There are tons of apps to increase productivity out there, but not every app is created equal. There are so many apps that can be complicated to use, don’t fit your needs, or just overwhelming in general. But, we should be using productivity apps to help us free up time, get more things done, and have a more productive day overall. In this blog post, I walk through 5 apps to increase productivity which I know will definitely help you increase your output.
Forest
Forest is one of the best apps to increase productivity. If you are prone to distractions no matter what you do, whether it’s hiding your social media apps or putting your phone in another room, Forest blocks you from entering the websites or apps you have blacklisted. Forest works as an app to increase productivity by letting you set a timer for the time you want to focus between 10 and 120 minutes.
Once you start the timer, a tree will start growing. If you try to go into a black-listed app your tree will die. Complete the time to plant a tree in your forest. In the deep focus mode, it blocks out any apps that you don’t whitelist. Using this app has helped increase my productivity because I always used to reach my phone for a quick check. Now, I am determined to create a cute forest that shows my productivity. It’s a fun way to increase your productivity, buy new plants with the coins you earn, and turn deep-focusing sessions into a little game.
The Forest app has many other features, but this is the main purpose. I have been using Forest for years and love that it has both a phone app and a desktop version.
{Related Post: 9 Time Management Strategies to be More Intentional in Work}
Balance
There are many meditation apps to increase your productivity, but I personally like Balance. The application has many courses, quick sessions, and different modules to suit your meditation learning speed and skill level. Meditating for a few minutes in the morning has helped to kick start my day by helping me relieve any stress before the day has even started.
Balance is a great app to increase productivity because it has guided meditations to help you feel more productive, energized, or focused, depending on what you need. The plans for focus and productivity help you go through a series of meditation sessions to learn how to get in the right mindset to get the work you need to do, done. Try out Balance if you haven’t found a meditation app that works for you.
Google Calendar
Google Calendar is your best friend when it comes to finding an app to increase productivity. If the meeting is not on my Google calendar, it is not happening. Google Calendar helps to increase productivity by letting you schedule meetings, invite attendees, have different calendars for different areas of your life, and by letting you create tasks. The color coding features in Google Calendar make it easy to understand what time of meeting or event you are about to attend. Plus, the 30-minute reminder has saved me numerous times when I have forgotten about an upcoming meeting.
Some of the newer features also let you share calendars, block out time, and so much more. This is the all-purpose planner you need on your phone and desktop for scheduling tasks, meetings, and events. Google Calendar has been the go-to since literally high school. I have been using it for almost 10 years now.
FitBod
If you need an app to help you be more physically fit which will in turn increase your productivity, FitBod is the app you need. Although this is a paid application, I think it is well worth the money. FitBod is a great app to increase productivity because it takes the guesswork out of my fitness routine and strength training. The app creates a workout plan every time I want to workout depending on my strength, max effort, sore muscles, and more.
This app will help you feel motivated to exercise because it just does everything for you. Plus we are more likely to use something you have spent money on. The application is less than $10 a month, way cheaper than a gym membership, and it is flexible to use. You can easily change between strength workouts, weights, bodyweight only, different fitness goals, and more. It also lets you pick specific muscle groups and curates a workout based on what you want to work on. FitBod is such an easy and flexible app to use, in my opinion.
By working out more often I have increased my energy levels and mood which helps me feel more motivated and productive. On top of that, I save time by not having to think about the weights, reps, and exercises to do. The app does it more for me. I love FitBod and have been using it for well over three years now.
How to Be More Productive in Your 20s: 11 Ways to Take Control of Your Day
Sleep Cycle
Sleep Cycle is an amazing app to increase productivity if you constantly need to be up at a certain time. The app lets you set the time you want to wake up and creates a 30-minute window to start waking you up. Because the app uses your microphone to listen to how you are sleeping, it will start waking you up at the best time for you.
Rather than a super loud alarm, it slowly wakes you up so you feel way more refreshed and way less tired. This app helps increase productivity by making sure you wake up energized and ready for the day rather than groggy in the mornings. I have been using this app for well over two years and the free version is more than enough.
Sleep quality deeply affects your productivity levels so invest in something that is going to get you the sleep you deserve.
Bonus: Notion
I wouldn’t say Notion is for everyone but if you have a lot of lists, ideas, or just tasks to keep organized across multiple areas of your life, Notion is an amazing productivity app to try out. I use the desktop version for the most part but this helps me keep track of my YouTube ideas and filming, blog ideas and filming, networking, outreach, and more. There are tons of uses for Notion but try out this productivity app if you just want a one-stop shop to store all your lists, spreadsheets, and more.
Final Thoughts
I hope you found these 5 apps to increase productivity to be helpful. I know I use these daily, and it has helped a ton. Let me know in the comments below which one you are excited to try!
With love,
Aditi <3
Aditi Rani – Figuring Out Life in Your Twenties
*Disclaimer: This is not professional advice. Some links are affiliate. By clicking and/or purchasing, I may receive a commission. It does not alter the price or change your buyer experience.