5 Focus And Productivity Apps to Optimise Your WFH Setup
Todoist
Best for: Organising your day-to-day
Is there anything more satisfying and motivating than checking things off your to-do list? Todoist is a handy, no-fuss app that helps to clearly organise and sort tasks, set due dates and reminders, and even track your progress so you can stay focused on the task at hand.
You can also use it to connect with and collaborate on projects with others.
Find out more todoist.com
See also: Work From Home: Productivity Tips For Remote Working
Be Focused
Best for: Breaking things up
Intermittent breaks have been proven to help with productivity. Knowing this, Be focused follows the Pomodoro Technique, breaking your day up into 25-minute focus sessions followed by five-minute breaks, which you can use to stretch, do some breathing exercises, make a cup of tea, listen your favourite song—or whatever you feel will help you reset.
If that style of timing doesn't suit, the app allows users to customise work interval and break durations, while tracking progress throughout the day or week.
Find out more at apple.com
Toggl
Best for: Time management for people who suck at time management
Toggl will change the way you view and use your time. Aside from basic time tracking—along with the help of reminders and idle detection—it can sync your time entries between apps, and even go deeper by helping you break down your hours by projects, clients and tasks to see what’s making you money (and what’s holding you back). Hey, time is money.
Find out more at toggl.com
Forest
Best for: Incentivising daily tasks
Forest uses a game-style premise to keep you on track: Plant a 'seed' when you're ready to get to work on a task and set a timer. If you commit to the task, your 'tree' grows, but if you exit the app, that 'tree' dies.
Over time, you can grow entire forests built from your focus and commitment. Better still, Forest has partnered with Trees of the Future to plant actual trees.
Find out more at forestapp.cc
See also: The Work From Home Essentials Our Editors Can't Live Without
Freedom
Best for: Keeping distractions at bay
If you find yourself mindlessly checking Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or other apps and websites throughout the day, this app helps to free you from their grip while encouraging healthier digital habits.
Freedom allows you to block apps and websites while you work (or if you just need a break) to "give you control over your time and attention". Freedom can also sync these blocks across all of your devices.
Find out more at freedom.to