Can Apps Be Used To Improve Productivity?
Who hasn’t possibly heard the famous words, “You are wasting too much time on your phone” or “How can you achieve anything when you are always on your phone?” These are usually said by none other than your parents and, in rare cases, some other people. But is it actually real? Do apps really waste our time and don’t benefit us in any way? Well, let us just say that this is not an easy discussion, as there are many perspectives, both agreeing and disagreeing. However, some developers are developing apps in hopes of proving that apps are actually beneficial and can be used to improve productivity. But did they succeed? In this article, we will briefly address both perspectives and see if these claims are just myths or not.
The Start of Apps, and Was It Only for Entertainment?
As you all might know, or might not, the start of apps was through the snake game. And yes, to our unexpected surprise, the snake game that was all over the Nokia phones is actually considered an app. Also, an honorable mention goes to IBM’s Simon personal communicator, which also contained built-in applications that were ahead of their time.
After that, people were absolutely hooked! They became eager and demanded more. Little did they know that a lot more was waiting for them. At the same time as the surge of mobile phones, a bright mind was on the run to create what would be the genuine start of the application and the app stores we know today. This bright mind was Steve Jobs, and the place was Apple, where the idea of marketplaces where people could list, buy, and download software originated. Et voila, this is how it all started and how millions of apps now exist in all app stores.
We can pretty much say that the early purpose of apps was to entertain mobile users. However, the more progressed and evolved this market got, the more developers had room to set their minds free and start exploring other purposes for apps. Since then, more app categories have made an appearance. This proved that apps have more purposes than just entertaining people, as some can be for the purpose of education, improving well-being, and many more that we will discuss later.
Not All Apps Waste Time: Debunking the Major Myth
As we previously stated, the more apps and app development advanced, the more developers had the opportunity to think of other app types to make. At first, apps were limited to games; they then started to expand and include utility apps like maps, translation, notes, and so on. At this time, they were considered major advances. Things started to expand even more, and we got social platforms like Kik and Snapchat, and already established social platforms like Facebook and Twitter created their own apps as well. It was getting even wilder and bigger—an ever-evolving type of situation.
As new apps started to appear, people thought about creating apps for more deep matters, such as education. They thought that since apps are more accessible and universal, it would be a great way to gain knowledge and improve productivity. Now, millions of people extensively use educational apps, especially those specializing in language learning.
During the lockdown in 2020, people had no other way to connect with others or become productive but their mobile phones. During these hard times, apps really peaked and proved that they can actually be pretty beneficial, debunking all the claims that they are of no use and only waste time.
Types of Productivity Apps That Could Change Your Life
Apps have the ability to significantly improve your productivity, and enhance your efficiency, organization, and overall well-being. Here are several types of productivity apps that could positively impact your life:
Task Management Apps
Today’s a very busy day; you have a million things to do and accomplish. On days like this, you usually tend to forget or skip some things. After all, we are not robots; humans are sometimes forgetful. However, today, you need to be accurate and complete all the tasks you have. But, how? Task management apps for sure!
Task management apps make organization and prioritization much easier. You can use these apps to organize your tasks, schedule them, and monitor your progress. They can assist you in dividing up large tasks and chores into more manageable chunks so that nothing gets overlooked. Moreover, many task management applications have reminders and notifications to make sure you stay on track and never miss a deadline. Using these apps, you can simplify your routines, do more in less time, and better control your schedule. Todoist, Trello, and Asana are just a few of the most popular task management apps available. Choose the app that best suits your needs and helps you maintain focus and control in your life by trying out a few.
Note-Taking Apps
Well, we can’t just go everywhere with a note and pen; this is sometimes not convenient at all. So, how could we take important notes in lectures, important meetings, etc.? We are in the complete digital era, duh? Things are now more simple than ever with note-taking apps.
You can use specialized note-taking apps like Logseq or Logseq alternatives to jot down and arrange your thoughts, ideas, and other important information digitally. Common features in these apps include the ability to tag and search content, as well as offline synchronization with cloud storage to access information anywhere. What makes such apps very special is the privacy and security of all the information, as, unlike physical notes, they cannot be stolen, lost, or corrupted.
Calendar and Scheduling Apps
If you want to maximize your time and work more efficiently, you need a reliable calendar and scheduling app. These apps organize your schedule, meetings, and to-dos into one convenient spot. You can maintain order in your life and never miss a meeting or appointment again with the help of features like reminders, notifications, and cross-device synchronization. You may better organize your time and focus on what’s most important by using time-blocking tools, which are available in a variety of calendar and scheduling apps. Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, and Apple Calendar are some of the most widely used calendar and scheduling tools. Try them out and discover how they can improve your ability to manage your time effectively.
Time Tracking Apps
They always say that time is gold. Each hour, minute, and second you may miss can make a major difference in your life. Thus, let us tell you how you can save such valuable time.
You can learn a lot about your time management habits and the places where you could be more productive by using a time-tracking app. These apps let you keep track of how much time you spend on various activities and projects, which can help you improve your time management. By analyzing this information, you may cut down on time-wasting activities, give more priority to what really matters, and fine-tune your calendar for maximum efficiency. Reports and analytics are common elements of time-tracking apps, providing you with a clear picture of your time consumption so that you may make sound choices about how to allocate your time more effectively. For Google and outlook calendar time tracking, you can also try out Tackle (timetackle.com). Additionally, Toggl, RescueTime, and Harvest are three excellent apps that you can try to achieve this and even more. Try some of these time management strategies and see how they can benefit you.
Focus and Pomodoro Timer Apps
People with short attention spans like myself struggle to find techniques that can make them more productive. It is hard to stay focused on one thing forever, and it is even harder to find a tool that can help one achieve this. However, the Pomodoro technique is one of the most effective techniques that helps people focus on tasks and accomplish them efficiently. And since this technique proved to be very beneficial, it has its own type of app.
These applications implement the Pomodoro Technique, a time management strategy that entails working in focused bursts with brief pauses. They encourage focused work and prevent fatigue to increase productivity. They help users avoid any distractions, such as their phones. Some apps actually go as far as shutting users off from their phones completely.
Mindfulness and Meditation Apps
A sound mind plus a sound brain always equal extreme productivity. Meditation is always the best way to reduce stress, improve mental health, and enhance focus. By achieving this golden trio, you can ensure significantly boosted productivity. Since apps are accessible and flexible, they make meditation easier, more flexible, and accessible anywhere and anytime.
These applications feature guided meditation sessions, breathing exercises, and mindfulness exercises. They also offer tips and how-tos to ensure effective meditation and exercise. By utilizing mindfulness apps, you can reduce all the tension resulting from daily life and become a better person. There are many excellent apps like Brain.fm, Calm, Headspace, and Welzen that you can choose from and enjoy fruitful meditation.
The Golden Rule: Choose Apps That Align With Your Specific Needs and Goals.
When selecting apps to improve productivity, it is essential to consider your individual requirements and objectives. With so many choices available, it can be difficult to choose which ones to employ. Determine the areas of your life in which you wish to enhance productivity and time management. Do you have trouble staying organized? Looking for methods to prioritize tasks and maintain focus? Once you have a clear understanding of your needs, you can begin exploring the various app types and features that match your objectives. Always remember that the key is to discover applications that are effective for you and enhance your productivity and daily routines, so don’t be hesitant to try new things until you discover what works best for you.
