back to school ’20: productivity apps

this post is powered by green tea…lots of cups of green tea

Hey lovelies!

Now that we’re back in the throes of the fall semester and homework deadlines, I thought it would be great to share the apps I use for productivity and school today. I’ve used all of these extensively and completely recommend them. I hope you find these helpful as well!

Let’s get into it!

TIMERS

✸ pomotodo | an online application

Pomotodo is a Pomodoro style timer. Pomodoro timers are based on the remaining focused and minimizing the effects of interruptions on the state of flow (also so known as a state of extreme concentration). It works like this: 1. you decide on what task you’d like to complete. 2. set a timer for 25 minutes and work on the task. 3. when the timer rings, check your progress. If you’ve made enough progress, take a 5 minute break. If you haven’t, set another timer for 25 minutes. And so the cycle continues.

This has helped me to work on huge research projects and long essays! It allowed me to complete tasks efficiently and to maximize the time I had available.

✸ forest | an app and a browser extension

Similar to Pomotodo in that they’re both timers, Forest blocks certain websites while the timer is running, allowing you to focus only on certain sites and stay off distracting websites, like your email.

You enter all the sites you’d like to stay off on the blacklist and sites you’re allowed to visit on the whitelist.

It’s pretty useful when you’re in a lazy mood and won’t focus and keep clicking around. Whoops.

CLOUD

✸ dropbox | website and app

Dropbox is a cloud storage service. I use it to transport photos from another computer or a phone to the computer I use for using them on the blog or for graphic design purposes. The interface is extremely easy to use and user intuitive.

✸ google drive + google docs, sheets… | website and app

Google Drive is another cloud based application that I use. I usually store any backups of big papers or essays or projects on Google Drive…just in case. Also, thank goodness that Google Docs were invented! It is so helpful in getting my classmates’ feedback or editing papers for a project. I highly recommend you start using Google, especially since it auto saves progress and changes, which can be helpful for forgetful people!

PLANNING

✸ notion | website and app

Notion is a build-it-yourself platform that can be used for so many things. I’ve heard of people using it as a digital bullet journal, use it for finances, use it as a general life planner, and so many other purposes. I use it to store ideas for blog posts, plan post series, store any links I want to revisit in the future, etc.

MISC

✸ momentum | browser extension

Momentum is a browser extension. The way it works: this screen (example shown above) pops up every time you open a new tab. It displays the time, your main focus for the day, a neat little quote at the bottom, the weather, and it can store a to do list and any links you’d like to bookmark. The background is a gorgeous high quality picture that changes every day.

While this isn’t strictly a productivity tool, I appreciate how it clears up how a new tab looks on my browser screen and helps me to resist the temptation to click on any bookmarks or commonly visited sites. It really appeals to my sense of visual order and beauty.

✸ grammarly| desktop app and browser extension

I’m sure you’ve seen the ads for Grammarly around the web and thought to yourself, “Do I really need this?” The answer is yes, you do need it. I currently use their free plan and it has helped me immensely. I like using it to do a final check for any essays, blog posts, or really anything I write online (like discussion boards for classes, etc). I love using the browser extension since it checks as I write and catches as random misspelling.

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I hope this compilation was helpful for you! I wish you the best of luck for the upcoming school year. Don’t hesitate to ask me any questions regarding these apps!

Have you used any of these apps before? What app interested you the most? Let’s chat below!

P.S. I’ve just added three brand new phone wallpapers to the freebie library! Be sure to subscribe to the newsletter to get access to those!