Everyone has heard the same old song and dance. Work smarter, not harder. Stop spending so much time on social media. Don’t waste time in meetings. Sure, this is all good advice, but it may not be realistic for everyone. Some people need an approach to productivity that isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” method. That’s where productivity apps come into play.
When the right productivity app is downloaded, work becomes more comfortable. Some help by managing time, while others help by doing specific tasks for a person. Here are four of the best productivity apps on the market today.
Apple Shortcuts
Anyone with an iPad or iPhone will enjoy Apple Shortcuts, which allows the person to create an automation. For example, a user can set up an automation that will have the app put their phone on silent when they arrive at work or begin playing a news podcast when their wake-up alarm goes off. It’s a straightforward app that can create some tremendous time-saving shortcuts.
Dragon NaturallySpeaking
For some consumers, dictating is much easier than typing. Dragon NaturallySpeaking is one of the most precise dictation software products on the market. For general use, the Home Edition is a good purchase. The company offers additional editions with specific terminology and formats, such as Dragon Law Enforcement. While it isn’t the least inexpensive dictation program available, it is one of the most accurate.
Evernote
Note-taking apps often come in handy. Evernote is an app that allows users to upload notes in a variety of ways, from writing them into recording audio to taking pictures. Users can also upload PDFs to the app and sketch digitally. The app also searches for a word or phrase by looking at text and images. For example, if a user takes a picture of a “For Rent” sign and wants to find it later, they simply have to type in the word “sale.” The app then searches through both text and pictures.
RescueTime
RescueTime is an app that records the websites a user visits, the apps that they use, and any breaks taken while they are working. This helps consumers see just how much time they spend on a particular website or app a day. RescueTime will also classify each website and app into productivity ratings, starting from very productive and very distracting. It also can block the most distracting sites when the user needs to focus.