such as integration with several other apps. There’s also Notion AI, which assists in a variety of ways to quicken one’s workflow.
A free version of the app is available for personal use. This version has a few restrictions, like limits on file sizes and team sizes. Also available with monthly payments are the Plus, Business, and Enterprise plans. The good news for students, though, is that they can access Notion at no cost.
9.) Quizlet
Quizlet is a study aid surely most students are familiar with, but it can be useful in different contexts. Flashcard study sets are a breeze to make and can be tailored to the subject in question. Along with the basic flashcard function, study sets can be reviewed by various other means, like as a test or a matching game. Depending on the subject, you may be able to find a preexisting set from the countless ones made publicly available by their creators.
Outside of flashcards, Quizlet also offers solutions to exercises in popular textbooks, providing another resource to study from directly within Quizlet. Unfortunately, some of these functions are limited or entirely blocked unless you subscribe to QuizletPlus, which currently runs at $44.99 a year or $9.99 a month. Among the many features this makes available is the ability to embed audio and imagery into flashcard sets.
10.) Zotero
The Zotero application is best described as a research assistant. When writing a paper, organizing sources can easily become quite a debacle, especially for large projects. By providing a central location to sort your sources, Zotero erases the issue. A wide range of formats are accepted by Zotero, including websites and document files like .docx and .pdf. Once added to collection, it’s easy to generate a bibliography that follows your essay’s citation style.
Be sure to install the Chrome extension for even further ease-of-use. The plugin will be available anytime for you to add a website or .pdf to your collection for citation.