With our ever-growing to-do lists and the constant distractions of social media, it’s no wonder many of us have trouble staying focused and productive throughout the day. But there’s hope! Several focus apps can help us stay on track and finish our work. Below are the five best focus apps (IMHO) to help you stay productive and get more done in less time. These apps will help you block distractions, set goals, and stay on track. So, if you’re looking for ways to improve your focus and productivity, read on!
Finding focus in a world of distractions
It’s no secret that we live in a world of constant distractions. Whether it’s the never-ending stream of social media notifications or the temptations of online shopping, there’s always something vying for our attention. Unfortunately, constant distractions can take a toll on our productivity. A recent study found that the average person is interrupted or switches tasks every 3 minutes and 5 seconds. That’s a lot of interruptions! And not surprisingly, the study also found that it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to return to our original task after an interruption. So, if we’re constantly being interrupted and it takes us over 20 minutes to get back on track, it’s no wonder we have trouble staying focused and getting things done. But there are ways to combat this. One of the best ways is to use focus apps.
Why we need focus apps
Focus apps can be a great way to improve your productivity and focus. They can help you block distractions, set goals, and stay on track. And while there are many different types of focus apps available, we’ve narrowed it down to the five best.
The five best focus apps
Share calendars, manage events, add national holidays, add tasks, access offline, set meetings across time zones, show weather, add maps, and add Google meet invitations.
Maintaining an organized calendar is crucial for productivity, time management, and organization. Instead of having many calendars spread out between different accounts, platforms & locations – sync them all to one calendar. Using a calendar to stay on top of your schedule is a must. With a few simple tweaks, you can make more of what is already one of the best calendar software.
Available on a Web application, Android, and iOS
Price:100% Free
2. Groove App
In a 50-minute Groove, a group of 2-4 freelancers, creatives, and other solo workers gather to work side-by-side (virtually). Work-from-home loneliness is gone—ditch distraction with Groove’s social focus sessions. You’ll get more done and have fun while you’re at it. In every Groove, you’ll have 1-3 other solo workers sending you good vibes. If having your team of cheerleaders is what you need, then you’re right where you need to be. Give yourself dedicated time and space to conquer your to-do list. Is that big project sitting on your desk for a few weeks? It’s not looking so scary in the Groove.
Groove is available on iPhones and Android under “Groove: Productivity, but fun.”
Price: Groove is 100% free to use.
3. Lofi App
Lofi is a calm digital space to focus, work, study, and relax. It includes everything you need to make the most of your time. You can craft your focus environment with music, scenes, timers, notes, and more. Premium helps you achieve an organized workspace for improved focus and mental clarity.
Price: Free Version, Premium $3.99/mth, Lifetime Access $99.99
4. Forest
It’s available on Android, iOS, and Chrome. The idea is simple: you open the app and say you want to plant a tree. Then you put your phone down. If you pick up your phone and switch to another app, your tree will die. Last 25 minutes, your tree will live. Over time, you'll grow an entire forest of trees, a reminder of all the time you intentionally spent getting things done instead of scrolling through Twitter. Plus, if you use a paid version of the app, your focus time could help fund real trees via a partnership with Trees for the Future. Forest also offers a Chrome extension, meaning you can grow trees on your computer. This one works more like the other apps in this list but with an option to load distracting sites if you want to.
Price: Free on Chrome and Android, $1.99 for iPhone. Android Pro version costs $1.99 one-time and offers to sync across devices and more tree varieties.
5. Cold Turkey
Other website blockers are easy to cheat. Cold Turkey Blocker makes it almost impossible to stop the block once you lock it. To prevent yourself from easily disabling the block, you can choose to lock your block. A locked block will automatically prevent you from being able to disable the extension or uninstall Blocker. In the pro version, You aren't a robot. Take some breaks while working to help keep you refreshed and focused for when it's time to get stuff done. Keep track of what you spend time on. Discover what your top websites and applications are, and let the data guide your decision on what to block.
Price: Free 7-day trial, Blocker Pro - Lifetime Access, one-time fee of $39, Free for basic features
How to use focus apps to stay productive
1. Set a goal for your work session.
2. Choose a focus app that best suits your needs.
3. Block out distractions and set a timer.
4. Work until the timer goes off.
5. Take a break and repeat.
It’s time to apply new techniques to get stuff done and take control! If you feel overwhelmed, stressed, or stuck, I can help you set goals that align with your values. There are several options for working together, but before we get ahead of ourselves, let's chat!